Originally released in 2006, Ashes Against the Grain seamlessly blends heaviness with atmosphere and precision. With their third full-length, the band continued their musical journey, always a step ahead, but without losing grip of their dark metal roots. The album combines elements of black metal, Scandinavian prog-rock, and post-rock with the unique, melancholic, contemplative style that is so typical of Agalloch. From the driving force of “Falling Snow” to the dissolving trilogy “Our Fortress Is Burning...,” this is Agalloch at their most direct and elemental. A contrast to the warmth firey nightsky of 'Pale Folklore', the monumental poetic folk of 'The Mantle' , 'Ashes...' gazes into a horizon of dying embers with clarity. The band’s panoramic scope of songwriting - takes on a widescreen scale - combined with the albums imagery, and production all aligned into a monolithic statement — sharp, modern, and unrelentingly melancholic.
