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Artist Agalloch Type Album Released August 8, 2006 Rating 3.98 from 2014 ratings Ranked #5 for 2006 , #873 overall Genres Folk Metal Doom Metal, Post-Rock, Progressive Metal, Black Metal < Previous Next > The Mantle From Which of This Oak

2006 Ashes Against the Grain CD Grau grau 006 2006 Ashes Against the Grain [Alternate Cover] CD Grau grau006 2006 Ashes Against the Grain CD The End TE070 2006 Ashes Against the Grain [wooden box] [Limited Edition] CD The End TE070 2007 Ashes Against the Grain [180 gram], [33 rpm], [Bonus Tracks], [Gatefold], [Limited Edition] Vinyl LP Infinite Vinyl Series IVS014 2007 Ashes Against the Grain [orange] [180 gram], [33 rpm], [Bonus Tracks], [Colored Vinyl], [Gatefold], [Limited Edition] Vinyl LP Infinite Vinyl Series IVS014 2007 Ashes Against the Grain [splatter] [180 gram], [33 rpm], [Bonus Tracks], [Colored Vinyl], [Gatefold], [Limited Edition] Vinyl LP Infinite Vinyl Series IVS014 2007 Ashes Against the Grain CD CD-Maximum CDM 0107-2642

qitozex Dec 01 2009 2/2: ABOVE AVERAGE Digital [Rating25285536]	What has transpired in the weeks I suffered without a vast collection of music to call my own? During the summer months (July and August in particular) I felt this enormous respect and appreciation for these lesser-recognized extreme metal bands. Moonsorrow, Thy Catafalque, Isis, Equilibrium, and Agalloch. You know, the metal that was woodlandy, but not swimming in embarrassing viking tonality like Hammerheart. Well, I lost my music (all digital) in the early days of September of this year (2009), so I had to rely on what my ipod contained as well as whatever last.fm and pandora threw at me. And really, I didn't have a ton of metal on my ipod, and last.fm and Pandora didn't know Neurosis from August Burns Red, so this sort of metal faded from my attention for a while. Then came the new computer, and with it came the rebuilding of a three-year compilation of music (which I have since replaced and doubled in three months). Of course, I got the most obvious artists first, namely the full discographies of The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Radiohead's studio work, Sonic Youth's studio work (bad decision), among other tired classics and indie sweethearts. Again, the idea of fresh, new metal filling my library never crossed my mind as I searched for Metallica's discography, as well as Black Sabbath's ozzy years. I did get Neurosis, though. The reason behind them being the only one still escapes me. Then, metal caught up with me when I began my Top 100 albums of the Decade list. Agalloch appeared upon it twice, The Mantle, and Ashes Against the Grain. I felt confident enough in my enjoyment of the former in the past that I simply rerated it and reviewed it and called it good. I hadn't looked past it, though, so this album hit my download list fast. Originally, "Limbs" took a bit too long to go through its whole deal, but was still very good. Then, "Falling Snow" came on and I instantly proclaimed the albums better than The Mantle. The Mantle never had anything like this song. "This White Mountain on Which You Will Die" kinda dragged my hopes down. I never much enjoyed the folky interludes on The Mantle, but, this track wasn't like any of those. First, it was its own entity, not smashed within two walls of gigantic metal riffage, and it was far more akin to Godspeed You! Black Emperor-brand post-rock, whom I had recently gained great appreciation for in Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven. "Fire Above, Ice Below" returns to that world of folk, but, again, when not stuck between metal aesthetics, sounds refreshing and calming rest before diving once more into the rough oceans. "Not Unlike the Waves" prepares the body and soul for the finishing epic, "Our Fortress Is Burning", the greatest 19-minute track of metal I can recall. Odd how I went in to this review thinking I would want to drop this album's rating further (it started at 4.0), but I ended up wanting to boost it back to that point. I never listened to it was the problem. It's not the kind of album you listen to everyday, you could say. More, you treat yourself to the wintry drear and despair when you feel it most necessary. Whether you need a catalyst to burst yourself into tears of loss or feel yourself happy for no reason and wish to return yourself to a sense of normalcy, this album can do the trick if you let it.
Vehemence Nov 26 2009 Perfect, 4.75 - 5 Digital [Rating7491088]	Agalloch is good at conveying one feeling: desolation. And I absolutely love the way that they do it in this album. The soundscape they create with their low tonal synths, acoustic guitar, heavy riffs and hoarse growls is absolutely incredible from start to finish. These elements of the music both contrast with and complement one another in one of the most fluid displays of creative songwriting I've ever listened to.
Timo_van_Helvete Nov 13 2009 Good [Rating26097685]	1 Limbs: 4 2 Falling Snow: 3.5 3 This White Mountain on Which You Will Die: 3.5 4 Fire Above, Ice Below: 3.5 5 Not Unlike the Waves: 4.5 6 Our Fortress Is Burning... I: 3.5 7 Our Fortress Is Burning... II - Bloodbirds: 4 8 Our Fortress Is Burning... III - The Grain: 2.5 Rating: 3.625 Favorite Track: Not Unlike the Waves
