Portland, Oregon's Agalloch blended black metal with atmospheric textures, gothic doom, and elements of neo-folk and post-rock, gaining a devoted following with their debut album, "Pale Folklore," in 1999. Founded by guitarist/vocalist John Haughm in 1995, the band expanded into a four-piece and released several acclaimed albums, including "The Mantle" (2002) and "The Serpent & the Sphere" (2014), before disbanding in 2016.
Agalloch's evolution saw them experiment with dark post-rock atmospherics on "The Mantle," delve into traditional black metal with "Ashes Against the Grain" (2006), and explore a rawer aesthetic on "Marrow of the Spirit" (2010). Their final album, "The Serpent & the Sphere" (2014), showcased their unique blend of blackened progressive folk metal and cemented their legacy as boundary-pushing pioneers of the genre.
