This article is about a musical group. For the wood, see Agarwood.
Agalloch is an American atmospheric folk metal and experimental band formed in 1996 in Portland, Oregon.
Disenchanted and frustrated with the confines of their previous projects, Agalloch began as the creation of John Haughm and Shane Breyer. In early 1996, songs began to be produced by the duo and, during the summer, Don Anderson was added to the band to further refine the material. These songs would later become the From Which Of This Oak demo tape in the autumn of that year. This recording showed a large amount of black metal influence, with an amount of material which would later appear on subsequent albums in one form or another. Shortly after the recording, Jason William Walton was added to the line up as bassist.
In 1998, the three recorded a new promotional tape solely for labels. It caught the attention of The End Records, who offered them a record contract, resulting in the Pale Folklore album. The album features less of a black metal influence than before, many totally reworked demo songs, more folk elements and neoclassical interludes. The album was met with much critical acclaim. After the recording was complete, Breyer departed from the band line up.
After a period of quiet, the band released an EP of unreleased material titled from 1998-2001 entitled Of Stone, Wind and Pillor, revealing even more of a neoclassical and experimental element of the band and generally less distorted vocals. The EP also includes a cover of folk noir band Sol Invictus' "Kneel To The Cross", that would later be released on Sol Lucet Omnibus, French label Cynerfierrd's tribute compilation to Sol Invictus.
During the 2001 to early 2002 period, Agalloch recorded The Mantle, featuring sleeve art of photographs of public statues and fountains found in downtown Portland. This album featured far more of a post-rock influence althroughout than previous albums, almost entirely undistorted vocals and an amount of martial music instrumentation. This album marked a change in media attention for Agalloch, landing them interviews with a few mainstream magazines.
