I was not initially familiar with the band Falloch before hearing "This Island, Our Funeral," but I had read a few recommendations that suggested if you enjoy Agalloch, you would like Falloch. I thought maybe it would be too "obvious" since the bands' names rhyme. It's not that simple, however. Falloch should definitely appeal to fans of Agalloch but only based on the grand scale of the music. Falloch have more in common with a band like Alcest, which works for me since I love them as well.
Imagine if Alcest had the bombast that Agalloch possesses, you have the blueprint
with which Falloch operates. The good news is that "This Island, Our Funeral" is a magnificent album regardless of whatever influences one might look for.
Falloch was a two-man band on their debut album but have since done a bit of "addition by subtraction." Andy Marshall left the band, while bassist Ben Brown, drummer Steve Scott, and
new singer Tony Dunn joined Scott McLean to form an even stronger band. Each track, sans the short "-", are all epic songs with quieter sections, big riffs and soaring vocals. No death/black/harsh vocals to be found here, just some of the best clean vocals you will hear. The vocals really make these songs take flight.
Two of my favorite tracks, "Brahan" and "I Shall Build Mountains," show that
Tony can flat-out sing - he has great vocal range. There's always that one
higher note that he hits that just makes the moment.
He is a GREAT addition to the band.
Falloch are hard to classify musically, which is another reason I like them. It's definitely metal, but as far as subgenres go, I suppose you could say shoegaze, folk metal and progressive metal. Fans of any of those styles will find plenty to enjoy with "This Island, Our Funeral." Falloch convey a very cold, yet beautiful sound. You can feel the chill in the air, hear the waves on the shore of the island and see the fog rolling in. This is truly atmospheric metal.
Highly recommended!
