As 2012 draws closer to a close and the fall and winter months roll in, black metal becomes one of the most apt genres of music to listen to. Whether you’re listening to the frostbitten assault of bands like Immortal or the more tranquil approach of bands like Agalloch, the music you’re listening to is likely to compliment the current state of nature nicely. Oak Pantheon, a two-piece project from Minneapolis, Minnesota, opts for the latter approach. Their newest album, From a Whisper, is set to be released on September 25th via Broken Limbs Recordings, just in time for the fall season. From the very first riff of the opening track, “Descend Into Winter,” it is clear that Oak Pantheon draws a lot of influence from Agalloch. This is, by no means, a bad thing, although some would probably criticize Oak Pantheon for being too similar to Agalloch. But, as the saying goes, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Oak Pantheon combines atmospheric riffs, clean vocals, rough vocals, and the occasional acoustic guitar parts to form their sound.
From a Whisper is largely fantastic in its entirety, but where it draws a lot of strength is its dynamism. There are a lot of contrasting elements, such as clean vocals, rough vocals, gritty guitar parts, and acoustic guitar parts. Oak Pantheon is able to transition between all of these elements seamlessly and it makes for an excellent listening experience.
All in all, Oak Pantheon’s From a Whisper is an excellent release that will be arriving just in time for the colder months. While it may be slightly derivative, it is still very enjoyable.
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