Isis’ genreless art metal album Panopticon, originally released in 2004, has been remastered and will be reissued with new packaging, and a 12-page booklet, on 29 April 2014 via Ipecac Recordings.
By definition, a panopticon is a circular built prison so that a guard in the middle can see all the prisoners without them being able to tell if they are being watched or not. Designed by the English philosopher and social theorist Jeremy Bentham in the late 18th century, philosopher Michel Foucault used the term in 1975 as a metaphor for modern “disciplinary” societies, for example the army, schools, and factories. More recently, the internet could be included as a panopticon style institution. These ideas are about power and surveillance.
Guitarist/vocalist Aaron Turner comments: “After some years away from the material, Panopticon now feels like the most optimistic of all the Isis albums, dark as the subject mater may be. Giving voice to my concerns about the loss of privacy and the deterioration of personal freedom through the lyrics on the album made those subjects weigh less heavily on my mind.
“Something about the sound of the songs feels open and bright to me as well – post-millennial depression and pre-apocalyptic paranoia hadn’t yet taken hold I suppose. Panopticon also feels like a turning point to me in the trajectory of Isis, and serves as a personal place-marker for me in terms of how the world of music and music consumption was shifting radically around that time.
“Things have certainly become cloudier since then and more uncertain – in that way the subject matter of Panopticon also now seems a bit premonitory.”
From drummer Aaron Harris: “I got the check disk from the manufacturer the other day and listened to Panopticon all the way through to make sure things were good to go. It was like taking a journey back in time. When Isis was playing these songs regularly I wasn’t able to enjoy them as a listener. Now that I haven’t played these songs in years they’ve taken on a whole new identity for me.
“Mika Jussila did an amazing job with the re-master. The record has more detail and dynamics now. I feel that re-masters sometime ruin the integrity of records, but I feel that fans will really appreciate this re-master, and maybe find a new appreciation for Panopticon, as I have.”
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