AGALLOCH — Pale Folklore (review)

AGALLOCH — Pale Folklore album cover Album · 1999 · Folk Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
The Angry Scotsman
Agalloch's debut album, they have progressed in leaps and bounds from their original, and strong, EP. In "Pale Folklore" Agalloch took their folky black metal style and mingled it with post rock.

The result is an intriguing album, with the atmosphere of black metal (thanks to some buzzy guitars and Haughm's gravely rasps) laid out in post rock fashion, and some folky guitar playing thrown into the mix. The songs are a bit on the lengthy side, atmospheric, and filled with melodic and often beautiful songwriting. Unlike their debut EP which was composed of specific songs, this album is more about overall flow. Of course there are individual songs, each distinct, but it is not so much about song, pause, song, pause, song etc... but listening to the album in one sitting, letting it all flow. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

The first song, (really divided into three pieces) is a summary of the whole album really. What Pale Folklore, and really Agalloch, are all about can be seen in this epic, atmospheric, rambling piece.

The album segues, then moves into Hallways of Enchanted Ebony which is a good song, if not a bit rambly.

Dead Winter Days is my favorite on the album, superb song. As Embers Dress the Sky is a redone version of the song found on their EP, much better quality. Another very good song. It moves seamlessly into the finale, The Melancholy Spirit which follows the same general flow of the songs before it, but hey still a damn good song. Nice and lengthy for lots of build and atmosphere, oh and epic guitar riffs and solos! Real post metal style song, with lots of light/dark contrast...just done Agalloch style!

A very good album. A bit rambling, and can be a bit difficult due to its second half being a bit samey. Funny since I like the second half better. Granted I like the opening suite, but the latter half of Pale Folklore really takes off. While this a good album, Agalloch are still searching and building a bit. A must for fans and highly recommended for any prog-metal/regular metal head looking for a unique adventure!

Three and Half Stars
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

I, the Destroyer Black Metal
SVARTFJELL
Buy this album from MMA partners
A Sonication Technical Death Metal
OBSCURA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Hin helga kvöl Atmospheric Sludge Metal
SÓLSTAFIR
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Cycles of Suffering Black Metal
BURIAL OATH
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Suns of Perdition - Chapter IV: To Shadow Zion Black Metal
PANZERFAUST
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

DAWN OF REVENGE - Sanctuary [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 7 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Farewell [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 7 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Curtain of Death - [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 7 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Vengeance [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 7 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - I Need You [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 7 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed