Whoa! I must say I'm surprised to see an Agalloch thread here
But yeah, that album is truly a masterpiece, one that makes my heart ache. It's quite a journey actually, listening to The Mantle. The lyrics/poetry are sooo brilliant - which reminds me I have to include my favorite parts here:
"Like snowfall, you cry a silent storm
Your tears paint rivers on this oaken wall"Gotta love it, very Jeff Buckleyesque imagery.
Also,
"Here at the edge of this world
Here I gaze at a pantheon of oak, a citadel of stone
If this grand panorama before me is what you call God...
Then God is not dead"