siLLy puPPy Since AGALLOCH took three years between their albums “The Mantle” and “Ashes Against The Grain,” the band released two short EPs in their stead. The first, “Tomorrow Will Never Come” in 2003 and the second THE GREY EP in 2004. This one was a released with only 1000 copies and contains a mere two tracks of reinterpreted mixes of two tracks from “The Mantle.”

“The Lodge (Dismantled)” takes extreme liberties by adapting the 4 minute and 40 second track into a 13 minute and 4 second noisefest. With a basic tripling of time length one would expect more variation but the track is very repetitive and quite uninteresting outside of the original album context. It does however prelude the harsher noise style that would define “Ashes Against The Grain” with the extremities that end it similar to those that would develop into “Our Fortress Is Burning… III - The Grain.”

“Odal (Nothing Remix)” is perhaps the greatest deviation from an original song ever. It is literally indecipherable as the track that appeared on “The Mantle” and is basically a 7 minute and 47 second electronic drone track that starts out with a receptive “washing machine” groove. It cedes into more of an industrial type of track with a haunting atmospheric organ and some clanging on some sort of metallic objects reminiscent of early Einstürzende Neubauten. This is the more interesting of the tracks if you like nebulous industrial noise sounds, however it is completely devoid of any of AGALLOCH’s signature sounds and doubtful that fans will be interested.

THE GREY EP was technically designed to complete a trilogy that included “The Mantle” and the the “Tomorrow Will Never Come EP” however i find the two EPs that follow “The Mantle” rather pointless as they convey nothing extra to “The Mantle’s” magnificent mix of cross-pollinating musical styles nor does it convey anything lyrical at all. This one is nothing more than a couple of experiments that probably would’ve been better to release years later as a compilation of weirdness after the band broke up. This is only for hardcore completists.

Conor Fynes 'The Grey' - Agalloch (4/10)

As a great way to contrast the much lighter and folkier 'White EP,' Agalloch wanders deeply into the realm of doom, drone and dark ambient with 'The Grey.' Taking two songs from their acclaimed masterpiece 'The Mantle' and warping them into different compositions altogether, 'The Grey' can easily be considered a piece of work of it's own. In fact, unless one listens very carefully to the music here, it's hard to tell these pieces were derived from other tracks at all.

In any case, this is not the most exciting or emotive twenty minute EP I have heard; it is certainly not meant for more than a few listens in a sitting. In any case, this is an interesting experiment from the band. Taking an acoustic interlude ('The Lodge') from their studio length album and expanding it over the course of almost fourteen minutes into a doom epic is pretty impressive. In any case, almost all of the riffs are taken from the original song. Things are made alot heavier, and the use of repetition is very heavy here, seeing as they are taking four minutes of material and stretching it out for so long. In any case, it gives a completely new perspective on the riffs, although someone who was not a fan of the band would not realize and appreciate the thought that went into the creation.

The second track 'Odal (Nothing)' is an even further cry from it's original song. It is a subdued ambient track, much in a lower key vein of the noise music opus the band fashioned at the end of 'Ashes Against The Grain.' However, things here aren't nearly as interesting or engaging as they were on other sound experiments the band has done in the past, making this new apparent rendition of 'Odal' pretty forgettable.

Not poor by any standard, but not a piece of work I would recommend to someone who was not a fan of Agalloch to begin with. For a much more complete and standalone EP, try 'The White.'

The Angry Scotsman An intriguing EP without a doubt, this is the worst piece Agalloch has put out. Obviously an experimental work, this EP consists of only two songs both from their album "The Mantle" but radically changed, (especially the second song). The titles are quite aptly named as well.

The Lodge (Dismantled) is precisely that. This is actually the original song from "The Mantle" but... dismantled. Deconstructed. That is an interesting way to look at it, the deconstruction of something constructed, kind of like a post modern painting or the writings of Derrida.

Anyway, this song takes pieces from the original song, (which was acoustic) and plays it heavier, and much more drawn out. It is a very challenging, and rewarding song. The slow, heavy, repetitive foundation slowly builds, adding beautiful soloing over it until you reach a powerful climax. The section in the later middle is particularly striking, where you have the guitars playing some beautiful and melodic harmony, with a really simple, (yet perfect) bass riff under it. The whole song there is also a fairly minimal, yet superb, drum beat playing. When you lay down and really absorb this song it is incredibly powerful and moving.

However, this is only up to nine and a half minutes. If the song ended there, it would've been brilliant. Sadly, the last three and a half minutes are, quite literally, noise.

Odal (Nothing Remix) is, again, exactly what the title says. A remix of Odal that is, well...nothing. This sounds nothing like the original song and is not even really a song at all. This is a purely ambient piece. There are no instruments, no rhythm, flow, nothing. Simply various industrial/ominous/low register sound for close to eight minutes. I am not sure how anyone can enjoy such a thing.

OK, so we have one song that is a total zero, and one that is quite excellent until the end, which is unbearable. It is also quite different from anything Agalloch has ever done. Though post metal elements are in their music it has never been taken to the level of "The Lodge (Dismantled)" and they certainly have never made any noise release before. Therefore, I am giving this album a 1.5 since it's better then pure garbage, but many fans probably would not like it.

ONE AND A HALF STARS

Phonebook Eater 1/10

"The Grey EP" is boring.

Boring. "The Grey EP" is the worst Agalloch album ever. I appreciate the experimentation and the interesting new versions of both "The Lodge" and "Odal", but this time experimentation has gone too far. Basically, this version of "The Lodge" is thirteen minutes long, extremely repetitive, boring, and the sound quality is lousy ( I think it's a live recording).

The remix of "Odal" is quite strange, since there isn't really any music in these seven minutes, just some ambient sounds, eerie noises, and sorrounded by a minimalistic atmosphere. Artistically speaking, this is the best of the two songs, since "The Lodge" really irritated me.

Very easily forgettable.