Rasputin2 Nov 07 2009 Digital [Rating25960344]	While opener 'Limbs' is an incredibly solid track, Ashes Against the Grain falters in its necessity to hold the listener's attention. Second track 'Falling Snow' is the perfect example of this particular weakness; the track does not have the mysterious aura that normally comes with Agalloch's music, and is left as a rather contrived effort alongside the much better previous track. 'Fire Above, Ice Below' sits in between the aforementioned tracks in terms of quality, but its similarity to the 'She Painted Fire Across the Skyline' trilogy from Pale Folklore, especially in its clean sections, leaves one thinking whether Agalloch have more than the one trick up their sleeves. Nevertheless, this track and the following 'Not Unlike the Waves' are good songs without a critical comparison; it is in the album's attempt at replicating an epic three part song as done in Pale Folklore which ultimately brings the album down. The three parts are somewhat bland, and do not have the cohesiveness that one would expect from a talented and mature band such as Agalloch. The pinnacle of the album's failure is that it does not offer anything, other than the odd song or two, which would lead me to prefer it over any of Agalloch's other albums; a crucial failure, in my opinion, seeing as how little the band's sound has progressed over their discography.
Colum Nov 05 2009 Competent [Rating25924876]	Something funny happens when you're new to a style of music. If you really enjoy it, at first, every band is great. You're drawn to the sound and characteristics of the genre and cannot really differenciate between a good and bad band yet as their writing and playing ability doesn't really matter to you as much as the fact that they're playing this style. Agalloch are a post-rock band. Pretty cut and clean, falling almost strictly into the borders of the definition. Now, they've mostly been picked up by metalheads, and it's pretty obvious why. One, they use occasional black metal vocals, which is a great turn on for new fans of black metal as it feels black without necessarily being very heavy or difficult listening. And two, they're assosiated almost exclusively with the metal scene as that's where they're advertised and promoted and such. If they aimed their music at the post-rock crowd, I don't think they'd really get very far as their competition would be huge. I'm not much of a fan of post-rock, but I can recognise great music when I hear it (Sigur Ros, Explosions in the Sky) and Agalloch are just too generic to compare. But to metalheads who are completely unfamiliar with post-rock, they love Agalloch due to a sound that isn't necessarily their own, and can look past the fact that the songwriting is rather mediocre. Not that Agalloch are a bad band, but considering this is seen as some big artistic masterpiece it is rather one-dimensional. Most of the dynamics come from the guitar, and the rhythm doesn't really do much of interest. Not that that's a bad thing, but they have some serious competition with other bands in this style (well they don't, because their audience is essentially just the Opeth fanbase, but they should do). Vocals range from decent cleans that sing simple melodies, to a bit of a silly-sounding whisper, to black metal hisses that sound completely irrelevant and out of place in this kind of music. So the guitar takes most dominance, and plays these big, sweet, sugar-coated melodies that are admittedly rather nice although nothing overly special. I think the main problem for me is that it just doesn't invoke any kind of emotion in me at all. A lot of people call it melancholic, but melancholy is such a generic, uninteresting emotion. Besides, I don't feel it and I don't think that's what the band aimed for, this feels more bliss than anything. 'Falling Snow' is pretty nice in that regard, and the cream of the crop 'Our Fortress is Burning II Bloodbirds' has a very nice recurring melody, especially the tail end of the riff. But it's just not enough. There's a lot of pretty noodling, cutesy tremolo and such, but nothing really stands out besides the odd nice riff. And there are wave sounds and acoustic plucking and backing synths and a long noise outro and...yeah, just feels like too much filler on such a critically acclaimed album. I guess the most contraversial claim I can make is that this isn't a metal album, and unless Agalloch's earlier works are radically different they're not a metal band. This is mostly post-rock with a slight folk-tinge ending with a rather pointless and tedius noise track. I don't really recommend this unless you're really into pretty melodies that make you think of lightly falling snow and that sort of thing, but even then there are probably better bands. Not metal enough for metalheads and not consistant enough for post-rock fans, make of that what you will.
chspiratecd Nov 01 2009 Average [Rating25863951]	Still need to give this one more listens, but as of now worse than its two predecessors.
Dystopia88 Oct 07 2009 Charlton Athletic 4 - 4 Sunderland 1998 CD [Rating25344552]	You may notice that I called Panopticon the album that blew things wide open for me, again. This is the best record in that vein that I have found since. Took a trip to the North Yorkshire Moors, scaled peaks and observed the stunning views of Earth, just a short drive away in this very country. Amazing. I felt weary, breathless at the infinite beauty and the fact that I can never take all of that in or sample the essence of nature in every single place where it resides. It was this album. This album was those views, those feelings and that beauty. I can mine this until I die and I will discover new treasure every time. There isn't a single second I can't lose myself in on this record.
KSmyth01 Sep 19 2009 Digital [Rating25049592]	Although not all tracks are amazing, this album gets 5 stars for pure originality and emotion. There is no other band like Agalloch. This album manages to be completely epic without having to resort to anything else part from guitar, drums, bass and vocals.
saucyjack1968 Sep 14 2009 Digital [Rating24963378]	The music is amazing. Truly one of the best albums I've heard,...musically. Too bad they decided to let the satanic monster dude sing lead on the album to try and make it sound scary. Otherwise, I would've given it a 5.
Jotun6666 Aug 29 2009 [Rating24656788]	It really is better than The Mantle. It is deep, it is desolate, it is distant, it is bleak, it is perfection.

