Favorite Agalloch Songs Ranked
This list was painstakingly compiled over months of listening and deliberation.. this was not easy. I still feel like most of these can be interchanged at any moment. |
| 1 |  | Agalloch
The Mantle
In the Shadow of Our Pale Companion
Just a MASSIVE song. That intro, that sweep pick, and especially the lyrics... my favorite lyric of all time is in this song:
"Here at the edge of this world...
Here I gaze at a pantheon of oak, a citadel of stone.
If this grand panorama before me is what you call God...
Then God is not dead"
This was one of the first Agalloch songs I ever heard, and it not only changed my music taste (for the better), but it literally changed my life, however cheesy that sounds. |
| 2 |  | Agalloch
Pale Folklore
As Embers Dress the Sky
Like most of these first few tracks listed, literally everything about this track is perfect in my opinion, and has resonated with me every time I listen to it. The heavy backing rhythm, the lead guitar, the clean vocals followed by the harsh vocals, and oh man, my favorite moment in ALL OF MUSIC... that acoustic break that's followed by the clean guitar solo. It gives me fking goosebumps every time I listen to it, and I've heard it probably 500 times now. |
| 3 | | Agalloch
Pale Folklore
The Melancholy Spirit
This was the 2nd Agalloch track I heard. I remember I used to just lie down on my bed listening to it on my IPod with my eyes closed before work every day, and I was truly at peace. |
| 4 |  | Agalloch
Of Stone, Wind and Pillor
Of Stone, Wind and Pillor
I'm not sure what makes me like this one so much over other tracks, and I feel like I'm going to have that opinion on most of the rest of this list and won't have anything to say about many tracks. |
| 5 |  | Agalloch
Ashes Against the Grain
Our Fortress Is Burning... II - Bloodbirds
"The God of Man is a failure...."
Those emotional wails at the end man, those emotional wails... that would have been a perfect way to close Ashes, but they had to continue on and add a pointless noise/ambient track for some reason. |
| 6 | | Agalloch
Ashes Against the Grain
Falling Snow
Easily the catchiest Agalloch track, and the first Agalloch song I learned to play on guitar from start to finish. Beauty in simplicity. |
| 7 |  | Agalloch
The White
Sowilo Rune
The most gorgeous song in Agalloch's discography. Like previously mentioned, it's so simple, but so beautiful. That sample from The Wicker Man at the end is great too. |
| 8 |  | Agalloch
Faustian Echoes
Faustian Echoes
One 21 and a half minute track, but it's a great combination of atmosphere and riffs. So I guess typical Agalloch. |
| 9 | | Agalloch
The White
Hollow Stone
Second most gorgeous song in Agalloch's discography, this time a purely ambient piece. Beautiful synths and samples throughout. |
| 10 |  | Agalloch
From Which of This Oak
This Old Cabin
Really underrated, but also really primitive compared to what most people would expect from Agalloch. Not the best production by any means, but I really love the bass in the beginning, the simplistic riffs, and the vocals are great as always. |
| 11 |  | Agalloch
Marrow of the Spirit
Into the Painted Grey
The intro to this track is beautiful, and the Black Metal onslaught that ensues makes it one of Agalloch's better, more heavily Black Metal influenced tracks throughout. |
| 12 |  | Agalloch
The Compendium Archive
Falling Snow (Alternate Mix)
Not incredibly different from the original version on Ashes, but there are subtle differences if you listen closely. |
| 13 | | Agalloch
The Compendium Archive
A Fragment (Second Phase)
It's like a bit slower, even more depressing sounding version of the track "Summerisle - Reprise" off of The White EP |
| 14 |  | Agalloch
The Serpent and the Sphere
The Astral Dialogue
Wasn't a huge fan of this album, but this was one of the most exciting, heavily Black Metal influenced tracks Agalloch has ever done. |
| 15 | | Agalloch
Marrow of the Spirit
The Watcher's Monolith
This was the first track I heard off of Marrow, and I wasn't disappointed. My favorite part is the slow piano accompanied by the sounds of crickets or whatever insects those are in the background at the end of the track. |
| 16 | | Agalloch
The Mantle
I Am the Wooden Doors
Another heavily Black Metal influenced track, with a beautiful acoustic passage or two, and another one of my favorite lyrics in music:
"...it is this grandeur that protects the spirit within...
