The Panics

Characterised by their cinematic atmosphere, contemplative lyrics and deceptively absorbing melodies, The Panics were a beloved fixture of 2000s Australian indie rock.

Across a 14-year span of five albums and a handful of EPs, the quintet swept us up in their bittersweet sound — sometimes streaked with sun-soaked views of expansive landscapes, often haunting and dreamy.

You could hear the influence of Australian greats – the spaciousness of The Triffids, the moodiness of The Church, The Go-Betweens' pop nous – blending into a balance of bombast and thoughtful songwriting, like a hybrid of Augie March and Arcade Fire, fronted by the husky Dylanesque vocals of frontman and songwriter Jae Leffer.