Agalloch belongs to the side of Black metal which cares less about velocity and harshness and is closer to the folk and ambient roots of the genre. Always seeking to cause sensation and relief, the band creates records that would easily be labeled into the DSBM music genre, as well as to the melodic black. Four years after their last record (‘Marrow of the Spirit’), the band releases “The Serpent and the Sphere“, looking forward to get the attention they deserve from the black metal community.
As far as the record’s music style is concerned, there are many influences by the modern ambient black metal scene, as well as from the post-rock one. Especially from the last mentioned music genre, black metal has borrowed inspiration when it comes with depressive and emotional melodies. Acoustic, relaxing guitars fill the mind, combined with screaming growls by the band’s vocalist, John Haughm. Harsher and extreme moments could not be left out of the record and songs like “Astral Dialogue” were created. The specific song is one of my favorites in the record, being based upon folk riffs and melodies, which are absolutely inspiring and creative.
The band loves to mix many changes in their songs and ‘The Serpent and the Sphere’ is a record were you can find out folk melodies, melodies closer to post rock, ambient drum parts and even classic black metal moments. “Dark Matter Gods” is a fare example of the pluralism of Agalloch’s music; clean guitars, bluesy riffs and changes to redemptive black metal choruses. The sound the band choose to present their ideas gives prominence to the depressive and melancholic mood the band’s music creates, ideal for a walk into the city’s ruins, under the grey sky.
The vocals are deep and growling, underlining the extreme roots of the band and of the music genre’s they represent. Once more, the lyrics are narrating stories and thoughts for spiritualism and inner strength. The search for wisdom is something the band always talked about in their songs. However, there are many instrumental ones in the record. Those songs are “Serpens Caput”, “Cor Serpentis”, “Plateu of the Ages” and “Seprens Cauda”. They all are used as passages between the main songs; passages created by acoustic guitars and soft, melodic touches.
“The Serpent and the Sphere” is another beautiful record for Agalloch. The band tried really hard to create something homogenous and liberating. Without the record to be considered as something innovative or a surprise, it is a pleasant (if I am allowed to use this term for such an emotional record) and great step for their career.