Pale Folklore (Deluxe Edition), by AGALLOCH

Pale Folklore (Deluxe Edition) by AGALLOCH, released 25 August 2023 Although 'Pale Folklore' stands as Agalloch`s debut record, it already embodies several elements that later became part of the band`s signature sound. Effortlessly picking up from their excellent demonstration cassette, it sees the band refining their sound even further. An audio amalgamation combining the profoundness of early Ulver, with the gloom of old Katatonia and the exalted boldness of Fields of the Nephilim, thus adding unique elements of nostalgia and atmosphere to their own melodic interplay of guitars and excellent musical framework. The album contains strong signs of a band that knew at a young age how to draw their canvas. Influenced by the landscapes of the American Pacific Northwest, and with an essence reminiscent of the Scandinavian wilderness, it firmly put Agalloch on the map and raised eyebrows about what a band from North America can be capable of. As a person that grew up checking out records based on their cover artwork alone, this album was particularly notable - the wood grain cover with a gold emblazoned logo engraving was instantly enthralling. This is music that glorifies the night sky, envisions campfire magic, heralds nature over humans, arcane arts & poetry, and worships the beauty of a crackling fireplace. It could be the soundtrack for a lone wanderer striving through a wintry storm, only to end up knocking on a faded wooden door to find shelter in a desolate cabin. In many ways the sound of forlorn times. If you are looking to fill your heart with woodsmoke and the fire of the mountain's spirit, look no further. "Pale Folklore was a watershed moment in American heavy music, when a few young musicians with a shared love of underground death metal – and broad personal tastes beyond – turned their already virtuosic talents toward a fresh hybrid of metal and neofolk through a gothic lens." Daniel Lake / author of USBM: A Revolution of Identity in American Black Metal