Marrow of the Spirit
Marrow of the Spirit is the fourth studio album by American metal band Agalloch, released on November 23, 2010. Production. "Marrow of the Spirit" marked a change in record labels for Agalloch. Their first three albums and EPs were released by The End Records, but after their contract was completed with the release of "Ashes Against the Grain" in 2006, the band opted not to renew it. "Marrow of the Spirit" was released by Profound Lore Records, which had also released the first two Agalloch albums on vinyl in 2005. It was the first album to  feature Aesop Dekker (of Ludicra) on drums, replacing Chris Greene. The band felt that their previous album, "Ashes Against the Grain", sounded too polished, and opted for a more raw sound for "Marrow of the Spirit", saying that it felt more "alive and real". The album thus was recorded entirely on vintage analog equipment. Recording took place at Audible Alchemy Studios in Portland, Oregon with Steven Wray Lobdell producing. Release. On October 29, 2010, the track "The Watcher's Monolith" was released on the music website Stereogum, accompanied by an interview with John Haughm. The track "Ghosts of the Midwinter  Fires" was released on November 1. The full album was released on November 23, 2010. Reception. The album was named one of NPR's Top 50 albums of 2010 and listed at No. 1 on "Decibel"<nowiki>'</nowiki>s list of the 40 best albums of 2010. "PopMatters" listed "Marrow of the Spirit" as the best metal album of 2010.