AGALLOCH
When this album found its way into my mailbox not long ago, I truly didn't know exactly what I was in for. I'd only heard a snippet or two, just enough to get me interested. Since what I heard reminded me a bit of OPETH and perhaps a little KATATONIA, I decided it was worthy of a look-hear. One listen had me convinced I had in my grasp one of the best releases of 2002. However, I am stopped short of calling this a Metal album. In fact, I am not exactly sure what to call it. At times its Metal but this transcends so many boundaries it almost defies description.The Mantle is a reflective, sentimental musical voyage that takes the listener into a world of grayed-out landscapes, suppressed memories, and builds into you a cold and meaningless existence. In my vast amount of listening time to all sorts of albums of varying Metal and non-Metal genres, this seems to be in one all its own. Surely, this borrows from quite a bit of influential elements well outside of Metal music, just like the band's debut did. The Mantle however, goes even further than Pale Folklore into uncharted territory. AGALLOCH have rested on the idea of wringing more emotional juice out of the listener by finding an ingredient that relies on heavy acoustics in layered succession, scant vocal and lyrical content and lofty song architecture. Its utterly effective in my estimation, which is why this album played on for weeks in my car, home and office.
Some of the finer points that deserve mention on this album are the vocals, which when sang, sound almost unearthly. The production too is essentially perfect, with every string pluck coming through with superb clarity. The band also have the gift of absorption. Hear the the track "Odal", a masterful piece of atmospheric beauty, employing gorgeous acoustics and electric effects with a touch of somber piano chimes. "You Were But A Ghost In My Arms" is a frolicking chiller with its KATATONIA-like strumming and clockwork acoustic support. Equally haunting is the otherworldly sounding, "...And The Great Cold Death Of The Earth", truly a song for a dimly lit room with a light snowfall outside your window. True brilliance also rears up in the form of the 11 plus minute instrumental piece, "The Hawthorne Passage". This outstanding track treats us to one of the most intriguing transitions as the flowing acoustics break into a bluesy interlude with one of the most clever drum beats I can recall. This is creativity at its finest.
Surely, not everyone will find wholeness with bands like AGALLOCH. I happen to love this sort of eclectic, experimental fusion and think that AGALLOCH are among the finest to do it. Certainly if its something different you are looking for, look no further. The Mantle is greatness.
