MARROW OF THE SPIRIT

This new Agalloch album sounds along the same lines as the previous one, "Ashes Against the Grain": a dark, wintery post-metal sound with folk accents. More vocals, perhaps a more chaotic sound and definitely much longer pieces: besides the short intro "They Escaped the Weight of Darkness" (hint: they didn't), the five other songs range from nine to seventeen minutes.

With such bases, don't expect a conventional metal album: whoever placed Agalloch in the "experimental/post metal" category was not kidding. "Marrow of the Spirit" is a somber trip through winter landscapes and frozen wastes, scarcely illuminated by brief moments of pure, violent energy. To wit, "Black Lake Nidtsang" finale.

For those who like dark, atmospheric metal, "Marrow of the Spirit" is definitely a great album. Others should be careful not to wander there alone; who know what is hiding in these wild, northern landscapes?