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 AGALLOCH
The Mantle
2002
CD
The End Records TEO28
Licensed in Europe by Prophecy Produtions/Grau Music ref. grau1.
This is the third release from Agalloch from Portland, OR. There are
many styles here ranging from black metal to post-rock to neofolk. Their influences
include Pink Floyd, Godspeed You Black Emperor and Sol Invictus.
Its opener, 'A Celebration For The Death Of Man', is a quite slow, acoustic
instrumental aided by the occasional beating of drums. 'In The Shadow Of Our
Pale Companion' follows on in similar style - melodic with jangly acoustic guitar
throughout - although metal electric guitar weaves its way in and out. The vocals
range between whispery growling black metal and a deeper goth style. This song
is quite long and its style drifts into 70s prog rock. 'Odal' also seems quite
fitting to that category. It's another instrumental, quite mellow and also filled
with goth elements. 'I Am The Wooden Doors' Is the first of a more metal influence.
Those whispery growling vocals seem well at home here. 'The Lodge' is another
subtle instrumental to calm things down whilst 'You Were A Ghost In My Arms'
brings us more metal, this time with a strong folk feel to it. 'The Hawthorn
Passage' is the last of the instrumentals. It's more epic prog rock with some
jangly acoustic guitar. It develops into some pounding electric guitar led indie.
'And The Great Cold Death Of The Earth' is another blend of goth, metal and
folk, mixed into a dark melody. Finally, 'A Desolation Song' is acoustic, slow
and dark. Haughm's vocals are more whispery than usual. The song is quite
minimal compared to the rest of the album but just as effective. Although there
are many styles here they seem to gell together quite well, with what you'd
expect to sound a little unusual sounding perfectly natural.
JOHN MARSHALL - 28 October 2002
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