Agalloch - The Mantle

Agalloch – The Mantle

How can I put a description upon musical perfection? These words came to me before sitting down to write about Agalloch’s music. Agalloch isn't just about music, they are about atmosphere and emotions – deep, beautiful, melancholy emotions – similar to the essence you feel while walking through natural landscapes. Not surprisingly Agalloch’s hometown is Portland, Oregon where nature is right at their doorstep - This nature themed, pagan theme is found throughout their masterpiece called “The Mantle.” Their songs are long and epic, like taking a long journey across the forested mountains – Sure this is in part Metal, but it’s often lulling, hypnotic riffs refuse to alienate the people who are attracted to the Folk side of Agalloch - and in my opinion Agalloch is as much of a folk band as a metal one. I love the charm; the acoustic leads elegantly laid across the metal riffs - something rarely found in this type of music, I love the various folk instruments as well as piano and clean guitar interspersed with thundering drums and heavy distortion. It’s often hard to detect where songs begin and end because they are all connected in a massive epic known as “The Mantle” Darkly expressive, melancholic, rustic and beautiful wrapped in a metal exterior while painting a portrait of a paganism and nature - can music get any more pure?

Please watch the video for "I am the Wooden Doors"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1BBI072etY