Review Summary: Repetition kills
Hints of greatness surrounded by stretches of overly repetitious riffage. Hints of greatness surrounded by stretches of overly repetitious riffage. Hints of greatness surrounded by stretches of overly repetitious riffage.
The Serpent and the Sphere endeavours to create atmosphere through its glacial pacing, and while in theory such a concept might work, its execution has resulted in a sorely disappointing release. There is a fine line between hypnotic and boring, and unfortunately Agalloch step over it many times throughout
The Serpent and The Sphere's 59-minute runtime. There is a fine line between hypnotic and boring, and unfortunately Agalloch step over it many times throughout
The Serpent and The Sphere's 59-minute runtime. There is a fine line between hypnotic and boring, and unfortunately Agalloch step over it many times throughout
The Serpent and The Sphere's 59-minute runtime. There is a fine line between hypnotic and boring, and unfortunately Agalloch step over it many times throughout
The Serpent and The Sphere's 59-minute runtime. Overly repetitious stretches simply obscure what might otherwise be engaging songs and cause the listener to lose focus; such focus is regained only when something new enters the fore. Overly repetitious stretches simply obscure what might otherwise be engaging songs and cause the listener to lose focus; such focus is regained only when something new enters the fore.
The performances have merit. Aesop Dekker's drumming is tighter here than I've ever heard it. His improvement since
Marrow of the Spirit and his work with
Ludicra is obvious. His improvement since
Marrow of the Spirit and his work with
Ludicra is obvious. His improvement since
Marrow of the Spirit and his work with
Ludicra is obvious. The guitar tones are superb, and there are some excellent riffs. The vocals, too, are good- what a shame the production pushes them so far back. The vocals, too, are good- what a shame the production pushes them so far back. The vocals, too, are good- what a shame the production pushes them so far back. The vocals, too, are good- what a shame the production pushes them so far back. Indeed, much of the instrumental proficiency on display is wasted, on unsatisfying songwriting and, as aforementioned, a rather subpar mix. Indeed, much of the instrumental proficiency on display is wasted, on unsatisfying songwriting and, as aforementioned, a rather subpar mix
Overall,
The Serpent and The Sphere has moments of excellence, but the package is spoiled by a bloated running time and a poor production job. Atmosphere does not have to necessarily stem from repetition. Atmosphere does not have to necessarily stem from repetition. Atmosphere does not have to necessarily stem from repetition. Indeed, if the repetition is overly so, or the sections repeated are unworthy of such focus, then it does just the opposite. Indeed, if the repetition is overly so, or the sections repeated are unworthy of such focus, then it does just the opposite. Repetition kills.
