AGALLOCH „“The White” EP”

Music: Dark Metal/Atmospheric Folk
Country: U.S.A.
Web site: www.agalloch.org
Cool Songs: Birch White, Pantheist, Birch Black

AGALLOCH released “The Grey” EP in 2004 via Vendlus Records. Four years later, the group has released the companion album to their 2004 effort, “The White” EP. Both EPs apparently share a musical kinship, as do all of AGALLOCH’s recording, but of an even closer nature. Both albums also found release through Vendlus. The group released all other proper studio recordings through The End Records.

“The White” continues down the wooded, atmospheric path attributed to AGALLOCH. These Oregonians have gained much notoriety through playing this distinct style, and “The White” does not disappoint. In fact, this album may be their strongest musical performance to date. Each track includes numerous instrumentation, harmoniously combining classical, folk and metal. All these elements come together in the formation of mind-opening layers. The mood is subtle, and like the white-colored cover, of a bright tone.

Although “The White” album is primarily an instrumental album, the song titles allude to the original “The Wicker Man” film. Other hints of this album being a sort of tribute to that classic film come by way of the various samples taken from the film. This album’s musical tone is consistent with the film’s islanders in that most of the tracks have a cheerful, pagan vibe, but a certain darkness broods under the surface.

The sounds of birds singing and children chanting, “We carry death out of the village,” serve as an introduction to an acoustic jam on “The Isle of Summer,” the album’s opener. An electric guitar adds texture to the sharp ring of the acoustics. Most of the tracks maintain the folksy vibe through acoustic guitar, but the group adds ambience by incorporating various instruments and samples.

“Hollow Stone” is one of the more enchanting tracks due to ethereal synths. The group creates another mystical moment by mixing piano, synth, acoustic guitars and whispering narrations on “Silowo Rune,” ending with a theological dialogue taken from “The Wicker Man.” Additional folk and classical instruments found on this album include Jews harp, goat horn, accordion, and others.

AGALLOCH takes careful measures to keep the pagan atmosphere, in both a folk and spiritual sense, running through the duration of the album. Another instrument the group uses to invoke this sensation is thundering percussion. “Pantheist” and “Birch Black” both include what sounds like a kettledrum. The booming, primitive sound of the kettledrum instills a tribal quality to these tracks.

“Ashes Against the Grain,” AGALLOCH’s previous release, was one of the group’s heavier efforts. Due to the increased use of harsh vocals and distorted guitar, one could associate that album with their first full-length, “Pale Folklore.” “The White” EP is a much tamer, although varied effort that could find comparison to their “The Mantle” album. “The White” features assorted vocal styles such as meditative hymns, whispers and simple narration, but these moments are sparse. If they would have included more vocals, especially the clean type Haughm displayed on past tracks such as “…and the Great Cold Death of the Earth” and “Kneel to the Cross,” this album could be the best of their career.

note: 8/10

Tracklist

1. The Isle of Summer
2. Birch Black
3. Hollow Stone
4. Pantheist
5. Birch White
6. Sowilo Rune
7. Summerisle Reprise
Total playing time 32:29

Line-up

Don Anderson – Guitar
Aesop Dekker – Drums
John Haughm – Vocals, Guitar, Drums
Jason William Walton – Bass