Metal Reviews

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80 is too low for this.

Take the score with a grain of salt, you know what I think about scores. It's an outstanding release, that's why it gets an 80. I only quote albums 90 that I liked so much that I played them tens of times, this is not one of them (it can become but I don't know that at this point), although I gave the album quite a lot of spins. The many albums in my list of reviews that got a 90, are albums that are in my top (insert small number) of all time, and this doesn't belong to it. The Mantle is close to it, but I think this one is better than that one. That is not a contradiction. Quotes are very personal, although I put effort in attaching a quote that seems fairest to ME, I hate quotes. They (as your comment proves) distract from the review and therefore the album's essence, which cannot be described with a silly number.

You're right. That's why I said it, the review doesn't sound like a "80" review. More like a "90" review. Quotes suck. This album rules. And stuff.

Misha should stop imitating pitchfork

Agreed with both!

No wait!!... Pitchfork should stop imitating ME!! :x :x :x

This album is nothing short of amazing.

.:crast:.

"Metal" album of the year so far...

This album is pretty epic, it makes walking down the street with my headphones on feel like some grand journey.

From what I've heard so far, I can only agree...

I must say I haven't heard a lot of 2006 metal...

misha got so tr00 and kvlt over the past months.

Contradicting you! Hehe, you sold out with a second account ;) Psst! Inpropagation

I thought this album was indeed good, but my it was my least favorite full-length from Agalloch.

Nice review, Misha.

Yea great album, nice atmosphere.

I'm still not sure if I prefer this one or The Mantle...
This one is really amazing, incredible, with a suberb atmosphere that freeze the bones... A great Agalloch album.
But their best, not sure. Not sure they have beat The Mantle.

I've never heard this band. That makes me a sad panda.

You're really missing out on some great music. Check them out as soon as possible. The Mantle is also a superb album.

Pale Folklore remains their best in my view.

:twisted:

Seeing as "Pale Folklore" and "The Mantle" were significantly different from each other, and "Ashes Against the Grain" continues in being even more different than either one, I'm not sure what "chain" is being referred to as it relates to this band.

It's also interesting to me that you (Misha) said, they're mainly recognizable by their vocals and riffs, but that they might be best off without vocals altogether. You already hinted at uniqueness and originality being less present here, so are you suggesting that they become even less so? ... You also said you like the Varg-ish screams ... didn't you more or less stop listening to metal because it was too much of the same?

I like Pelican as they are, and I like Agalloch as they are. No, this is not my favorite release ("Pale Folklore" probably edges out "The Mantle" for that distinction, but both are among my favorite albums ever released), but it's still very good, and it is still Agalloch.

Oh, and I find their lyrics to be too interesting to think of them doing an album without them. I like Haughm's rasps too, even if his clean voice isn't going to appeal to everyone. Without either of these, I suppose it might as well not be Agalloch.

-Tyrion