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Album Details
- Artist: Agalloch
- Album: Ashes Against The Grain
- Label: The End
- Year of Release: 2006
- ME Rating:
- Reviewed by: dscanland on 2007-05-16
Media
RecommendIf you knew nothing of Agalloch and listened to the opening track of Ashes Against The Grain, "Limbs", you would think you are heading towards an Isis or Pelican sort of sound. The music is sprawling and epic, and instrumental. And then about three minutes in a piano takes front-stage. Then percussion takes us back into the sonic territory followed by the unmistakably Nordic vocals of John Haughm. Your not even into the album 6 minutes and you know you've found something special. "Limbs" is almost 10 minutes in length but it doesn't even come close to boring.
Wait, did I say Nordic? I should mention that Agalloch is from Portland Oregon. One of the best death/black metal acts today are indeed from the Pacific Northwest. Agalloch have been putting out albums since 1999 (I've only discovered them on Ashes Against The Grain) and getting more and more recognition.
On the album's second track, "Falling Snow" there is a neat guitar harmonic that takes center stage. It's just meant to be a quick interlude but I found "This White Mountain on Which You Will Die" to be a wonderful showcase in this band's ability. "Fire Above, Ice Below" starts out very gently, almost in an old school Metallica style and keeps building for the 10 minutes. If I had to pick one boring moment it might be this song, but that's only if I HAD to pick one. "Not Unlike The Waves" kicks my ass every time. It has the wonderful epic feel to it. Then we move into the album's trilogy, "Our Fortress Is Burning". I don't know why Agalloch felt it necessary to break it into three separate tracks but it seems to work just fine, and keeps the tracks under 8 minutes in length.
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Tell us why this album is great or sucks ass, or correct the reviewer. If you write enough quality reviews you may find yourself on the editorial staff.
Reviews have to be over 100 words, shorter ones are classed as comments.
Log In or Register to Rate Albumson 2008-06-19 kev_stev Said:
Though I'm definitely not a metal-head by any stretch of the imagination, I was given the song "Limbs" by a friend and am loving it. I think I'm going to further explore this album; it looks promising.
Not Rated
Review:
on 2007-05-18 SolitaryMan Said:
I've been a fan of Agalloch since hearing their "Pale Folklore" LP a couple years ago. This album, however, upped my respect and admiration of the band about 200%. No strangers to atmospheric metal, Agalloch take the feel and grand nature of black and doom metal and slyly infuse progressive tendencies to create a soundscape altogether unique and undeniably strong. "Ashes Against The Grain" is an album filled to the brim with striking tracks, from the gloomy opener "Limbs" to the fiery energy of "Falling Snow" and "Not Unlike The Waves". The masterstroke of the album, however, is the suite "Our Fortress Is Burning...", three tracks that combine to represent the finest writing Agalloch have ever been responsible for. An album for fans of progressive music, atmospheric metal and emotive music in general.
Rating: 9/10
