Poll Folklore /// AGALLOCH full-lengths, EPs & various other bits

AATG is what got me into the band and I think I still like it best.

great poll. gonna have to listen to a bunch of these again b4 i vote

Ashes has certainly got my favourite production; expansive and crystal clear. The earlier albums can be a bit muddy.

The new one is still growing on me.

Ashes.

The new one is still growing on me.

― Brad C., Tuesday, February 15, 2011 5:22 PM (3 minutes ago) Bookmark

Yeah, it's taken me a while. Love Into the Painted Grey, Watcher's Monolith and Black Lake Whatsit, not so into the others yet.

I love AATG and voted for it, but the new one sounds more recognizably like a band playing in some kind of human-proportioned space. The production of AATG is kind of too perfect and abstract to be persuasive that way.

I like the fact that it sounds like elemental forces clashing rather than some guys with instruments.

the only way I can know for sure is if someone mediafires the EPs. I joke. Voted for the White E.P.

Although there's nothing to really hate this band, there's very little in their music that makes me actively care for them either and still they seem to have hordes of rabiate fans. So either I'm missing something or I have lost touch with the youth of today. So honest question: what do you think makes them special?

They make me wistful and nostalgic while rocking at the same time. I feel there's a really solid emotional core to their music which reveals itself more with each listen, but that's a pretty personal reaction.

Has anyone seen them play? I've watched a few clips, and whilst I love their records, I must say they don't come across as the most charismatic live act...

I bet From Which of This Oak will get at least one vote as that's the viceroy's fave.

what's yours?

I think the new one could be their best, but I think im gonna give a vote to The Mantle.

I think Marrow... might suffer due to it still being only out a few months (despite doing well in the 2010 metal poll) as it's up against albums that people already have loved for years. Unless it picks up new fans who haven't heard the other stuff. Anyone got a White ep they want to sell me?

there's a bunch on eBay if you have $50 lying around

i dont

i was skint when it came out so couldn't afford it and it sold out in less than a day

those damn rabid agalloch fans

you rang?

i would vote white ep (for wicker man sample and general vibe) or marrow (for increased musical/instrumental complexity and, i think, improved vocals)

when i saw them live, they were great and had a lot more energy than you would imagine based on the recordings. the crowd was REALLY into it and i was standing behind this group of bros who were high fiving and singing to every. single. song. it was kind of annoying, but their zeal was a pleasant surprise.

Reminds me of the time I saw Isis. 2 guys who were desperate to mosh and shouting at people for not doing so while everyone just laughed saying it wasn't the kind of music to mosh to.

Feeling like I should refrain from voting because I've only heard Marrow and Ashes.

Marrow and the Mantle are amazing. Might have to give the mantle the vote but I love both. Marrow of the Spirit was awesome. Just recently got into it due to the metal poll.

If I go deep into the woods
If I go to this cabin
If I go deep into the woods
If I go will you follow?

Have to go with From Which Of This Oak cause given its a self-recorded demo its just so fucking amazing. I'd go with AATG, but they never rerecorded This Old Cabin and that is like my favorite song of theirs ever so... the obscure first demo it is.

Its snowing still -- in my heart!

hah just saw AGs post - you know me too well!

indeed!

Can't seem to acquire a non-corrupted copy of From Which This Oak anywhere.

anyway here's my brief synopses of the one's I've heard, as requested by one who will remain nameless:

From Which of This Oak - a shot in the dark of greatness, all of their potential is encapsulated here.
Pale Folklore - Really fantastic. Features the rerecord of As Embers Dress the Sky... a classic.
Of Stone, Wind and Pillor EP - features a cleaned up Foliorum Viridium, great album cover but kind of forgettable...
The Mantle - Their "wussiest" album, lots of acoustic strings and clean vox... cool lyrics but I was a tad bored.
Ashes Against the Grain - Undeniably a masterpiece, second half veers off into post-rock/post-metal territory - mind blowing.
The White EP - More dark folky stuff primarily. I think this is my favorite EP of theirs.
Marrow of the Spirit - Maybe not quite overtoppling AATG as their best ever, this is an amazing album that might as well have been titled "The Shape of Black Metal to Come"

ok thats my take!

(chap send me a webmail I think I can help you out)

I'm voting Marrow because of the ace analog synth work.

Yeah that is really the icing that tops the marrow.... they have a lot of synth and piano in their other stuff though, it just isn't as stond-out as the synths in Marrow.

*stand-out

LOL.

viceroy you do realise who played the synth on one of those tracks?

hehe.

LOLLL I didn't even think about that until just now. Hah.

It's OK, we know you were talking about the songs Nate didn't play on ;)

Can't seem to acquire a non-corrupted copy of From Which This Oak anywhere.

if you just wanna hear the tunes, i think they are included on the Demonstration Archive collection (along with the second demo and maybe some other stuff?), which is in print and can be had for $15 or so from the band

If only I could vote for the synth demos I was so lucky to hear...

if you just wanna hear the tunes, i think they are included on the Demonstration Archive collection

hmm didn't know about this... I'll have to pick this up.

Dont have that either

I've been giving them a go... It might be a little to folky for my taste.. But I'm giving it a chance. The Cello and Viola duet that opens 'Marrow' is nice over the 'babbling brook' sound..

It soesn't seem heavy enough for my taste..

I couldn't just listen to heavy stuff or even guitar stuff all the time.

I hear ya.. But I guess its just not grabbing me... I dig me some Godspeed You Black Emperor!, but Agalloch.. idk, maybe it'll grow on me.

i love gybe but i would expect you to prefer agalloch over them! Give Ashes Against The Grain a listen, It's not as heavy as Marrows admittedly but you might like the vibe more?

ashes is prob my fave.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

guess i need to vote, huh?

Out of what I heard, Mantle over Ashes over Mantle... Still kinda just 'okay' for me overall, nothing rerally giving me the shit fits either way..

I ended up voting for The Mantle but really, there's no wrong answer among the big four.

This is so hard - Pale Folklore, AATG, and MOTS all running pretty close for me - just bought my Chicago tickets last night - it's gonna BE AWESOME!!!!

when i die
the universe
will die with me

...

how long shall i suffer here?

(kicking guitar break)

actually i voted the mantle but i'm not sure i've ever spent enough time with the catalogue to really have a say

9 - 9

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

only 4 got no vote

did viceroy vote twice? ;)

great results, good to see all the albums running close together!

surprising since someone in the thread called the mantle "wimpy"