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Critic Reviews
80
Pale Folklore was as important a black metal album as any American band ever produced; and arguably one of a handful that helped launch the country to worldwide respect in this arena for the new millennium, whereas before Agalloch, most bands had been mere apprentices to the Scandinavian masters.
12y
Pale Folklore is a genuine masterpiece
While it's not The Mantle or Ashes Against The Grain, this album wasn't going for that
This album is more of a rawer and heavier experience
Black Metal is more of the focus on this album
And it works so well
The Black Metal feel of this, with the folk-inspired writing is so unique
It works so well
I legitimately don't know how they did this
But it is so fucking amazing
Everything is so consistent
Despite being only 8 tracks and 62 minutes ... read more
Sensational like cheesecake. The synthesis of folk and black metal is heavenly and it has some of the best melodic instrumentions, like, ever. Very night time forest-etherea. I'd be damned to not admit the brilliance here, especially for a debut. The non metal instrumentation was the clear highlight even though everything else minus some vocal sections were definitely not too far behind. I swear I don't give out 100's easily but wow.
Favourite track : She Painted Fire Across The ... read more
Less refined than what came later from Agalloch, but the early signs of what was to come are more than visible on 'Pale Folklore'. A very strong debut that many other established bands couldn't hope to replicate even with far more experience.
This feels like wandering a cold and desolate dark fantasy landscape on horseback. Mystical and melancholic yet lonely.
i just can't believe how consistently perfect every single album by this band is. 4:50 and onwards in "as embers dress the sky" might be the most beautiful thing i've ever heard lowkey
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Track List
| 1 | She Painted Fire Across the Skyline I 8:35 | 90 |
| 2 | She Painted Fire Across the Skyline II 3:09 | 91 |
| 3 | She Painted Fire Across the Skyline III 7:09 | 93 |
| 4 | The Misshapen Steed 4:54 | 85 |
| 5 | Hallways of Enchanted Ebony 9:59 | 94 |
| 6 | Dead Winter Days 7:51 | 90 |
| 7 | As Embers Dress the Sky 8:04 | 90 |
| 8 | The Melancholy Spirit 12:27 | 91 |
Total Length: 1 hour, 2 minutes
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4mo
As Embers Dress the Sky is so peak, I don't get why it is the lowest rated besides The Misshapen Steed
5mo
This feels like a very long song, but I don't mean that in a bad way at all. Quite great all around, even though there were some parts I didn't feel like they were really necessary. The last two tracks are the ones I enjoyed the most.
