Agalloch - Marrow of the Spirit

[CF87]

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

I love the drums on The Mantle and Ashes, not just the playing/style, but the sound also. Can't say I agree with that.

 

[WCannibal]

The whining about production in this thread makes me want to punch someone in the face. Holy fuck, you guys are fucking stupid.

Anyways, I'm really liking the album. Only on my 5th listen and I can already say that this is the second best album they've done. Last three songs are orgasmic.

 

[Caecius]

This album was very disappointing first listen. Hopefully it grows on me, but I almost skipped track 2, because it was awful.

 

[LuminousAether]

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

Do you have any experience with drumming?

If you had, you'd realize that the drumming on the first three full lengths ranged from amateurish to cringe-inducing.

 

[LuminousAether]

I love the drums on The Mantle and Ashes, not just the playing/style, but the sound also. Can't say I agree with that.

Some people like The Sex Pistols. Doesn't mean they could play their instruments, just that different people value different things differently. The drumming on those albums was bad, period. You can say that you love it, but all that does is let me know that you are not capable of discerning good drumming from bad drumming.

 

[CF87]

whatever dude

 

[beast from the east]

The Mantle is my all-time favorite album, so I don't expect Marrow to match it, but I have high hopes for another spectacular release from my favorite band (yes, I'm a mega fanboi). I am trying to hold off listening to ANY of it until it is in my hands. I doubt I have the same issues with "poor production" and "bad drum sound" as some of you have. I'm psyched Aesop is finally a full member.

 

[Evil Dead]

A very inconsistent record.

The metal parts, for the majority, are an absolute abomination: leads are extremely sloppy, and Haughm's vocals sound so thin it's actually difficult to hear him.

Drum production is horrific, with blastbeats and faster patterns being ruined and losing their effect due to the terrible mixing. There is no breadth to the sound, the toms all sound flat as though no sound travels through the barrel of the drum.

The record sounds as though it was recorded during practice, with none of the guitars actually being properly tuned, evident throughout attrocious leads across all songs. There is little to no cohesion during the majority of the record, and many concepts do not appear to be fully realised.

However, I am summing up the negatives here, which unfortunately, are quite strong especially throughout the first half of the album. The second half sees the glue of proper, more conceived ideas holding realisations together better, and a bleak atmosphere finally takes shape with some direction. Reports of the band returning to their roots hold fruit here, you *can* hear characteristics of the first few recordings up until (and including) The Mantle.

The second half of the record's production sounds more effective than the first, but the bad taste of the drumming mix stains the entire album.

I've heard that there was an intention to have and older and rawer production style. Raw yes, but not in a way that works. Any intended warm or analogue feel simply doesn't come across.

These observations are from first listen only. Perhaps my feelings will change over time...

Agree/ditto

 

[Einherjar86]

Do you have any experience with drumming?

If you had, you'd realize that the drumming on the first three full lengths ranged from amateurish to cringe-inducing.

Do you have any experience with real human beings? If you had, you might realize that you're what we call an "asshole."

 

[Death Aflame]

burn.

The drumming is fine, but I can somewhat agree that the analogue production is not as good as it could have been, at least listening to this relatively low quality rip.

 

[LuminousAether]

Do you have any experience with real human beings? If you had, you might realize that you're what we call an "asshole."

I could quote posts from yourself with the same text, so don't throw stones at me. Take a look at yourself first.

 

[Einherjar86]

I don't think I've ever accused someone of not being able to recognize decent drumming.

 

[unknown]

Do you have any experience with drumming?

If you had, you'd realize that the drumming on the first three full lengths ranged from amateurish to cringe-inducing.

calm down there, brostoevsky. I, personally, do not have any experience with drumming because I always played guitar, bass, clarinet or alto sax...nothing percussion. However, I have known several drummers through experiences in various bands, music theory classes, general friends, etc... Does that count?

While the drumming on Pale Folklore is probably amateurish, that could be due to the fact it was their first album. If you compare that drumming with the drumming on "Falling Snow" and "Not Unlike the Waves" (which Haughm did the drums for), I'm sure you'd agree there's been some progression in Haughm's drumming abilities

Also, for what it's worth, my comment wasn't really addressing Haughm's abilities as a drummer in regards to the drumming community as a whole. My main point was that as a guitarist, he's pretty decent at drums. Did I say he was the be-all, end-all drummer who shits on Mike Portnoy, Neil Peart, Terry Bozzio or (insert your favorite drummer of choice here)? No. At least that isn't what I was intending.

IMHO

 

[IntoPhagist]

I personally love this album besides the drumming and production but a full leak hasn't been released yet so I'll judge after I buy it. Plus the opening of the first real song is garbage wtf kind of riff/blastbeat is that.

 

[Chastise]

Weird, I've always thought the drumming in Agalloch was legit.

Anyway, the album is a total disappointment for me. I've listened to it like countless times and it seems to be on the wrong side of the thin line between (yay neuraxis!) minimalistic victory and dullness. And "The Watcher's Monolith" might be the worst song in Agalloch discography.

I'm still going to buy the CD though, they always deserve a second chance. Or you know.. A 100th.

 

[Hubster]

Well I re-thrashed it last night, and I have to say that Black Lake Nidstang and Ghosts of the Midwinter Fires are the standouts. In comparison to other Agalloch works though, this album leaves a lot to be desired. Overall, it's quite a disappointment unfortunately. The worst part is we'll have to wait another 4 years until a new album comes out

 

[Balmung]

I agree, Ghosts of the Midwinter Fires is the standout of the album. But it was also a kind of disappointment for me, not a bad album, but I just feel it's not as good as I expected or as previous albums. I still need to give it another listen or two though.

 

[LuminousAether]

I think it's probably their best yet after a number of listens. It just gets better and better. The drumming is absolutely ridiculously awesome, first time I can say that for an Agalloch album. Back in the day I'd have to qualify that I enjoyed Agalloch for their atmosphere while acknowledging that they had mediocre, amateurish drums. Not any more.

 

[Death Aflame]

It's definitely more ambitious at a compositional level than say Ashes, but I think they pull it off, mostly. I find it's best to take in the album as a whole, the tracks sound better when heard within the context of the others.

 

[SkeletonWitch]

Agalloch played it safe on that one. The acoustic guitar strumming from the Mantle is back, while guitar leads akin to those on Ashes and Pale Folklore are present as well.

I would have expected somewhat of a new direction instead of rehashing their previous work, but I can't complain much, it's still an excellent album.