from the plight of this broken world..." |
| 17 | | Agalloch
Pale Folklore
Dead Winter Days
The first track that I really don't have anything to say.. just classic Agalloch |
| 18 | | Agalloch
Ashes Against the Grain
Fire Above, Ice Below
Very mellow track that builds into a BEAUTIFUL climax. Seriously, that climax is one of the best things ever. |
| 19 | | Agalloch
The Mantle
The Hawthorne Passage
Purely instrumental, but very emotive. The second half (after the sample of the cars going over the bridge) is pure bliss. |
| 20 | | Agalloch
The White
Pantheist
"I like the part where it goes Aaaaaaa......" |
| 21 | | Agalloch
From Which of This Oak
The Wilderness
Poorly produced, early Black Metal influenced Agalloch. I don't know what else to say other than the vocals, though used sparingly, are pretty intense. |
| 22 | | Agalloch
Pale Folklore
Hallways of Enchanted Ebony
Incredible intro, nice clean riffs and solo, and the ending with the wolves and wind howling is great. |
| 23 | | Agalloch
Ashes Against the Grain
Our Fortress is Burning... I
Purely chill instrumental. Pretty much a beautiful post-rock track which leads perfectly into the next part of the trio. |
| 24 | | Agalloch
Pale Folklore
She Painted Fire Across the Skyline, Part 1
Opening track of my favorite album of all time; I was surprised it was so low. The atmosphere is perfect, with the howling wind in the intro and the simple melodic lead with that mess up on guitar about 17 seconds in, but that adds to the charm. |
| 25 | | Agalloch
Ashes Against the Grain
Not Unlike the Waves
This is where it all started for me. A good friend of mine was trying to get me into Black Metal and realized that I was more into the melodic approach to metal, and so he suggested that I listen to "Not Unlike the Waves" by a band called Agalloch. I was hooked the second I heard that somewhat dissonant chord in the intro, and the rest was history. |
| 26 | | Agalloch
Of Stone, Wind and Pillor
A Poem by Yeats
The clean vocals in this track are hauntingly beautiful |
| 27 | | Agalloch
Of Stone, Wind and Pillor
Kneel to the Cross
Never been a big fan of Sol Invictus, but this is one of my favorite covers, and it was incredible to experience live. |
| 28 | | Agalloch
Where Shade Once Was
Great acoustic/cello piece with some whispered vocals over the top of it. Should definitely listen to it if you like the atmosphere on Marrow's opening track. |
| 29 | | Agalloch
Ashes Against the Grain
Limbs
This seems to be many people's favorite Agalloch track, but I've never been AS big of a fan, though I still really like it. I never did really like the intro with the ebow though, it always seemed too high pitch/shrill for me, and the rest of the track seemed really simplistic, even by Agalloch's standards. That's not to say it's bad, because I still really love the track minus the intro. |
| 30 | | Agalloch
Nihil Totem
Another single. This one is a piano piece that carries much of the atmosphere over from the ending of the track "The Watcher's Monolith" on Marrow, which I think is awesome. |
| 31 | | Agalloch
The White
The Isle of Summer
"We carry death out of the village!
We carry death out of the village!
We carry death out of the village!
We carry death out of the village!
We carry death out of the village!" |
| 32 |  | Agalloch
The Demonstration Archive: 1996-1998
Pale Folklore (Demo)
INCREDIBLY primitive version of what would later appear on Pale Folklore. Still good, but not nearly as good as the version on the album. |
| 33 | | Agalloch
The Demonstration Archive: 1996-1998
Hallways of Enchanted Ebony
See above |
| 34 | | Agalloch
The Mantle
...And the Great Cold Death of the Earth
Really not sure why this didn't make it higher, I may need to re-look my rankings. Great acoustic riff, great vocals, great track overall. |
| 35 | | Agalloch
The Serpent and the Sphere
Plateau of the Ages
Agalloch's take on an epic post-rock track. Take that as you wish. |
| 36 | | Agalloch
Pale Folklore
She Painted Fire Across the Skyline, Part 3
"I saw the nightfall...
It called to me like a river of shadows
It sang to me with the cries of a thousand ravens that blackened the sky as they
Took flight and sank the Sol"
That hilarious lyric aside, a great typical Agalloch track. I love the melodic riff with the bells chiming in the background that starts at 2:55. |
| 37 | | Agalloch
Of Stone, Wind and Pillor
Foliorum Viridium
Pure atmospheric bliss |
| 38 | | Agalloch
Marrow of the Spirit
Black Lake Nidstang
It pained me to put this track so low, because it has some great atmosphere and the incredibly emotional wails that Haughm emits when he wails
""I’ve sent this peril...
To the world; this peril shall spread all sorrows.."
