1 reviews

Agalloch - The Mantle

$12.00 Released August, 2002

The Pros:Dynamic and highly textured as compared to other metal-influenced music - diverse instrumentation helps to establish true musicianship. A clear progression for the band - stronger emphasis on progressive composition puts the album on par with modern bands like Porcupine Tree, Opeth and Godspeed! You Black Emperor. Considerable improvement in vocal parts - heavy parts sound less forced and awkward than the previous album, while clean/whispered vocals are much more prevalent.

The Cons:Runs very long at ~70 minutes - not recommended for newcomers to the progressive metal genre.

Agalloch's second full length release, The Mantle was released in 2002, three years after the groups first album Pale Folklore. The production value is of noticably higher quality (thanks in part to a larger budget).

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While the groups black metal roots remain intact (the screeched vocals stand as a testement to that), the focus is shifted more prominently to acoustic guitar arrangements with cleanly sung vocals. Numerous instruments are utilized throughout each of the albums nine tracks, including contrabass, trombone, bells, synths, accordian, mandolin, timpani, and a myriad of others which lend themselves to the long, complex arrangments found here (the average song lengeth is about seven minutes).

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Pros

1

Dynamic and highly textured as compared to other metal-influenced music - diverse instrumentation helps to establish true musicianship
1

A clear progression for the band - stronger emphasis on progressive composition puts the album on par with modern bands like Porcupine Tree, Opeth and Godspeed! You Black Emperor
1

Considerable improvement in vocal parts - heavy parts sound less forced and awkward than the previous album, while clean/whispered vocals are much more prevalent
1

Overall production/mixing quality is markedly improved in comparison to "Pale Folklore" - intricate arrangements have "room to breathe", while each instrument has a realistic presence
1

Abundance of acoustic instruments provides an accessible Folk-influenced component - great for new-comers to the band/genre with minimal interest in metal genres