Agalloch - Marrow Of The Spirit

I started listening to it, went through the intro song, then listened to the second, Into The Painted Grey, and stopped. I was scared that the rest of the album wouldn't be that good, since that song is a genuine masterpiece. Fortunately, the rest of the album is more than good, incredible piece of music.

As a fan of the band I'm a bit let down by this one. A few tracks seem to ramble without having a sense of coherent direction. The intro is too long, next two tracks are good, Black Lake could have about 6 mins chopped from it and it would work far better, especially the first 4.5mins which are pointless. Ghosts is decent but Drown could be dropped completely........looks like I'm saying this album is about 20mins too long!:) I'm not crazy about the sound of the snare drum either, a sharper sound ala their previous works would have worked better or maybe just raise it in the mix a bit......IMHO!:)

I love every thing about this album..music,album art,...
excellent

Now i understand the real power of metal!!!

Actually the only thing that I do not understand is the classification of this, for me isn't a Folk/Viking/pagan Album!

I've been listening to this album for a couple weeks now. Fairly consistently.

There are a lot of things about this album I like. I like how it holds together as a piece. I like the natural sounds.

But - possibly because the praise has been so over-the-top high in some quarters (Stereogum's Haunting the Chapel, for instance), I'm left a bit nonplussed. The cinematic aspect is done consistently better by (decidedly non-black metal) Mount Eerie. The recurring melody sounds lifted from the "Requiem for a Dream" Soundtrack.

Still? I'm listening. And there's so much I like.

In my opinion, some of the songs are too long for their own good, giving them an impression of being "stretched", in particular "Black Lake Nistang", the opening prelude and "To Drown"...the only song which feels perfectly-rounded to me is "Ghost of the Midwinter Fires"...the tedious length of the album doesn't help to hold my attention consistently, unfortunately. The weakest Agalloch album, but only relative to their previous ones.

This album is so melancholy.."Ghosts" is now my favorite song!

Written by Nocturno-Inculto on 01.03.2011 at 06:14

Actually the only thing that I do not understand is the classification of this, for me isn't a Folk/Viking/pagan Album!

The music not so much. The lyrics have pagan themes, but the music is too much of a mix of thigns to fit in the Folk/viking/pagan category.

Written by [user id=20536] on 08.05.2011 at 20:08

Written by Nocturno-Inculto on 01.03.2011 at 06:14

Actually the only thing that I do not understand is the classification of this, for me isn't a Folk/Viking/pagan Album!

The music not so much. The lyrics have pagan themes, but the music is too much of a mix of thigns to fit in the Folk/viking/pagan category.

Oh the lyrics!!!! I haven't read with too much attention the lyrics... ok I will!

Wow! 2nd in the year of 2010 and won the award for best album now this is way to hype they were better album out
lest year

Best album of 2010!!

Written by [user id=109200] on 06.03.2011 at 20:58

In my opinion, some of the songs are too long for their own good, giving them an impression of being "stretched", in particular "Black Lake Nistang", the opening prelude and "To Drown"...the only song which feels perfectly-rounded to me is "Ghost of the Midwinter Fires"...the tedious length of the album doesn't help to hold my attention consistently, unfortunately. The weakest Agalloch album, but only relative to their previous ones.

true..amen to that..but still a very strong album imo..cmon its agalloch..

What? Bonus tracks? MUST FIND.

Written by Timmeh on 09.05.2012 at 13:53

What? Bonus tracks? MUST FIND.

Where? When? How?

Written by tea[m]ster on 10.05.2012 at 05:41

Written by Timmeh on 09.05.2012 at 13:53

What? Bonus tracks? MUST FIND.

Where? When? How?

He's talking about the vinyl bonus tracks.

Indeed, they're excellent to I might add, Nihil Totem especially.

Written by X-Ray Rod on 10.05.2012 at 10:39

Written by tea[m]ster on 10.05.2012 at 05:41

Written by Timmeh on 09.05.2012 at 13:53

What? Bonus tracks? MUST FIND.

Where? When? How?

He's talking about the vinyl bonus tracks.

available digitally?

