FALLOCH launched their debut album WHERE DISTANT SPIRITS REMAIN in 10/04/2011 and this album is awash with soaring melodies, acoustic guitars, subtle keys and other elements that clearly mark it as a naturalistic beauty rather than a misanthropic set. This band is named after the "fall of falloch" waterfall near Loch Lomond in Scotland.
The opening tune WE ARE GATHERING has three different sections but all of them are intertwined so perfectly. The song has brought a very atmospheric feeling with a highly captivating vocals of Marshall. The second song BEYOND EMBERS AND THE EARTH has a very catchy tune to it, blending faster rhythm with introspective, flute laden interludes. However, the vocals are well overshadowed by the instruments, but it brings a soothing feel to the song.
The third and the seventh song, titled as HORIZONS and SOLACE that sounds very matured. They are brief instrumentals infused with rain, piano and hypnotic chanting. The fourth song WHERE WE BELIEVE has brought a nice twist in the album with woodwinds and hyper speed guitars. However, in an interlude, Marshall starts shouting that sounded a bit more on the emo side.
The fifth song THE CARRYING LIGHT which prettily combined violins and a steady pace with solid, classic electric guitars in the end. This is a sure positive hint towards ambient with ample Folk (celtic) part. TO WALK AMONGST THE DEAD is perhaps the longest and would pass on to be my favorite track in the whole album. This ten-minute track is skillfully layered with thunder, ancestral chanting, acoustics and loud guitar riffings that compliments superbly with their lyrical themes.
After hearing the whole album, I would only pinpoint the fact that the vocals a bit sensitive and lacks in power. The metalheads might not find it too appealing and most of the time, it gets drowned amongst the instruments. The lyrics might also sound a bit sensitive to any average Metal listener. However, FALLOCH produces an album which is Post-Rock accented Folk/ Black Metal which is pre-dominantly gentle and pretty artfully done.
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