Band:	Falls Of Rauros
Album:	The Light That Dwells In Rotten Wood
Style:	Neofolk, Atmospheric black metal
Release date:	August 04, 2011
A review by:	Troy Killjoy

01. Earth's Old Timid Grace
02. Banished
03. Awaiting The Fire Or Flood That Awakes It
04. Nonesuch River Chant
05. Silence
06. The Cormorants Shiver On Their Rocks
07. All That Howling Fog [vinyl edition bonus]

Acrimonious Vagabond, Abhorrent Wayfarer... these are the names behind the Falls Of Rauros guise, the names that hold the key to a truly jovial existence. The Light That Dwells In Rotten Wood is but a staff that aids its bearer through the darkness, into the light at the end of the tunnel, roaming through lush forests and vast meadows. Here you will find Pagan mentors - but students of life - coexisting amongst the unblemished land, at one with nature and self.

The bleak and despairing emotions typical of atmospheric black metal are only present if sought, as the general laid-back attitude presented by these Americans should all but quell your deepest anxieties and most defeating self-deprecation. The raw feeling typical of traditional black metal is still present, yet there is a glow surrounding the songs that is scarce among the rest of the scene. Yin yang birch roots provide a balanced foundation, moving closer to an equilibrium that Hail Wind And Hewn Oak only narrowly missed, splicing neofolk and black metal without losing sight of one or the other.

Uplifting, epic riffs fill the soul with a warmth comparable to the likes of the mighty sun, not replacing decay but embracing it. Your internal struggles become a matter of ancient history, lost to the tides of time but not forgotten. Angst, despair, loss, apathy - these are all feelings that will be wrapped in blankets of soothing water, drifting away into streams of acceptance... streams given their own special sense of life with an almost hazy production that generates organic flavor.

The over-the-top dramatics here are but a mere reflection of the comforting atmosphere and lulling song structures. There is an incredibly well-crafted story of Pagan defiance and environmentalist survival within these songs, an almost archaic telling of black metal's strongest message: independence. In just 45 minutes Falls Of Rauros manage to consolidate their ideas and express their true feelings, and not entirely in typical black metal fashion. The Light That Dwells In Rotten Wood is a must for those seeking enlightenment beyond the knowledge of man or the knowledge of nature - but what can be achieved with knowledge of both.

Much like the Great River of Wilderland flows over the Falls of Rauros, so too does the river of love flow over the falls of life.