AGALLOCH - The Serpent & the Sphere

Spiritual Oregano

Hello and welcome to my first Agalloch review. Open your eyes, raise your arms and behold the beauty of the universe... You may wonder what's the reason for such a theatrical introduction, so I hasten to explain that primo, Agalloch has never started an album with a more exalted track than "Birth and Death of the Pillars of Creation" (oh come on, really?). Secundo, the whole album is incredibly solemn. So, I just had to keep pace with the band, you see! The Serpent and the Sphere is the fifth LP from Agalloch, preceded by bleak and raw Marrow of the Spirit. This one on the other hand is much more accessible. And here's why...

Before I tell you why, one more thing. Don't think I'm belittling the concept behind this album. If only for how consistent every Agalloch album is, the band should be praised. As usual music, artwork and lyrics complete each other and create a stunningly atmospheric whole. Still, even though the sound production fits the music on The Serpent and the Sphere pretty well, I can't help but miss the raw black metal sound of the previous record. Agalloch's music relies on atmospheric layers rather than composition complexity and doesn't really need such a polished sound production. It just seems more genuine with a rawer one. Songwriting itself is strong as ever, even if I got a deja vu more than once. While Agalloch doesn't necessarily get stale, the polished sound would allow of more experimental approach. What we got instead is an atmospheric doom/black metal album that sounds a tad less post-metal. Neo-folk influences, on the other hand seem to have gained more ground. I may not like all the changes in direction but, despite all that, it's a very enjoyable and catchy record. Just another proof that Agalloch's got the magic, no matter what!

Every so often I catch myself turning a blind eye to anything that, in my humble opinion, Agalloch does wrong. Songwriting is sometimes rough, and pathos sometimes too abundant. Yet still this music is so honest and genuine that I can't help but get carried away with it. Even though a little less bold than before, Agalloch still stands out as one of the more original extreme metal acts. All fans of atmospheric metal should give this album a go, especially newcomers, as The Serpent and the Sphere is their most accessible release to date.

Shinsekai yori (From the New World)

Stuck in a loop

(please note that it's a spoiler-free review)

We love fantasizing about the future of humanity, shaking our fists at the stars and anticipating amazing discoveries. Through oceans of blood and suffering, we keep pushing forward, always so hopeful about a better tomorrow. The faith we have in ourselves seesms in fact justified, as we can easily trace the progress made throughout history. Humanity has become more civilized, open-minded, peaceful. And even though there's still a lot of room for improvement, our achievements to date give us a firm conviction that we're on the right track... but are we, really? What if it's all just a lie we keep repeating, a convenient platitude that keeps us going? What if deep down in your heart, nothing has changed, ever?

We all have gone through that kind of story at least once in our lives. A story that you get hooked on gradually rather than from the get go, one that you don't necessarily enjoy as much as some more accessible ones. And yet it leaves a mark on your soul that won't ever fade away. Shinsekai Yori is definitely one of those. Set one thousand years in the future, the story of this anime bears no resemblance to any sci-fi futuristic settings I have seen so far. Some would expect a highly developed, space-faring civilization, others would settle for a singularity-based vision of human evolution or even a post-apocalyptic dystopia. That's where the series has already broken with convention and it only breaks more of it later on. There's almost no advanced technology in the anime whatsoever, except for electricity (very scarce) and some rudimentary accessories, and yet it doesn't seem post-apocalyptic. The closest reference for the world depicted in Shinsekai Yori would be the pre-medieval Japan seen through a utopian filter. If I were to classify the story in any way, I'd say it's a modern psychological fantasy, as it doesn't dabble in hard science and instead draws on an elegant concept of cantus. Telekinesis (on the molecular level), for this is what the term refers to, is handled with much care and insight in Shinsekai Yori. It's not just a superpower, it's a potent yet dangerous ability that can lead its user to almost godlike achievements, but also to unspeakable atrocities. The biggest of which is to be revealed in the last episode.

The aura of mystery and menace pervades the story long before it unveils any of its dark secrets. The animation, even though technically inferior to some high-profile productions, boasts a stunningly beautiful artistic design. Accompanied by equally effective soundtrack, as eclectic as the anime itself, Shinsekai yori is a thrilling and unsettling ride through a bitter-sweet utopia. It's all the more effective due to the profoundly allegoric character of the series. It is an elegant and painful critique not only of the caste-based society, government and blind faith people have in it, but also of the unspeakable evil that lies dormant in all of us. If only for the unprecedented setting and concept, the anime is worth watching. If, however, you keep a constant lookout for ambitious productions that venture where no other does, Shinsekai Yori is an absolute must-see.