After the release of Collapse, Panopticon started to gain popularity in the black metal underground. The band eventually got signed to Flenser Records. You may remember them. They released Lament by Obolus, one of the best albums of 2012, so you know things were looking up for Panopticon. In an interview, Lundr said that Social Disservices would be his darkest album to date. After listening to it, let me tell you he wasn't kidding.
Social Disservices, as is obvious by its title, talks about social services and how it fails to actually help kids. Instead of actually helping kids get better, they either dope 'em up on pills that destroy their ability to think freely or they lock them away in mental institutions never to be seen again. I should know. I was one of those kids. Back in my teenage years, I was depressed. I had a long history of depression. Looking back on it now, I realize that depression is just a normal part of being a teenager, but the medical center thought I was on the verge of killing myself, so they took me away from my family for a weekend and did a whole bunch of evaluations on me. After a brain scan, they said I had epilepsy, even though I had never shown any signs of epilepsy. Any sign of epilepsy was just me being an autistic idiot, but they couldn't tell the difference. They decided to give me a whole bunch of pills for my problems instead of actually getting me any help. These pills essentially turned into a soulless husk that merely responded to external stimuli. I eventually stopped taking the pills because my family realized the medical center was just using them to milk money out of us. Fuck that medical center. Fuck them, fuck big pharma that produces those mind-destroying drugs, and fuck the government that encourages these institutions to turn kids into mental slaves.
Anyway, I need to stop talking about my personal problems and start talking about the music. It begins with the laughter of children, but then at the 1:00 mark, we hear the cocking of a gun, followed by some terrifying riffs and rampaging drums. One giant noticeable difference is Lundr's vocals. He's mainly done rasps with a few growls thrown in, but here, he lets loose these monstrous growls that are buried in reverb. The guitar tone is much deeper, which reflects the extremely dark subject matter of the album. The lyrics of Panopticon have always been quite poetic and filled with rich imagery, but here it's downright bone-chilling.
Profit maker. Human livestock. Misery harvest.
Bow to our monetary god, Child servant.
At the halfway point, a violin shows up and plays a melodic yet horrific melody, and Lundr belts out these screams that sound so reminiscent of Xasthur. When the high-pitched riffs appear, they no longer sound triumphant. They now sound mournful and rife with despair.
The second song, “Client”, is easily the most horrifying song on the album. The first two minutes consists of children crying. When I listened to this for the first time, I was hoping it would end soon, but it kept going on and on, and eventually I screamed, “OH GOD MAKE IT STOP!” Luckily the black metal came back in. The song structures share more similarities with old black metal. The guitars continue to play their mournful high-pitched riffs. The lyrics here are even more horrifying than they were on the last song.
Sob for your loss: The wolves will drink your tears.
Your misfortune will become their fortune.
As the song wears on, it starts to sound more like depressive black metal, quite appropriate given the subject matter of this song's lyrics. Near the end, the guitars show a bit of technical death metal influence with a bit of weedly-weedly. The song ends with a powerful, melodious solo.
The third song, “Subject”, sounds more like industrial metal, with its cold, mechanical beats and cymbal crashes. This all embodies the psychiatric industry so many children are forced through, warped by the demented hands of government monsters.
I own you: Trapped in a corner, fear in your eyes.
I own you: Alone and terrified, crying in the dark.
I own you: Slave to disorder, forever ensnared.
I own you and no one will ever care.
At the halfway point, a calm, heavenly voice appears, reflecting the optimism deep in your mind that you will escape this government hell. Suddenly, the riffs and tone become as optimistic as the voice. You know you'll escape this horrible place! You just know it!
Never give in, never give up.
The final song, “Patient”, reflects the mental trauma the government and the psychiatric industry has inflicted upon so many children. Their scars will never go away, but it makes no difference to the men in suits. They still turn a profit.
Take this pill. Worship this god. Wear a smile. Lie to the world.
Everything is alright.
No, you can't leave (Not until our pockets are full).
The music on this song feels much more vigorous, more energized, more hopeful. Now is the time to escape their clutches! Three-fourths of the way through, Lundr displays some of the best drumming he's ever done. So many wondrous, complex fills reverberate throughout the room. He also makes great use of clean guitars to bring the album to a satisfying resolution. This song maybe 20 minutes long, but they're definitely worth it. The last two minutes of the album are taken up by the sounds of footsteps through the forest. At last, you are free.
Social Disservices is one of the most emotionally powerful metal albums I've ever listened to. It was made with a level of honesty and sincerity that few metal albums can hope to match. Although the self-titled debut will always be my favorite Panopticon album, in terms of songwriting and musicianship, Social Disservices is easily his best.
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