Agalloch - The Mantle (Song by Song)
| With: | Don Anderson [guitars, piano, songwriting] |
| Conducted by: | Dream Taster |
| Published: | 20.01.2005 |
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Band profile: |
Agalloch |
| Album info: | The Mantle |
01. A Celebration For The Death Of Man...
02. In The Shadow Of Our Pale Companion
03. Odal
04. I Am The Wooden Doors
05. The Lodge
06. You Were But A Ghost In My Arms
07. The Hawthorne Passage
08. ...And The Great Cold Death Of The Earth
09. A Desolation Song
01. A Celebration For The Death Of Man:
This is the main theme of The Mantle and repeats throughout the record at key moments. We typically think of humankind as a disease on the planet. This idea is representative of our inherent self-destruction.
02. In The Shadow Of Our Pale Companion:
I feel that this song is the best we have written together. All of our influences are evident. We even reference the Italian film composer, Ennio Morricone in the middle. I think this is the ideal Agalloch song, and represents everything we stand for musically and lyrically.
03. Odal:
A new approach to songwriting with a definite Godspeed You Black Emperor! influence. We were interested in attempting a new Agallochian vibe with this song.
04. I Am The Wooden Doors:
One of the first songs written for The Mantle, so it is not too far from the music on Pale Folklore.
05. The Lodge:
Not my favorite song on the album. This is more of a transition piece. The Mantle is meant to be listened to with headphones from start to finish without interruption. I think this song is best in context.
06. You Were But A Ghost In My Arms:
Another very early song, you can definitely hear Pale Folklore here.
07. The Hawthorne Passage:
This is a complex song because we were trying to make some bold steps while also attempting to convey the sensations of driving late at night in Portland. The Mantle has a strong city vibe, and this song captures that well I think. Our points of departure were Pink Floyd, Nick Cave, and Mono. The samples of cars were taken from underneath one of Portland's mighty bridges. I also tried to play a blues guitar solo, I think it went ok.
08. ?And The Great Cold Death Of The Earth:
Some diseases are irreversible.
09. A Desolation Song:
When all hope is lost and you have nowhere to go? This song was written as an accompaniment for people to drink themselves to death. "Tip the cup, feed the fire."
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Posted on 20.01.2005 by
Bringing you reviews of quality music and interesting questions such as: "A picture is worth a thousand words. How many words is a song worth?" I have only got so much patience and skills, you do the math. |
Comments
Comments: 7
Visited by: 294 users
| Uirapuru Liver Failure Posts: 2955  |
They have a good thematic... althou to me, the old seeing humans as a desease to the earth already became kinda lame  Nice description of ''?And The Great Cold Death Of The Earth''... no fillers.
----  ---- member of the true crusade against old school heavy metal, early 80s thrash, NWOBHM, traditional doom, first and second wave black metal, old school death metal, US power metal, 70s prog rock and atmospheric doomsludgestoner. o/
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| Ensiferumftw Posts: 7  |
When I first heard this album, it changed my life. It really makes you feel like you are lost in the forest with nothing and it's freezing but, you find the little bit of hope you have left and you are saved by a broken down cabin with a fire inside. Pure awesomeness if you ask me. 10/10
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| Archetype Posts: 253  |
Great album with such a fantastic atmosphere. It always manages to draw such vivid imagery in my mind; images of forests, desolation, both life and death and the contrasts of both light and darkness.
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| MetalBlashyrk456 Account deleted |
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| Iron Nostarion Maiden Whore Posts: 289  |
Hmm. "I Am The Wooden Doors" is my favorite here, and "You Were But A Ghost In My Arms" is one of the best imo. That means I should pick up Pale Folklore. 
---- To their tombs the people are immured, There is their gold, treasure and wealth, The only condition is to ignore them, Those who feed on corruption and weave death
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| Arcticus Posts: 191  |
Fascinating to see Don say that this album has a strong city vibe, when that would be the last way I (and I think most people) would describe this or any of Agalloch's music. "The Lodge" in particular has always struck me as a very nature-based piece (I'm sure the sounds of footsteps in snow probably contribute to this). I'll keep this intended perspective in mind next time I listen to The Mantle and see how it tracks after 20 years (!).
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| musclassia Staff Posts: 7651  |
"02. In The Shadow Of Our Pale Companion: I feel that this song is the best we have written together. All of our influences are evident. We even reference the Italian film composer, Ennio Morricone in the middle. I think this is the ideal Agalloch song, and represents everything we stand for musically and lyrically." Got to 100% agree with this, and I'm sure most people would probably agree Written by Arcticus on 21.09.2024 at 18:10 Yeah 100%; I did listen to this when walking around a quiet park in Stockholm once on a trip there, and it did fit with that, so I can kinda see how it might give off 'quiet urban' vibes, but definitely feels more connected to nature and sparseness than anything built-up
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