(Panopticon’s 2013 split with Vestiges was probably my favorite in a year loaded with strong splits, and Kentucky was one of the truly great records of 2012 — nothing else like it. So you can imagine how excited I was when Austin Lunn agreed to share with us his list of favorite releases from 2013 — and a couple that will be coming in 2014 — with his comments about each one. I’ve added song or album streams where available.)
Year-end list in no particular order:
A Fall of Every Season: Amends
This is what Opeth SHOULD have turned into after Blackwater Park. This album is sheer brilliance.
Guy Clark : My Favorite Picture of You
After Guy’s beloved wife Susanna passed, this was his response. I can hardly make it through the album without a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat.
Ancestors Blood: A Moment of Clarity
I have loved this band for a long time, but this was a welcome evolution. Deathier vocals and more dark metal riffs… this record is NOT one to miss.
Cnoc An Tursa: The Giants of Auld
EPIC Scottish metal. This is the album I have been waiting for…
Thränenkind: The Elk
This album is one I keep coming back to… I know there is a lot of conflict around this band, but who fuckin cares?! Enjoy the incredible music and the passion they put into it. This album is dripping with atmosphere and emotion.
Lake Of Blood: Omnipotens Tyrannus
It is awesome to see the tyrants of California black metal return with a face melter. This album is full of aggression and tight performances… it is a step above!
(album stream here)
Fen: Dustwalker
An incredible metal answer to Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd. This album is so good. I loved The Malediction Fields, and this is the next step from there.
Blaze Foley and The Beaver Valley Boys : Cold Cold World
This is a vinyl reissue, but it has never been on wax. If you know me, which chances are if you are reading this you might… you know I have a tendency to love “sad bastard” music. My buddy Ben calls me a “bummer enthusiast”. Well, Blaze is my favorite of all of the sad bastards and I listen to his music constantly. This album finally hit wax 24 years after he was tragically murdered. Listen to him. He is amazing.
Gorguts: Colored Sands
The legends return. If you don’t like Gorguts, sounds like a personal problem. This album is everything I love about this band. When I was 18 I found them and they blew me away… nearly 13 years later this album is like finding them all over again…
Saor (Arsaidh): Roots
This album got more plays than I can count. Brilliant, emotional, cathartic Celtic Art.
Wędrujący Wiatr: Tam, gdzie Miesiąc opłakuje Świt
This album is amazing. Dark, moonlit black metal with traditional folk elements, nature samples… somewhere between Kroda and Drudkh, drenched in the same moonlight as In the Nightside Eclipse.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igkrn5cB85o
Encircling Sea: A Forgotten Land
A stunning homage to the beauty of Rob’s home land. This album is moving to the last. Stunning musicianship, recording, and songwriting. It doesn’t get much better than this… the perfect mix of black metal, doom, post rock… with passion!
Obsidian Tongue: A Nest of Ravens in the Throat of Time
This album is so strong… the performances are incredible… the recording is perfect… the art is amazing… If you like metal, you should be rocking this. Period.
Falkenbach: Asa
The best record Falkenbach has done since Ok Nefna Tysvar Ty. A true masterpiece of epic viking metal!
These last two records aren’t out yet, but I got advances and they are just too good to not mention:
Waldgeflüster: Meine Fesseln
This album is amazing to me. It is a beautiful album with stellar performances by some awesome musicians ( and friends)… but Winterherz’s songwriting is the light that shines the brightest. His album Femundsmarka was a musical turning point for me… and this album continues that development. It is a mind blowing album and I am excited to see it released in the USA on Bindrune Records.
Falls Of Rauros: Title TBA 2014 full-length
I got this album from the guys last week. I have listened to it over 30 times at this point. I make no secret about my feelings about this band… they are my favorite current American band… but this album… this may be my favorite record ever. This album is so heartbreaking… an achingly personal, specifically American record… drenched in North American folk, depressive rock, and Alt Country… haunting steel Guitar, pearly clean guitar tones, raging metal, blazing guitar solos, passionate vocals , thundering drums… all with a perfect, vintage sounding production… this record will be played and played throughout my life. Amazing. Simply Amazing.
19 Responses to “A YEAR-END LIST FROM AUSTIN LUNN (PANOPTICON)”
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Wędrujący Wiatr sounds right up my alley. Sound a little like Vemod.
Well that Falls of Rauros news is exciting! I’m really looking forward to hearing that.
I ain’t never heard of Wędrujący Wiatr before. They sound beautiful.
Cnoc an Tursa and The Fall of Every Season gets a mention. Got to check the rest
That Thränenkin is a fantastic mix of heavy and delicate. What’s the conflict surrounding the band? Is it because of the straight-edge/green/vegan thing?
My Lady brought me home that Guy Clark cd, it is a killer. Thanks for the heads up on the Blaze Foley have never heard of him, song sounds good!
Finally someone gave that Falkenbach album some love! Asa was my favorite album this year, just a killer folk/pagan/viking/black album.
Crap, that The Fall of Every Season album slipped by me this year, and I loved the previous one!
Also Obsidian Tongue.
Too much music, too little time!
Finally, someone else recognizes the brilliance of Cnoc An Tursa!
They were actually part of my “Best of…So Far”. Just couldnt find a way to slip them in by the end
They’re definitely on my list… whenever it gets posted.
It’s coming, it’s coming!
That Wędrujący Wiatr has been sitting on my “meant to listen to” list for awhile now…knew I shouldnt have put that off
If you love all these albums Austin how come you’re always playing Ulver at the brewery huh?
Great list but how about Das Tor by Paysage D’Hiver?? To me, that’s the best black metal album of 2013!! \m/
a great list, Omnipotens Tyrannus is awesome
Lists like these are one of the reasons I love this site.
Been living in Austin,Texas now for a decade and had never heard of Blaze Foley(who lived and was murdered in Austin.)until today. Well I downloaded Cold,Cold World today and was playing it at the bar I work at, sure as shit some guy at the bar starts talkin’ bout how Blaze used to come into the bar he worked at back in the day said Blaze would get kicked out all the time for causing shit. Thanks again!!!!!!!
Encircling Sea! only person besides myself i’ve seen with it on a year end list!