Since it's finally starting to feel like autumn around here, I've been breaking out some of my fall favorites, so here's a repost of this autumnal masterpiece for those poor souls who may still be unaware of its brilliance after all these years. Every year my listening habits become quite a bit more specific as soon as the official launch of the fall season hits in late-September and the nights grow longer. I tend to listen to even more Katatonia than usual, and frequently find myself spinning some of my favorites from the darker, colder, more atmospheric realm of the metal world. And here we are with one of my absolute favorites from what I feel is one of the greatest metal bands of all time, and certainly one of the top five bands active today in the metal scene: Agalloch. I can't believe it's been nearly a decade since their debut full-length, "Pale Folklore", was released. This was one of the first CD's I ever got to review when I started my site nearly nine years ago that actually blew my fucking mind right from the start—immediately solidifying the band's position at the top of my list, where they've stayed ever since thanks to a faultless discography that all comes very highly recommended from this end.
There's plenty of information on these guys out there since they're still around, so I'm not going to bother with any history, all I can do is absolutely gush over their painfully moving music in all its spectacular glory: Be it powerful expressions of complete and utter nihilism, diverse musical explorations of the sinister and less traditional underbelly of the metal genre, or sheer depressing overtones—the lyrics, the music, the feeling... it's all fucking impeccable, and many of the songs on this record still give me chills with every listen (a very rare occurrence for me). I'm also not going to pigeonhole the music, as Agalloch is truly its own entity and many influences are built upon throughout their work. Let these two songs provide but a mere example of what brilliance the album offers (be aware that the first track below is the final portion of a much longer three-part epic, so the start may seem a little odd out of context):
Agalloch "She Painted Fire Across the Skyline (Part III)"
Agalloch "As Embers Dress the Sky"
And I am left with nothing but an oath that gleams like a sword, to bathe in the blood of man. Mankind...
Purchase:
The End Records (CD)
Amazon.com (mp3)
Comments
Here here! (hear hear?) This album has an awesome atmosphere to it and deserves another spin. Their full length (several years after this release), “The Mantle” is also good, but hits me a different way. It’s noticably tighter though.
9.28.2005 | By jeff
Holy shit, you weren’t kidding. Sort of reminds me of early Ulver crossed with My Dying Bride.
9.28.2005 | By cliff
This band is great, I should listen to them more often!! Also, in reference to your cry for more BM Andrew, I can refer you to the excellent supernal music label in sunny old England.
I’m sure you’d feel some of their stuff, in particular Astrofaes (or some shit like that) and Drudkh, however price wise….you may have to search around, Red Stream are quite good and I think they have a lot of the Supernal titles….
9.29.2005 | By Anonymous
sorry, that was me that made the previous comment…
9.29.2005 | By xbenx
i never followed this band until hearing The Mantle which is killer…although i am still somewhat unfamiliar with older shit.
good reminder to check it out.
Drudkh gets a thumbs up here.
9.29.2005 | By jim fucking winters
I’m very much enjoying this. Thanks for posting it.
9.29.2005 | By james
Great choice for this time of year. It seems like bands like Agalloch and Paradise Lost were made for the gray skies and fall and winter days of Pittsburgh.
9.29.2005 | By Anonymous
AW YEAH! Once again Andrew you cease to amaze me with these bands! Awesome music! good looking out.
9.29.2005 | By Adrianoso
i actually bought this baby blindly after reading the review on the old site. haven’t regretted it, though, it’s emotional as fuck. real spine-chilling stuff. forgot about it later on, pulled it out now (wouldn’t have “felt” it during the summer anyways), thanks for the reminder.
9.30.2005 | By chris
Goddamn, this band is awesome. I had never heard them until this post, so thanks! I love this kind of shit…
10.6.2005 | By Scott
I love this band, they remind me in some ways of older opeth and late primordial in the vast epicness of their work. I am always searching for more music in the vein. any one have suggestions email me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Also i have both the album in question and the mantle but cant find their ep and any info on other material if any one knows… thanks. Also the three parts of she painted fire across the skyline are utterly amazing.
10.22.2005 | By primalvoid
BAAATHE IN THE BLOOD OF MAAAAAN
11.1.2005 | By Anonymous
best
album
from
best
band
ever
.
11.2.2005 | By Anonymous
I love agalloch so much. Oh my god! They are so great, and so hot, and oh my god! They are just so great and sexy…
oh my god!
JWW
11.9.2005 | By Anonymous
I think I discovered this album on you blog site. Since then I bought several of their releases.
I wish I would get “of stone, wind and pillor” but it’s selling for around 100$ on eBay which is sick. Cover of Kneel to the Cross is legendary.
This band is so good. Never dissapoint. Never.
