Couple of days ago, I have started a series of posts that will contain my recommendations for the metal bands that are best suitable for the winter that is slowly emerging. I know, you might be from some sunny place, dreaming of living in Norway or other Scandinavian country, not expecting to see nature's white coat. Listening to these bands may teleport you into this reality you're yearning for.

Let's see what scenes and situations are best suitable for this music:

• Taking a walk through the snow covered woods (wearing a blanket over your shoulders like an aging king, watching over your kingdom)
• Riding on an empty subway while passing by the beautiful white landscapes, or driving late at night trying to forget what's bothering you
• Being curled up in a comfy chair covered in blankets, drinking hot chocolate beside the crackling fire
• Reading epic fantasy book like Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones
• Writing a new story for your Steemit blog

In my first post I wrote about Wintersun, melodic folk band from Finland, so be sure to check it out. Let's see what we have this time around.

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Agalloch

Agalloch is a blackened atmospheric metal band from Portland, Oregon formed in 1995. They've released five full-length studio albums, with two of them (The Mantle and Ashes Against the Grain) being considered among the best albums in metal history and especially in the genre.

Their music has influences in black metal, acoustic folk (neofolk), progressive and post rock. It combines the styles that seem contradictory, but makes them so unique. Agalloch is considered as one of the founders of atmospheric black/post metal genre influencing vast number of bands that followed.

Agalloch's music is anything but something that can be properly described. It is not about riffs, acoustic guitars or growl vocals. It is about emotion and atmosphere with guitar tones and sounds you've never heard before. It is limitless. One does not listen to their music, but feel it.

It's easy to relate to the melancholic ambient and emotional lyrics, because they always put their heart and soul into it. Balancing of clean and harsh vocals, acoustic folk and heavy guitar riffs, and lyrical themes that concern about nature, man and death create the soundtrack that deeply touches every listener. From clean and polished sound on certain albums, to others that were recorded on analog tape, their style has been changing, but their essence persisted.

Surreal atmosphere makes you feel like you're in otherworldly forests of winter, surrendering to nature's silent touch.

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Unfortunately, on Friday, May 13th, band members announced on their official facebook page that Agalloch ceased to exist:

“Following 20 years, 5 full length albums, many tours around the world, and numerous other recordings, John Haughm and the rest of the band (Don Anderson, Jason Walton, and Aesop Dekker) have parted ways. What the future holds for the separate parties remains undetermined. We collectively thank all of our fans across the world. There are also way too many other people to thank who made this band possible. You know who you are.”

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Right now, they have formed two different bands, Pillorian and Khorada, so you can continue following their journey. Even though doors of Agalloch studio have been shut, their music will continue to inspire generations to come.

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You can find more about them on Enter Night, my website dedicated to the fans of heavy metal sound. Here are couple of song suggestions and a lyrics teaser:

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Here is the landscape
Here is the sun
Here at the edge of the earth
As I'm stalked by the shadow of death's hand
My heathen pride is scarred across the land

So put on your overcoat and go into the misty morning, watch the dance of falling snow, put the headphones with Agalloch playing and drift through the silent white landscapes...

Until next time \m/

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Images: 1, 2

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