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Agalloch - The Serpent & The Sphere



8 | 695 votes |
Release date: 13 May 2014
Style: Neofolk, Atmospheric black metal

Owners:

508 have it
81 want it


01. Birth And Death Of The Pillars Of Creation
02. (Serpens Caput)
03. The Astral Dialogue
04. Dark Matter Gods
05. Celestial Effigy
06. Cor Serpentis (The Sphere)
07. Vales Beyond Dimension
08. Plateau Of The Ages
09. (Serpens Cauda)
10. Omega Serpentis [Japanese bonus]
11. Sigma Serpentis [Japanese bonus]

The Best Melodic Black Metal Album Of 2014
Featured in "Getting Into: Agalloch"

Line-up
John Haughm - vocals, guitars, percussion, zither
Don Anderson - guitars, mellotron, backing vocals
Aesop Dekker - drums, percussion
Jason William Walton - bass

Additional musicians:
Nathanaël Larochette - acoustic guitars
B. Anderson - piano, throat singing
Veleda Thorsson - electric saw, waterphone
R. Sforcina - synthesizers, oscillation & wires

Additional info
Produced by Billy Anderson and Agalloch.

Recorded at Cloud City and mixed at Everything Hz by Billy Anderson. Guest appearance by guitarist Nathanaël Larochette of Musk Ox, who wrote and provided the album's acoustic interludes.

Staff review by
R'Vannith
Rating:
8.3
Agalloch have never favoured doom as forcefully as they have on The Serpent & The Sphere. So blatantly delivered, it would appear that this new resolve has completely shattered their ability and will to instil the expected level of atmosphere in their fifth full-length effort. But appearances can be deceiving.

Read more ››
published 13.05.2014 | Comments (39)

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Comments

Comments: 222   Visited by: 1690 users
31.01.2014 - 20:22
Rating: 7
Risto
Wandering Midget
The release date is wrong. I've no idea why it's 13 April because I submitted it with 13 May.
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31.01.2014 - 20:24
no one
Account deleted
Ill save the "holy shit"until i have actually heard it
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31.01.2014 - 20:35
Rating: 9
Himedal
Seriously? Can't fucking wait.
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What goes by is life to be taken
The doom calls upon the forsaken
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31.01.2014 - 20:39
Rating: 7
CobiWan1993
Secundum Filium
Cool title! Can't wait to get blown away.
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Ordinary men hate solitude. But the Master makes use of it, embracing his aloneness, realizing he is one with the whole universe (Lao Tzu).
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31.01.2014 - 20:45
Cynic Metalhead
Ambrish Saxena
Written by Risto on 31.01.2014 at 20:22

The release date is wrong. I've no idea why it's 13 April because I submitted it with 13 May.

Its 13th May.

Something wrong with your eyes?
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31.01.2014 - 20:45
Rating: 7
Erik M.
Hopefully this will be in the vein of Ashes Against the Grain and The Mantle (without the instrumental tracks ). Needless to say, I'm definitely looking forward to this.
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31.01.2014 - 21:31
no one
Account deleted
Written by Himedal on 31.01.2014 at 20:35

Seriously? Can't fucking wait.

yeah, i'm not going to poo my pants about an album i haven't even heard a song from yet, but yes i look forward to hearing it
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31.01.2014 - 23:16
Rating: 6
mz
Ok 5 days after my birthday. I can somehow consider this as a present. Better be good guys
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Giving my ears a rest from music.
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31.01.2014 - 23:41
Rating: 8
Gopherhawk
Phug yea
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Follow your heart, not trends.
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01.02.2014 - 02:15
Rating: 8
Yugosaki
I can not wait
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaEBpRWr2IA
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01.02.2014 - 02:54
Rating: 9
Mechaniacal
Album of the year.
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01.02.2014 - 03:30
no one
Account deleted
Written by Mechaniacal on 01.02.2014 at 02:54

Album of the year.

how can you make that statement when you haven't even heard it and the year is only one month in
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01.02.2014 - 17:12
Rating: 7
Troy Killjoy
perfunctionist
Staff
Written by [user id=136611] on 01.02.2014 at 03:30
how can you make that statement when you haven't even heard it and the year is only one month in

High expectations.
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"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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01.02.2014 - 18:06
Rating: 8
Daniell
_爱情_
Elite
Written by Mechaniacal on 01.02.2014 at 02:54

Album of the year.

that's internet album voting in a nutshell.
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01.02.2014 - 18:28
Boxcar Willy
yr a kook
Written by Daniell on 01.02.2014 at 18:06

that's internet album voting in a nutshell.

Agreed wholeheartedly.
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14:22 - Marcel Hubregtse
I do your mum

DESTROY DRUM TRIGGERS
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01.02.2014 - 23:25
Rating: 9
Mechaniacal
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02.02.2014 - 17:06
Rating: 7
tea[m]ster
Au Pays Natal
Contributor
Am I the only one who absolutely loves Marrow and the Spirit? Come on people...
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rekt
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02.02.2014 - 17:12
Rating: 8
Unhealer
Eclecticist
Written by tea[m]ster on 02.02.2014 at 17:06

Am I the only one who absolutely loves Marrow and the Spirit? Come on people...