distribution 0.5   21 1.0   7 1.5   14 2.0   40 2.5   60 3.0   160 3.5   242 4.0   557 4.5   531 5.0   382

most recent Dec 01 2009 2/2: ABOVE AVERAGE qitozex Digital Dec 01 2009 Pawulon Dec 01 2009 antitype   Dec 01 2009 +++ Sabotteur   Nov 30 2009 Amazing/Heading to 4.5/Reese Witherspoon nostalghia   Nov 29 2009 Très bon (7,5/10) malkuth82   Nov 29 2009 near perfection frequencity   Nov 28 2009 burninblue Digital Nov 28 2009 covies Nov 28 2009 premature ejaculation KosherCarnage   Nov 28 2009 Niclas2310 Other Nov 26 2009 Brilliant N.o.s.f.e.r.a.t.u. Digital

distribution CD   734 CD-R   34 Vinyl   42 Minidisc   2 Digital   637 Multiple   2 Other   18

Dec 01 2009 Lu51k45 Wishlist Dec 01 2009 qitozex Digital Dec 01 2009 Pawulon Nov 29 2009 costanza Nov 29 2009 messier_95 Wishlist Nov 28 2009 burninblue Digital Nov 28 2009 covies Nov 28 2009 Niclas2310 Other Nov 28 2009 bulletluckcharm Digital Nov 27 2009 xXx_Feebie_xXx Digital Nov 27 2009 crimsonking93 Digital Nov 26 2009 N.o.s.f.e.r.a.t.u. Digital

Could use some suggestions for "Best of the Decade" list - Andrew1125 in General
Votre top 25 de la décennie ? - popoyt in RYM French Board
Is there a Metal band that..... - LocustAbortionTechnician in General
dla odmiany: najgorsze w tej dekadzie - Quickdive in RYM po polsku
What's, in your opinion, the best album of the decade? - aronf13 in General
For every year that you've been alive... - Joey_Skywalker in Polls/Games/Surveys
nothing amazes me anymore - quiapz in General
Bands spoiled by the singers voice - FunkyJackMasterFunkster in General
What year has more of your 5 star albums than any other year? - musictoad in Polls/Games/Surveys
The RYM Artists Top 10 - kabouter in Polls/Games/Surveys
Best Metal (or punk) Album of 2000-7 - bk69metal in General
So, how was 2006 for you? - kenyon330 in General
Recommend music similar to Opeth - Dogfighter28 in General
This decade's defining music? - Dr_Roy in General
My list of Albums with 1000+ ratings - singles_etc in General
Recommendations for Explosions In The Sky type of post-rock? - lastdodobird in General
Artists you don't get that everyone loves - PassionImmortal in General
keeping listening to music you dislike - Laurra in General
Guardian's Definitive Top 10 Albums Of The Year - BradL in General
RYM's Top 100 Albums of 2006 - jambalaya in General
Metal 2006 - ArneZ in General
Folk recommendations - MarkEMoon in General
Penis - rosdaw in Polls/Games/Surveys
Albums with one bad track? - Paper_Man in Polls/Games/Surveys
A little harsh, but... - Panama in Rate Your Music

Members who contributed to this entry: Jaxijin, alabaster, ktulu24, Kentai01, useful_idiot, Husvik, mysterydance, TheMusicalVito, feastofnoise, eihaldt

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