My feelings towards Agalloch's Ashes Against The Grain have been quite similar to these. High expectations, a first “numb-average-not bad” sentiment left in the ear. Further listening: "Hey, that riff is really good. Oh, that passage is incredible, was it there the first time I heard the album? The sound is almost perfect." Maturity touched these guys, definitely. Investigations onto the booklet. Hmmm, you mumble hazy verses. “Aurora swims in the ether / emerald fire scars the night sky / Amber streams from Sol / are not unlike the waves of the sea." Great lyrics. One even can find references to Norse mythology. Runes are known to these blokes. Heidrun looms in a page. Yes, the gods have put a hand on our heads, one more time. In these times where post-rock (something still to define properly) is blended with black metal, Agalloch show us their arms pushing boundaries and depictions. Yes, that one could be a nice try, but let's leave those (empty?) words for reviewers sheltered in apathy and failure like morons -- like Fjordi. Now it's time for the music to come to the stage. Coldness from delicate souls; desolate, sensitive, ellegant colours in the canvas. Blacky hazy mellow metal made art and shivers. Precious, awesome music.

written by Fjordi

Playing time: 59:53