It’s among Weakling, Drudkh, Wolves in the Throne Room and some other bands that can really “put” nature into the music. The feeling you are walking in the forest, or somewhere in the nature in autumn or winter, away from civilization.
great, great band. Pure art!
10.20.2008 | By Carlos
Seriously?
I mean, the music is solid, but that ‘angry talking voice’ in the beginning of first song? The woman singing? I know this was released in 1999, but it seems like some sort of Cradle Of Filth copy. I enjoy early Cradle of Filth, so this is not a dig…it just seems amateur.
I guess I’m clearly in the minority here…
10.21.2008 | By Chris
What!? No way! I can’t stand Cradle of Filth. I liked “Cruelty and the Beast” for a year or two, but I can’t even listen to that now. There’s no similarity! Agalloch decimates ‘em on every level…
10.21.2008 | By Andrew Aversionline
Not that it needs to be said at this point, but this album is completely unfuckwithable. So good.
10.21.2008 | By Grist
I bought this album after reading about it almost ten years ago on your site [I cant believe I’ve been reading this thing religiously since 2000/ 2001], one of my favorite “autumn” albums of all time… and agalloch are still one of the best bands going.
you should hook up a katatonia post in honor of the season
10.21.2008 | By moose
“# Anonymous said:
November 9th, 2005 @ 6:30 pm
I love agalloch so much. Oh my god! They are so great, and so hot, and oh my god! They are just so great and sexy…
oh my god!
JWW”
lmfao. agallochj reads this blog. kinda cool
10.22.2008 | By Anonymous
Chris I know you are crazy but the comment you wrote about Agalloch is just insane!
:)))
10.22.2008 | By Carlos
Agree to disagree.
: )
10.22.2008 | By Chris
on drudkh:
even though i really like the music, the hardcore kid in me just won’t let me get into them (due to the fact that they have members of hate forest, an nsbm band).
it’s ridiculous how much i over-philosophize about whether or not i should listen to ‘em
10.23.2008 | By jason
fuck that. I don’t know why people are so bothering if somebody is in NSBM or playing “catholic” metal or whatever. Yeah yeah different opinions but fuck that. I just can’t stand when people are crying about the this shit. For me the music it’s the most important thing. What if somebody will somebody reveal that Beatles where all in KGB or something… I mean I hate when people are making barriers to themselves because somebody else someday said that that ain’t good.
10.24.2008 | By Carlos
Nah, I can totally, totally understand that way of thinking. I used to be exactly the same way for many, many years, but in more recent times I’ve decided that I’m quite secure enough in my own beliefs to accept listening to bands whose members’ “political” (for lack of a better term) views I don’t agree with, as long as I buy the album (if it’s still in print) from a label that I feel comfortable giving money to. Granted there are still only like two or three bands specific enough to have made me consider such decisions, but when it all comes down to it I listen to christian bands, satanic bands, krishna bands… all kinds of stuff that doesn’t have anything to do with my personal beliefs, so…
But I can understand where Jason’s coming from, definitely.
10.24.2008 | By Andrew Aversionline
really? you don’t understand why people wouldn’t want to listen to music made by a bunch of nazis? it’s that difficult of a concept that you can’t fathom it? maybe you mean to say you don’t agree, rather than you don’t understand, because it’s quite simple to merely understand.
then you try to equate “catholic” metal and nsbm as if it’s somehow the same principle of merely agreeing or disagreeing with certain ideologies. should i even have to mention the absurdity of believing in god being “as bad as” being racist/fascist/whatever?
there aren’t too many bands that espouse my beliefs exactly. for the most part i don’t exclude listening to bands that run counter to what i believe. but i don’t think it’s completely insane that there are some lines (or “barriers”) that i’d rather not cross. i suppose that’s just the “more than just music” hardcore ethos from long ago coming out of me.
ah well. i’m secure in what i believe as well, but there’s a few bands that it’s hard to make a decision about whether or not i should support. that’s all
10.25.2008 | By jason
well one thing it’s listening and one it’s buying. but nevertheless how can you be sure that band is sincere in way of presenting itself to the public. I can make the whole album just about my holidays but in true everything is metaphorical and I the end the album talks about how I hate this and that kind of people. I know a lot of people who laugh at jokes about Jews and Afroamericans but so what? are they racist? I know that most of them (probably) aren’t but whatever, I mean the world is not perfect.
I somewhat understand your opinions but for me is concerning about bands ideological aspects complete bullshit.
10.26.2008 | By Carlos
I hated John Wayne for years because MDC said he was a Nazi and the Dead Kennedys made fun of cowboys. Then one day when I was older I discovered RIO BRAVO is actually a really good movie. That put me off my game for awhile, but I got over it. Jamming to Radioactive Chocolate right now. Don’t have a problem with it either.
10.27.2008 | By Straight Up Realism
AGALOCH IS A GOOD BAND.
10.27.2008 | By AKBAR