Agalloch - Marrow Of The Spirit review
| Band: | Agalloch |
| Album: | Marrow Of The Spirit |
| Style: | Neofolk, Atmospheric black metal |
| Release date: | November 23, 2010 |
| A review by: | Susan |
01. They Escaped The Weight Of Darkness
02. Into The Painted Grey
03. The Watcher's Monolith
04. Black Lake Niðstång
05. Ghosts Of The Midwinter Fires
06. To Drown
07. Nihil Totem [tour edition vinyl bonus]
08. The Weight Of Darkness [tour edition vinyl bonus]
Like remembering a dream, the opening minutes of this album serenade us with a haunting cello solo. The sound of a nearby forest stream provides a backdrop for this melody; it's a familiar yet distant setting. Have I been here before? Just as the dream becomes clearer and you reach that part of your memory that hides it, the crushing guitars break open the door and all hope is lost.
Agalloch once again accosts us with their inescapable heavy atmosphere. You will be brought to this place and made to listen, to feel. Musically, we're treated to a barrage of blast beats and intense cymbal work layered with dark melody and John Haughm's vocal attack (often almost black metal style vocals with excellent diction: nearly every lyric is understandable). If you expected a crushing, moody, intense, epic journey, then you guessed right. Sometimes the speed pushes and pulls us along this rough, forested path, other times we're staggering slowly through acoustic instrumentation and whispered vocals. Cold guitars lend their icy melody throughout.
Since the beginning, Agalloch has created a sound that is uniquely their own. Though they straddle many genres (bits of folk, black, doom, gothic, ambient) they are none of these and all of these. Fans from across the spectrum find a favourite ingredient in Agalloch and are uncontrollably drawn to the rest. Marrow of the Spirit seems to draw bits more from black and doom metal at times than some of their previous albums, but fans of their folk and ambient side will not be disappointed, there's plenty for everyone. And it's all in the atmosphere: despite the speedy drum work, you can soak up this album in front of a fire on a rainy night, if you so desire, or let the crushing intensity in with a more physical gesture, headbanging options included. There is no wrong way to let this music overtake you.
The album closes with "To Drown," a slower tempo track that seems to lead us on an endless death march. Relentless rhythm and those freezing cold guitars lead this mesmerizing 10-minute instrumental closer. In the last minute, the assault ends and it seems we've been led to the ocean. It is here that we are gently laid to rest, only to crave the journey once more.
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Written on 08.12.2010 by
Susan appreciates quality metal regardless of sub-genre. Metal Storm Staff since 2006. Twitter: @HeavyMetalSusan |
Comments
| spirit_inblack harshhead Posts: 715  |
It just came in the mail minitutes ago, but from what I heard, I'm about to be blown away. Will get back to post my thoughts after a few listens. 
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| JÄY Metal slave Posts: 1567  |
Written by spirit_inblack on 08.12.2010 at 19:54 its all downhill from painted gray...fer me anyway
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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted Written by JÄY on 08.12.2010 at 20:00 I'm not really one to comment as I only heard it the once and have never been a big fan (and most people seem to think this is a great album) but it was the same for me. The last few tracks didn't seem to go anywhere. But as I say I've never been that invested in their sound.
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| pazuzuovbabel Pazuzu Posts: 303  |
An amazing review, for an amazing album , i felt the music through ur words, AGALLOCH,, never disappoint
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| Elio Red Nightmare Posts: 4920  |
Album of the year  Into the Painted Grey may be the best track yeah, but The Watcher's Monolith and Black Fucking Lake Nidstang leave me speechless too. On the level of the other albums. Believe the hype.
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| Susan Smeghead Elite Posts: 6941  |
Yeah, Into the Painted Grey is EPIC, but I may have to choose To Drown as my favourite track. That second half "march" section is so completely mesmerizing to me. Hard to choose a favourite though!! It's just one continuous stream of crushing brilliance.
---- "A life all mine Is what I choose At the end of my days" --The Gathering "A Life All Mine" from Souvenirs
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| K✞ulu Seeker of Truth Posts: 2573  |
What a great review! I guess this was the ultimate impetus for me to finally listen to this album.
---- Savor what you feel and what you see Things that may not seem important now But may be tomorrow R.I.P. Chuck Schuldiner Satan was a Backstreet Boy
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| Yojimbo Posts: 232  |
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071  |
A huge disappointment this. After Against The Grain already being a step down from The Mantle this is an even bigger step down. DON'T believe the hype.
