Agalloch - The Mantle Review

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Agalloch - The Mantle
Agalloch - The Mantle

Contents

General Information

Original Author: Fsgdjv

Artist: Agalloch

Album: The Mantle

Genre: Atmospheric Folk/Dark Metal

Label: The End Records

Released: 2002

Tracks

1. A Celebration For The Death Of Man...
2. In The Shadow Of Our Pale Companion
3. Odal
4. I Am The Wooden Doors
5. The Lodge
6. You Were But A Ghost In My Arms
7. The Hawthorne Passage
8. ...And The Great Cold Death Of The Earth
9. A Desolation Song

Introduction

For those of you who aren't familiar with Agalloch, first of all, It doesn't matter what music taste you have, at least check them out, this is the band that I would recomend to anyone that's even slightly interested in music. With that being said, Agalloch is an experimental metal band, with it's roots in black, doom and folk metal, but with influences of post-rock.

Review

This is their second LP, and the first one with post-rock influences. The sound is very minimalistic, less really is more when it comes to Agalloch, except where more is used less. (ok, that didn't make sense to me either, but it sounds good, so I'll leave it) These guys can shred when they want, and that makes me admire their choise to not do it overly complicated even more. The sound is incerdibly atmospheric, and it sometimes reminds me of Bergtatt - Et Eeventyr i 5 Capitler by Ulver (who just happens to have the same label as Agalloch ) and that is one of the best things I could say about a record. There are lots of songs with clean vocals, but the characteristic growl is also there, it might take a time getting used to, but once you do, you realise that this is perfect (untill you listen to Ashes Against the Grain and the song Not Unlike the Waves, but that's another story). The all acoustic tracks are my favourites, with the last song, A Desolation Song as my favourite, there is so much feeling to it, and I'm not talking about a lot of bends here, the song is just strummed cords, and some other instruments apart from the guitar, of course. The song does something with your mind, whenever I'm finished listening to that song I don't feel like doing anything, it's too overwhelming. All other songs are great aswell, but I don't have the time to write about all the songs, I'll just say that there's a certain mood that hits you after the first few seconds of the first song, and it stays during the entire record and for a while after that aswell. The mood isn't violent of anything, it's more.. empty and lonely, but still so incredibly beautiful. If I ever want to cry, this is the album of choice, but even if I don't, if I just want to calm down and think for a while, or clear my mind, this album does the job. I can even take out this album if I want to listen to some good music!

Rating

Anyways, 10/10, one of my favourite albums, and one of my favourite bands alongside with Ulver, Katatonia, Opeth, and Isis.

video

Oh, and I dug up a youtube link for those of you who got this far.



Editorial note: published 14 aug 2007