Agalloch

Formed in Portland, Oregon, in 1995, Agalloch sculpted a sound that merged the atmospheric tenants of black metal with the structures of neofolk, post-rock, and doom metal. [1, 2, 3] The group’s work evolved across five full-length albums, moving from early folk-inflected metal to the expansive, cinematic arrangements of records like *The Mantle*, which integrated acoustic textures and post-rock dynamics. [2, 6] Known for exploring themes of nature, melancholy, and paganism, the band's output defined a distinct strain of Pacific Northwest metal, emphasizing musical evolution and textural depth until its dissolution in 2016. [1, 11, 12]