Vestiges and Panopticon are two fairly busy bands. Releasing plenty of full-lengths, EPs, splits, demos and the like over the past half decade or so, they both have similarities in work ethic. The music both bands create is expansive at times. Other times it can come across as visceral, either in sound or meaning, and at times both.
Vestiges get Side-A of this LP. Their two track contributions of ‘VII’ & ‘VIII’ bring a very melancholy sense of dismay. ‘VII’ being the dark five minute pre-face in a sense, to ‘VIII’. The story of nature’s balance being restored and reclaimed on Earth isn’t what most people think of when they speak of black metal. But in the true spirit, Vestiges do what they want and stick to it. The 13 minutes of scarring vocals, blast beats and high paced guitars do give way at times. Opening the track up with moody, droned out/doom parts, Vestiges simply know how to make a dynamic and powerful song. Any band that can keep my attention for 13 minutes is a rarity these days, but Vestiges know how to pack emotional and musical heft into a song that wouldn’t let me go.
Panopticon’s Side-B is a three song excursion, two originals and a cover of Suicide Nation’s ‘Collapse and Die’. Opening up with ‘A Letter’ Panopticon (who consist of one man doing all the work) sound a bit different at first. The sound of a plugging in guitar chord gives way to a not so black metal sound. Spacey guitars, vocals echoing desperation, and an audible bass-line throughout: it’s a stunning and powerful track. The peaks and valleys covered eventually give way to a claustrophobic closing, and exclamation point to end. ‘Eulogy’ is spaced out and dreamy with a forefront bass through half the song, while the other half breaks out a bit and picks up the pace, but not at sacrifice of the song. The melodies on end part of the song are there, albeit in different speeds. Finishing out the song is an open strummed/picked at will chord mix that sends it off perfectly. Panopticon’s cover that closes out the album sounds like it could be an original if you didn’t know the difference. Done well and with conviction. All that anyone in music needs to do.
If you are a fan of either Vestiges or Panopticon, or if you’re not close minded and enjoy good music, you should pick this split up. As an added bonus, Panopticon will be donating any money made from sales to the recent victims of the tornado outbreak in Okalahoma, USA. Support good music, and support your fellow man. This is an album you all need to hear, and purchase, for the betterment of us all.
You can order this album on wax through The Flenser or Replenish Records Stores, or purchase it digitally through either band’s Bandcamp pages.
HAIL!!!
