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Agalloch - Marrow Of The Spirit



8.6 | 1021 votes |
Release date: 23 November 2010
Style: Neofolk, Atmospheric black metal

Owners:

942 have it
125 want it
1 trades it


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]

The Best Pagan/Viking/Folk Metal Album Of 2010
Top 20 albums of 2010: 4
Featured in "Getting Into: Agalloch"

Line-up
John Haughm - vocals, guitar
Don Anderson - guitars, piano
Aesop Dekker - drums
Jason William Walton - bass

Guest musicians
Nathan Carson - synthesizer, vibraphone, glockenspiel
Jeffrey Neblock - piano, field recordings
Veleda Thorsson - percussion
Jackie Perez Gratz - cello
Steven Wray Lobdell - backing vocals

Staff review by
Susan
Rating:
N/A
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.

Read more ››
published 08.12.2010 | Comments (96)

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Comments: 108   Visited by: 2310 users
22.02.2011 - 13:53
Øyvind
Grave Digger
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.
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23.02.2011 - 08:22
Rating: 7
Bigpaul
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!:)
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26.02.2011 - 14:33
Rating: 10
azhidahakk
I love every thing about this album..music,album art,...
excellent
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26.02.2011 - 23:53
Saeed_p
Now i understand the real power of metal!!!
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01.03.2011 - 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!
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04.03.2011 - 06:46
Rating: 9
Katydidknot
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.
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06.03.2011 - 20:58
MechanisT
Account deleted
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.
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23.04.2011 - 13:27
Rating: 10
This album is so melancholy.."Ghosts" is now my favorite song!
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08.05.2011 - 20:08
bluemobiusx
Account deleted
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.
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10.05.2011 - 09:07
Written by Guest 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!
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28.05.2011 - 22:32
Rating: 7
To The Void
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
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16.02.2012 - 18:24
Rating: 10
meadow
Best album of 2010!!
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29.02.2012 - 11:08
Rating: 9
Melkor
Written by Guest 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..
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09.05.2012 - 13:53
Timmeh
Dudeman
What? Bonus tracks? MUST FIND.
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10.05.2012 - 05:41
Rating: 9
tea[m]ster
Au Pays Natal
contributor
Written by Timmeh on 09.05.2012 at 13:53

What? Bonus tracks? MUST FIND.


Where? When? How?
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rekt
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10.05.2012 - 10:39
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
staff
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.
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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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10.05.2012 - 11:17
Timmeh
Dudeman
Indeed, they're excellent to I might add, Nihil Totem especially.
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11.05.2012 - 04:32
Rating: 9
tea[m]ster
Au Pays Natal
contributor
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?
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rekt
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13.06.2012 - 22:47
Rating: 8
CobiWan1993
Secundum Filium
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
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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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16.08.2012 - 20:54
Rating: 7
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).
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Follow your heart, not trends.
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16.08.2012 - 21:41
BlueMobius
Account deleted
Written by gopherhawk2@gmail.co 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.
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16.08.2012 - 22:05
Rating: 7
Written by Guest on 16.08.2012 at 21:41

Written by gopherhawk2@gmail.co 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.
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Follow your heart, not trends.
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16.08.2012 - 23:20
BlueMobius
Account deleted
Written by gopherhawk2@gmail.co on 16.08.2012 at 22:05

Written by Guest 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.
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17.08.2012 - 02:40
Rating: 7
Written by Guest on 16.08.2012 at 23:20

Written by gopherhawk2@gmail.co on 16.08.2012 at 22:05

Written by Guest 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.
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Follow your heart, not trends.
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19.09.2012 - 23:24
Rating: 8
JÄY
Metal slave
I guess I was too hard on this when it was released..... To Drown still sucks tho
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19.09.2012 - 23:39
BlueMobius
Account deleted
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.
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19.09.2012 - 23:54
Rating: 9
Oaken
Hipster
Written by Guest 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.
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In that case, man is only air as well.
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19.09.2012 - 23:57
Rating: 8
JÄY
Metal slave
Written by Guest 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
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20.09.2012 - 01:00
Rating: 10
Unhealer
Eclecticist
Written by Guest 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.
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20.09.2012 - 03:41
BlueMobius
Account deleted
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.
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