is one of my favorite moments in an Agalloch track, but I just feel that the track as a whole kind of drags a bit. |
| 39 | | Agalloch
Marrow of the Spirit
Ghosts of the Midwinter Fires
This is one of many of my friends' favorite Agalloch tracks, but it's never been a favorite of mine. It's not a bad track, I just don't see anything in it that makes it stand out above other Agalloch tracks. |
| 40 | | Agalloch
The Mantle
You Were But a Ghost in My Arms
I've always felt kind of indifferent towards this one |
| 41 | | Agalloch
The Compendium Archive
Scars of the Shattered Sky (Our Fortress Has Burned To The Ground)
I feel like this would have been a much better end to the album than the third part of the "Our Fortress is Burning..." series. Great ambience that builds up to a bit of a climax rather than useless ambient noise. |
| 42 | | Agalloch
The Compendium Archive
The Death of Man III
Really weird version of the opener to The Mantle |
| 43 | | Agalloch
The Mantle
Odal
Beautiful instrumental, just not my favorite |
| 44 | | Agalloch
The Serpent and the Sphere
Alpha Serpentis (Unukalhai)
In my opinion the best acoustic piece that Musk Ox's Nathanael Larochette wrote for Agalloch, and it wasn't even on the album.. |
| 45 | | Agalloch
The Mantle
A Celebration For the Death of Man
Opening track on The Mantle. Simple guitar chord progression, but effective nonetheless. |
| 46 | | Agalloch
The White
Birch Black
Never been one of my favorite Agalloch tracks for whatever reason, but not the worst "Birch.." track |
| 47 | | Agalloch
The Demonstration Archive: 1996-1998
The Melancholy Spirit (Demo)
Not nearly as good as the original. The main part that's missing is the atmosphere in the beginning, and the production is just weird.. like in this version when Haughm sings
"Lure me into your arms and bless unto me eternal death"
the way they make the word Death sound is just really awkward |
| 48 | | Agalloch
Of Stone, Wind and Pillor
Haunting Birds
Pure acoustic piece with some pounding, almost tribal sounding drums in the background. Not a terrible track, just never really caught my attention like most other Agalloch tracks. |
| 49 | | Agalloch
Ashes Against the Grain
This White Mountain on Which You Will Die
May be my favorite ambient piece in Agalloch's catalogue, but it's just a very short interlude meant to lead into the track Fire Above, Ice Below, so as an individual track, it got placed pretty low. |
| 50 | | Agalloch
The Serpent and the Sphere
Celestial Effigy
Some good moments in this song, but for some reason I can never really get into it |
| 51 | | Agalloch
The Serpent and the Sphere
Dark Matter Gods
Same as above. Some good moments, mainly the bass, but as a whole I just don't like it very much. |
| 52 | | Agalloch
Marrow of the Spirit
They Escaped the Weight of Darkness
Great atmospheric cello piece to kick off Marrow that leads into Into the Painted Grey, but as an individual standalone track, not great. |
| 53 | | Agalloch
Pale Folklore
She Painted Fire Across the Skyline Pt 2
Another track that I feel needs to be listened to in the context of the album in order to really be appreciated. Great segue between the first and third parts though. |
| 54 | | Agalloch
Pale Folklore
The Misshapen Steed
See above |
| 55 | | Agalloch
The Weight of Darkness
Another take on the opener of Marrow, this time a bit more drawn out and eerie sounding. |
| 56 | | Agalloch
Nebelmeer
Agalloch's collaboration with ambient music legend Mathias Grassow, and contribution to the compilation album Der Wanderer uber dem Nebelmeer. Expect typical Grassow drones. |
| 57 | | Agalloch
The Serpent and the Sphere
(Serpens Cauda)
By far the most interesting acoustic piece Larochette composed that was put on the album. |
| 58 | | Agalloch
The Serpent and the Sphere
Vales Beyond Dimension
Not a terrible track, just incredibly meh by Agalloch's standards. |
| 59 | | Agalloch
The Serpent and the Sphere
(Serpens Caput)
Better in the context of the album I guess |
| 60 | | Agalloch
Marrow of the Spirit
To Drown
Always felt this track just dragged and dragged |
| 61 | | Agalloch
The Compendium Archive
The Wolves of Timberline
Agalloch's main contribution on a split with Finnish Folk artist Nest. Pretty much a continuation of the end of the track "Hallways of Enchanted Ebony". |
| 62 | | Agalloch
The Compendium Archive
Fragment 4
Just a slow drone piece. If you like drone ambient, you might like this. |
| 63 | | Agalloch
The Mantle
A Desolation Song
Never liked this song and always felt that it was a poor way to end such a great album as The Mantle; however, it is not the worst Agalloch closer. |
| 64 | | Agalloch
The White
Birch White
Just never liked this song for whatever reason. It's really the only track off The White I don't really like. |
| 65 | | Agalloch
The Serpent and the Sphere
Cor Serpentis (The Sphere)
Incredibly plain and tedious to listen to |
| 66 | | Agalloch
The Mantle
The Lodge
Really good atmosphere in the context of the album, but as a track on it's own, I had to put it near the bottom. Just the sound of footsteps trudging through snow with one acoustic riff and the sound of somebody striking a deer skull or something throughout. |
| 67 | | Agalloch
Ashes Against the Grain
Our Fortress is Burning... III - The Grain
HATE this track; I've never understood why they chose to end such a great album like this. So pointless. |
| 68 |  | Agalloch
Tomorrow Will Never Come
Tomorrow Will Never Come
I mean, I wished tomorrow would never come when I listened to this. |
| 69 |  | Agalloch
The Grey
Odal (Nothing Remix)
...what were they even thinking with this EP |
| 70 | | Agalloch
The Grey
The Lodge (Dismantled)
Terrible, just terrible. |
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