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996 
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| Darkside Momo Retired Elite Posts: 9089  |
Good review! I'm still not really into them (yet) but I guss I'll check it out!
---- My Author's Blog (in French)  "You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you" "I've lost too many years now I'm stealing back my soul I am awake"
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| Promonex Cathemeral Elite Posts: 9720  |
I'm on my second spin now and so far "Ghosts of the Midwinter Fires", "To Drown" and especially "Black Lake Nidstång" have impressed me the most. The whole thing still needs some time to sink in though. Unlike with their previous two albums I haven't had my mind blown from the very first note.
---- All life begins with Nu and ends with Nu... This is the truth! This is my belief! ...At least for now. - The Mystery of Life, Vol. 841 Ch. 26
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| Chainer Witch Hunter Gen Posts: 172  |
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 09.12.2010 at 00:17 Agreed. IMO the first track was long as shit and sets the tone for disappointment. That said the bar was set high, possibly even unreachable. A good album all in all, but its no Mantle thats for sure.
---- Written by Dangerboner on 02.11.2009 at 08:11
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| bluemobiusx Account deleted |
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| spirit_inblack harshhead Posts: 715 |
Written by [user id=20536] on 09.12.2010 at 03:18 You're joking, right??? I think the "hype" that Marcel refers to is the fact that this was probably the album that was looked forward to most this year, and Agalloch-ites around the globe are proclaiming it as another flawless masterpiece. It's even been referred to as the best metal album of the past decade or so in some publication I had read. That's the hype. You're right though, and after a listen I personally liked it, although it didn't have that same appeal the last albums have. Now I can actually hear where the doom is in their music. 
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| Thryce Retired Staff Elite Posts: 4346  |
Disappointment of the year, as far as I'm concerned.
---- Your favorite band sucks.
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| Kevorkian Posts: 76  |
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| Daniell _爱情_ Elite Posts: 6101  |
I was about to review this album. I listened to it 15 times (I always count, and my absolute minimum for reviewing is 10 times). I sat in front of my keyboard and then I felt I wasn't ready. I spent several days listening to the album 10 more times. I wrote the damn review and didn't submit it. I may, but in a few months, when I'm sure about what I wrote. Why so much commotion? Because this album disappointed me like no other album for the last few years. Because I still can't believe that one of my favourite bands could release such a barren, lifeless album, full of ideas that go nowhere and don't mean much. If I hadn't listened to this album before reading the review, I would have expected a lot. The review is excellent, 10 times better than the album
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| Thryce Retired Staff Elite Posts: 4346 |
Written by [user id=20536] on 09.12.2010 at 05:37 You sound just like my shrink.
---- Your favorite band sucks.
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| Jeeers Posts: 195  |
Definitely not a bad album, but compared to their previous ones - a step down. A slight dissappointment this is ... for me, anyway.
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| annodomini Posts: 784  |
Written by [user id=100467] on 09.12.2010 at 01:52 I am not so sure, that Akphaezya will get to 2010 train on time.
---- the riddle wants to be...
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| whitepawel Posts: 68 |
Written by Thryce on 09.12.2010 at 04:25 I'm with you man 
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| kiwi33 Posts: 1 |
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| Raiden Down Under Staff Elite Posts: 8292  |
Written by Daniell on 09.12.2010 at 10:08 The more opinions the better! I remember we had three reviews of a particular Moonspell album all posted on the one day. I personally quite liked this album. While it's somewhat different from what I've heard from Agalloch before, Marrow Of The Spirit is still quite a journey!
---- "Scream for me Melbourne!!!!" - Bruce Dickinson "I don't see any god up here" - Yuri Gagarin (while in orbit, 1961)
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| Elio Red Nightmare Posts: 4920 |
Written by [user id=20536] on 09.12.2010 at 03:18 Guess he refers to my ending line "Believe the hype"  well, to each one is own, right?
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071 |
@elio. Yes it was a reference to your "believe the hype" but also a reference to, was it NWA's or Run DMC's "don't believe the hype"
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
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| annodomini Posts: 784 |
Written by [user id=100467] on 09.12.2010 at 17:40 I still hope that Akphaezya comes next year, cause 2010 is a shitty for music, and its better for them to lay down next year. For e the best album of the year is Pin Up Went Down - 342, and I will put agalloch somewhere between 6-10 places.
---- the riddle wants to be...
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