Artist: Isis
Label: Ipecac Recordings
Release Date: 10/19/04
Rating: 5 Skulls
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Title: Panopticon Artist: Isis Label: Ipecac Recordings Release Date: 10/19/04
Rating: 5 Skulls |
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Reviewed by Kefka X (11/12/04):
When compiling my top 5 albums of the past 5 years for the website, Isis' previous album, Oceanic, proudly took the throne at number 1. I have so many excellent things to say about this album and so little space to do so. To sum things up nicely, Oceanic, was not only the best metal album to come out in the past 5 years, it was also one of the most important to the history of rock in our modern era. When you talk about albums so powerful that they can change lives with one listen, Oceanic, was the one. To me, Oceanic, was the aural representation of the philosophical union of mind, body and spirit. Oceanic, was the voice of the Earth; organic, changing yet never ending. In three words, Oceanic, was god. If only more people had heard that album, it could have brought forth world peace. Yes, it was THAT good.So here's the follow-up to that opus. Panopticon continues the chain of thematic albums the band started with Celestial. Panopticon is impossible to listen to as a collection of songs; rather, Panopticon is one giant, hour-long masterpiece that engulfs the listener from start to finish. If you start the album at any track beyond the first, you're not getting the full effect.
Isis continues to utilize their wall-of-sound as the defining characteristic of their music. Guitars are hefty, perhaps some of the heaviest to come from any band in music today. The only major difference of style is that Aaron Turner uses more clean vocals on Panopticon than on Oceanic. If anything else, I would say that this album may be a bit less heavy and more progressive than Oceanic, but nothing drastic. Comparing the quality of Panopticon to Oceanic is a very, very painful thing for me to do. It's like comparing perfection to perfection. I can't do it. I'd have to say that I felt Oceanic was more adventurous, especially during its middle. Panopticon may not have a song that compares to "Weight," but from start to finish it holds its own.
Rather than to exceed the expectations set by Oceanic, Panopticon creates its own pace, its own entity, its own organic structure. What we have is another flawless album from a band whose legacy continues to evolve and grow. But not only is this an excellent, excellent album, this is an important chapter of Isis' story. Oceanic, was more than enough to develop the band's fan base and the respect from critics everywhere. Panopticon solidifies the band's status as one of the greatest metal AND rock bands of our modern generation of music. Don't be surprised if Isis ends up one of the most important names of rock in years to come.
And that's enough to exceed my expectations.
Album of the year.
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