My favorite by Agalloch I hope they continue that path, but adding more clean vocals doesn't sound like a bad idea.
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02.02.2014 - 17:20
Rating: 8
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Staff
Written by Unhealer on 02.02.2014 at 17:12
I hope they continue that path.

What path? That's something that has been bothering me recently. Granted, it's been a while since I listened to their last album but I never seem to recall what everybody considers a change in style/sound, whatever. I always thought it was what you could expect from Agalloch.......... Although a bit uninspired compared to everything else they did before.
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass

Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.

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02.02.2014 - 17:28
Rating: 8
Unhealer
Eclecticist
Written by X-Ray Rod on 02.02.2014 at 17:20

Written by Unhealer on 02.02.2014 at 17:12
I hope they continue that path.

What path? That's something that has been bothering me recently. Granted, it's been a while since I listened to their last album but I never seem to recall what everybody considers a change in style/sound, whatever. I always thought it was what you could expect from Agalloch.......... Although a bit uninspired compared to everything else they did before.

They sound more raw than they did on Mantle and Ashes, there's a higher bet on their black metal side on Marrow and on Faustian Echoes as well. Also, I don't remember hearing those ambient-driven moments you can find on Marrow in their previous efforts.
And as my previous comment implied, the clean vocals are practically gone.

That is enough for me to consider a change in their path, not that they stopped being Agalloch or anything.
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02.02.2014 - 17:31
Rating: 8
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Staff
Written by Unhealer on 02.02.2014 at 17:28

They sound more raw than they did on Mantle and Ashes, there's a higher bet on their black metal side on Marrow and on Faustian Echoes as well. Also, I don't remember hearing those ambient-driven moments you can find on Marrow in their previous efforts.
And as my previous comment implied, the clean vocals are practically gone.

That is enough for me to consider a change in their path, not that they stopped being Agalloch or anything.

Thank you for the two cents. I'll give it a listen with that in mind.
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass

Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.

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02.02.2014 - 17:33
Rating: 7
tea[m]ster
Au Pays Natal
Contributor
Written by Unhealer on 02.02.2014 at 17:28

Written by X-Ray Rod on 02.02.2014 at 17:20

Written by Unhealer on 02.02.2014 at 17:12
I hope they continue that path.

What path? That's something that has been bothering me recently. Granted, it's been a while since I listened to their last album but I never seem to recall what everybody considers a change in style/sound, whatever. I always thought it was what you could expect from Agalloch.......... Although a bit uninspired compared to everything else they did before.

They sound more raw than they did on Mantle and Ashes, there's a higher bet on their black metal side on Marrow and on Faustian Echoes as well.

Kaboom, big fucking kaboom! You nailed it!
----
rekt
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02.02.2014 - 17:43
Rating: 8
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Staff
Faustian Echoes... Now that one I do recall. That one just passed right through me. Not really interesting. Then again, I should revisit it.
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass

Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.

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04.02.2014 - 03:47
Saiyanity
Written by tea[m]ster on 02.02.2014 at 17:06

Am I the only one who absolutely loves Marrow and the Spirit? Come on people...

I'm with you, probably my favorite of theirs alongside The Mantle.
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13.02.2014 - 18:23
BlueMobius
Account deleted
Written by Unhealer on 02.02.2014 at 17:12

Written by tea[m]ster on 02.02.2014 at 17:06

Am I the only one who absolutely loves Marrow and the Spirit? Come on people...

My favorite by Agalloch I hope they continue that path, but adding more clean vocals doesn't sound like a bad idea.

From all indications from the band, especially JH on his Facebook artist page, the album isn't in the direction of Marrow.
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13.02.2014 - 19:25
Rating: 8
Unhealer
Eclecticist
Written by [user id=20536] on 13.02.2014 at 18:23

From all indications from the band, especially JH on his Facebook artist page, the album isn't in the direction of Marrow.

Just read those, too bad! At least he also said they not going 70's prog
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13.02.2014 - 19:50
Rating: 8
Daniell
_爱情_
Elite
Written by [user id=20536] on 13.02.2014 at 18:23

From all indications from the band, especially JH on his Facebook artist page, the album isn't in the direction of Marrow.

That's some great news.
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26.02.2014 - 22:47
Marikanator
Can't wait for this release!
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27.02.2014 - 06:27
no one
Account deleted
Written by deadone on 26.02.2014 at 23:46

Oh crap...I know what's going to dominate this and other forums for the rest of the year.

probably... well we know it won't be any of your crappy bands that will be dominating anyway
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29.03.2014 - 21:20
Rating: 7
Erik M.
Written by Daniell on 13.02.2014 at 19:50

Written by [user id=20536] on 13.02.2014 at 18:23

From all indications from the band, especially JH on his Facebook artist page, the album isn't in the direction of Marrow.

That's some great news.

Indeed. For a long time I thought I was in the minority about liking Marrow the least out of all full-length albums, but it seems most people feel like this. For the record, I love black metal in general, but Agalloch going more BM than usual with Marrow didn't really suit them. They're at their best when they play a style like is heard on The Mantle and Ashes Against the Grain.

Having heard the new track made me very excited for this release. If the whole album is as great as that track, we have a serious AotY contender already.
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