siLLy puPPy
After releasing the debut “Pale Folklore,” AGALLOCH started the trend of releasing EPs between their full-length studio albums. The second of these TOMORROW WILL NEVER COME emerged after the sophomore album “The Mantle.” However, instead of releasing one EP between “The Mantle” and “Ashes Against The Grain,” for some reason the band decided that two EPs would somehow be a good thing. Why? Since each one has only two tracks, the world will never know.
This one comes off more as a single than an EP. While the first EP “Of Stone, Wind, And Pillor” was 28 minutes in length, TOMORROW WILL NEVER COME consists of a mere two tracks that only last 7 minutes and 32 seconds. Hardly worth wasting resources over yet there were 500 copies that were initialed by Jason William Walton, so i guess a money making gimmick this was but in the end a really unnecessary addition to the AGALLOCH canon.
“The Death Of Man” (Version III) is nothing more than an alternative take of the famous introductory folk strumming that gracefully initiates “The Mantle” in all its glory. However, there is really nothing that great about this and only subtle atmospheric touches differentiate it from the original. After hearing this all i want to do is hear “The Mantle” and wonder why in the world this was released.
The second track, the title track is at least original and not found elsewhere. This is a nice dreamy folk track exclusively performed on acoustic guitar and shows a bit more classical guitar influence than the usual dark neofolk of AGALLOCH albums. While the guitar strumming is beautiful, the addition of field recordings in the form of a documentary don’t seem to fit in very well. This stylistic approach was originally desired for Don Anderson’s tenure in the band Sculptured but was rejected (for good reason.) This track also displays the massive influence the band Godspeed You! Black Emperor had on AGALLOCH’s post-rock aspects. The subtle freaky atmospherics that whiz by behind the folk guitar with the psychotic spoken ranting is right out of their playbook.
This is not an outstanding release. It is worth hearing for history’s sake but nothing redeeming at all. Only the second track is an original but nothing to write home about. A disappointing little tidbit following the band’s classic “The Mantle” and an obvious attempt to cash in on its unexpected popularity. For completist’s only.