It's like Agalloch subconsciously made this album for my 17th birthday when it came out. The release date for this masterpiece is November 23, 2010, which was the day i turned 17 (I'm 18 at the time of this post), so that was nice of them (even though they aren't even aware of my existence but whatever :p). Very good album

As much as I love the past 3 albums this one, after having plenty of time to give it several spins, has come off as a bit of a disappointment. I really like the opening intro track and Ghosts of the Midwinter Falls, but none of the others tracks have as much of the bands character that Not Unlike The Waves had. I know everyone has really high expectations nowadays but Marrow is fourth and will probably remain at the bottom in ranking for Agalloch once album five is released (or so I hope).

Written by Gopherhawk on 16.08.2012 at 20:54

As much as I love the past 3 albums this one, after having plenty of time to give it several spins, has come off as a bit of a disappointment. I really like the opening intro track and Ghosts of the Midwinter Falls,

After several spins, you should at least know the song titles correctly.

Written by [user id=20536] on 16.08.2012 at 21:41

Written by Gopherhawk on 16.08.2012 at 20:54

As much as I love the past 3 albums this one, after having plenty of time to give it several spins, has come off as a bit of a disappointment. I really like the opening intro track and Ghosts of the Midwinter Falls,

After several spins, you should at least know the song titles correctly.

It is called They Escaped the Weight of Darkness, bud. I was pointing out that it was merely an intro track.

Written by Gopherhawk on 16.08.2012 at 22:05

Written by [user id=20536] on 16.08.2012 at 21:41

After several spins, you should at least know the song titles correctly.

It is called They Escaped the Weight of Darkness, bud. I was pointing out that it was merely an intro track.

It is called Ghosts of the Midwinter Fires, bud, not Falls.

Written by [user id=20536] on 16.08.2012 at 23:20

Written by Gopherhawk on 16.08.2012 at 22:05

Written by [user id=20536] on 16.08.2012 at 21:41

After several spins, you should at least know the song titles correctly.

It is called They Escaped the Weight of Darkness, bud. I was pointing out that it was merely an intro track.

It is called Ghosts of the Midwinter Fires, bud, not Falls.

Shame on you iTunes. Thanks man.

I guess I was too hard on this when it was released..... To Drown still sucks tho

Written by JÄY on 19.09.2012 at 23:24

I guess I was too hard on this when it was released..... To Drown still sucks tho

I don't really see "To Drown" as much of a song as I do an outro. I don't know how many people have figured it out but the intro is "They Escaped The Weight Of Darkness." So together it's They Escaped The Weight Of Darkness To Drown.

Written by [user id=20536] on 16.08.2012 at 21:41

After several spins, you should at least know the song titles correctly.

Not necessarily. I quite often listen to albums several times and then refer to the tracks as "track 1, track 2", especially when the song titles are difficult (not english, etc...) or when they're long.
On topic:
This album is great, but it's not as good as AATG and The Mantle. However, I'm liking this more Atmospheric black metal approach they've taken on Marrow and Faustian Echoes.

Written by [user id=20536] on 19.09.2012 at 23:39

Written by JÄY on 19.09.2012 at 23:24

I guess I was too hard on this when it was released..... To Drown still sucks tho

I don't really see "To Drown" as much of a song as I do an outro. I don't know how many people have figured it out but the intro is "They Escaped The Weight Of Darkness." So together it's They Escaped The Weight Of Darkness To Drown.

good call, sir

Written by [user id=20536] on 19.09.2012 at 23:39


I don't really see "To Drown" as much of a song as I do an outro. I don't know how many people have figured it out but the intro is "They Escaped The Weight Of Darkness." So together it's They Escaped The Weight Of Darkness To Drown.

...into another Not too hard to figure out if you read the lyrics or can figure them out by ear, it's pretty clear there.

Written by Unhealer on 20.09.2012 at 01:00

...into another Not too hard to figure out if you read the lyrics or can figure them out by ear, it's pretty clear there.

Yeah, but I'm sure that all users here have physical copies with the lyrics and have never downloaded anything, ever.