Agalloch - Marrow of the Spirit

[Episteme]

I approve of this album, I think it's bloody good and new Alcest doesn't suck dick.

 

[Hubster]

Yeah, you're completely wrong Hub.

Yeah Mort, because there's a 'right' and a 'wrong' here. You'd be one of those "I've been a Miami Heat fan for ages, really!" type of guys, right?

 

[Xorv]

u sux dik, bish

www.rateyourmusic.com <<< vote for agalloch there for best album of 2010!!

 

[Vossyrus]

I agree with Hubster about the production, in particular with the drums. Once "Into the Painted Grey" kicked in, the first thing that stood out to me was the very awful drum production. It can be very intrusive at times. Also, the music doesn't seem to have as much breathing room as it should, this is especially important for a band like Agalloch, given their style of music. I do feel that some important parts of the music are drowned out by the production, which is again very modern but rather rough around the edges.

I'm not going to really comment about the album musically though, since each previous Agalloch album has grown on me over a few listens. Hopefully, I'll enjoy the album more and be able to look past the production.

 

[challenge_everything]

Not going to listen until a buy a copy.

I always thought Agalloch's drums were perfectly produced, I hope they haven't changed too much.

 

[LuminousAether]

If you've heard The Tenant from Ludicra, like this song:



The production is somewhat similar.

 

[Hubster]

I can appreciate bad production (various early works by many bands), but this album is truly a shock to the senses. I'm just hoping it grows on me over time, but right now I don't think that the experiment with production on this record has worked well.

 

[Vossyrus]

I can appreciate bad production (various early works by many bands), but this album is truly a shock to the senses. I'm just hoping it grows on me over time, but right now I don't think that the experiment with production on this record has worked well.

It depends on what you mean by "bad production". I find that many bands' earlier releases actually have a far nicer sound, more organic and much more feeling in the music than the bands' later cleaner/compressed sound.

But I wouldn't say the production for newer Agalloch is anywhere near as bad as Enslaved albums. That's a band who makes use of some seriously awful production. It sounds like everything is complelely hollow and clouded with a wall of boosted low frequencies. I'm not too fond of this style production, the one you find with many modern rock bands.

 

[Hubster]

It depends on what you mean by "bad production". I find that many bands' earlier releases actually have a far nicer sound, more organic and much more feeling in the music than the bands' later cleaner/compressed sound.

Yes I agree with this completely.

With newer Enslaved, I agree in part, perhaps only because I've become used to it, and also the songwriting is generally so good. It does sound hollow, you're right. I think Below The Lights (in their newer period) has the best production.

"Bad Production", in metal circles I guess has a dual meaning...

 

[Mulver]

criticism

I think you are being too negative, but I kind of agree on the drums. The start of "Into the painted grey" sounds fuckin horrible. Though it all sounds better as the tempo gets slower...

 

[Death Aflame]

the new alcest sucks dick

Not really.

Anyways, I am digging this so far. Needs many more spins before it really begins to sink in though.

 

[CF87]

What's up with the awful drums ?. I could not even get through one song.

 

[gundamterran]

a little distraught SO FAR, because I was not expecting this...

To be the better release of 2010 (even though les discrets' 2010 album is just as good, but I've known alcest long before they released escallies de lune)

This is not an "upbeat" album though. @gundam

I wasn't saying it was upbeat persay, I was just saying it was more upbeat, especially in lyrics, in comparison to The Mantle or Pale Folklore.

 

[gundamterran]

New Alcest is quite boring too, I will admit. First time I gave it a listen I was surprised, amlost called it album of the year, then after 3-4 consecutive listens it wore off on me. Lacks the depth of Agalloch.

 

[Xorv]

production doesn't make an album, song structure does.

Ex;

 

[Mort Divine]

More I listen to this album the more I like it, probably'd rank it above Ashes at this point and just behind Pale Folklore because it seems a good bit unfocused at certain points (mainly in The Watcher's Monolith)

To Drown is incredible.

 

[LuminousAether]

What's up with the awful drums ?. I could not even get through one song.

?

Agalloch were very well known for having shitty drums. Aesop is their first really good drummer.

 

[LuminousAether]

More I listen to this album the more I like it, probably'd rank it above Ashes at this point and just behind Pale Folklore because it seems a good bit unfocused at certain points (mainly in The Watcher's Monolith)

To Drown is incredible.

But Ashes is about 10x as good as Pale Folklore... Pale Folklore is easily their worst album. It sounds so naive. The lyrics make me burst out laughing, the production is weak, and some of the songs kind of drag on.

 

[Mort Divine]

Pale Folklore doesn't have any songs that I could remove and not care that they were gone.

 

[unknown]

?

Agalloch were very well known for having shitty drums. Aesop is their first really good drummer.

I always thought Haughm's drumming was pretty good, especially since he's a guitarist. I thought his fills were tasteful and everything overall felt appropriate...nothing too flashy