Kentucky (Reissue)

The Pitch: Bindrune Recordings and Nordvis Produktion are proud to reissue Panopticon's breakthrough album on CD and LP, with each copy featuring a different variant of the original artwork.  Once more, or perhaps for the first time, experience Austin's highly original, atmospheric blackened folk metal tribute to coal miners and the "blue grass state" FFO: Zeal & Ardor, Downfall of Nur, Nechochwen

What I Like: This album is a rich and captivating experience.  Honestly, I could listen to just the bluegrass sections all day long.  Austin is a very talented multi-instrumentalist who has clear passion and love for Southern history and regional music.  Much of the album's folk portions have a timeless feel, as if he is channeling ghosts from a different time.  I recall the first time that I heard Kentucky, and while I didn't exactly fall in love with it immediately, I had a massive respect for its creativity and original fusions.  I had heard plenty of blackened folk bands, but always in a very Northern European or sometimes Eastern style.  Panopticon is OG "North American Folk Metal," and Austin has paved the way for an entirely new take on the genre for groups like Zeal & Ardor.  The first time you hear banjos and blastbeats join with wind instruments and righteous guitar harmonies, it will definitely turn your head.

Critiques: Being fair, I have always had some qualms with this album; namly the production and mixing have some issues.  The transitions from the bluegrass sections to the heavier ones could be smoother, and some of the folk instrumentation, as with the first crescendo on "Bodies Under the Falls," feel overly loud.  Furthermore, I was never a big fan of Kentucky's choice of guitar distortion.  The writing and structure also feel a bit confusing in terms of direction, which is why I consider Autumn Eternal to be a more mature album despite losing much of the banjo and fiddle flair. 

The Verdict: Kentucky is not a perfect album, but it is certainly one worth hearing and adding to your collection.  It represents the level of creativity and innovation bands should strive towards when creating new music, and a subsect of the underground that deeply deserves more respect and attention.  Pick up the new pressings tomorrow HERE (Europe) and HERE (NA) among other popular outlets.

Flight's Fav's: Bodies Under the Falls, Killing The Giants as They Sleep, Which Side Are You On