AGALLOCH - MARROW OF THE SPIRIT (2010)

genre : melodic black

similar bands : Alcest, Opeth
origin : USA
strong spot : songwriting, atmosphere

weak spot : clean vocals could be much better

Here we have the long-awaited new album from Agalloch. Their previous effort ''Ashes Against the Grain'' was superb and the same goes for the new one, ''Marrows of the Spirit''. The atmosphere is calm, dreamy, moody, rainy (?) and the somehow raw production fits perfect to the whole picture. Lots of band play similar to Aggaloch, it's easy to write some melodic riffs, play them slowly, add some dark lyrics and you are done. But Agalloch's music is something more than this. They differentiate themselves from the bunch of depressive, pagan,doom black metal bands by simply composing clever music. Every instrument has its role and every part of each song prepares the next part and the next song. 97% out of the metal bands (especially in the overcrowded black metal scene) are simply charlatans, they ignore what music is about: songwriting, compositions, arrangements. By simply writing 2 riffs and adding them together, you are not a amusician. Aggaloch are musicians in every sense.

9 out of 10 goatheads

PREVIEW myspace

Download here:

http://godstorment.blogspot.com/2010/11/agalloch-2010-marrow-of-spirit.html