(written by Islander)
One of our site’s favorite bands, Minnesota-based Amiensus, have busied themselves this year by releasing singles — “Fields of Emerald Fire” (reviewed here), “We Still Bloom” (reviewed here), and “The Peak of Denali” (reviewed here). They have also been teasing a fourth single to emerge before year-end, and today we’re very happy to bring it your way.
This one is a cover song, and you might guess whose music Amiensus is covering based solely on the cover art. But in case you’re still scratching your head, it’s Agalloch, and the song is “The Lodge” from the band’s beloved 2002 album The Mantle.
We’ll begin with this statement by James Benson from Amiensus:
20 years ago, I started my first band, formerly known as The Last. With the energy and vigor that come with youth, aided by the coming of age of social media, I discovered a band that would shape not only the next 20 years of my journey with music and learning the guitar, but my goals and aspirations.
Truthfully, I discovered Agalloch through none other than MySpace, slightly after the all time great Ashes Against the Grain was released. While my initial love of the band was rooted in this album, it wasn’t until 2008’s The White EP that this band would be forever cemented as my favorite of all time, and I would truly indulge in all of their discography.
“The Lodge” immediately became the soundtrack to my nightly moments of writing lyrics, planning of releases, inspiration to artwork and so much more. I’m very excited to share our own rendition of this track, featuring our friend Chris Brown (Kakophonix) on cello.
Here’s to many more autumns.
The four singles released by Amiensus, including this one, have displayed varying sides of the band’s music, and that proves true again today.
This cover is faithful to Agalloch’s original, and every bit as haunting and hypnotic, though it uses some different instrumentation. As in the original, the ring of strummed acoustic chords provide the music’s moody throughline, and harsh, gasping, breath-like sounds again give the song an unsettling edge.
Behind and above the repeating acoustic refrain the rising-and-falling wail of Chris Brown’s cello strings magnify the music’s musing, melancholy, and mournful air, and the vibrant trill of a tremolo’d guitar creates a mystical and yearning shine — one more ingredient of the cover that makes it spellbinding.
The video, as you will see, underscores the introspective nature of the music.
To find all of the Amiensus singles released so far this year and to follow the band’s continuing activities, check out the links below. Their cover of “The Lodge” will be digitally released by M-Theory Audio on November 12th.
https://linktr.ee/amiensus
https://amiensus.bandcamp.com/
https://m-theoryaudio.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.facebook.com/Amiensus/