Mammal
Altar of Plagues · 2011
52 min · 4 tracks · black metal
Dense layers of atmospheric black metal intertwine with haunting melodies, creating an immersive sonic landscape that feels both expansive and claustrophobic.
Top tracks — play these first
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Neptune Is Dead — The album opener is a sprawling 18-minute epic that encapsulates the record's themes of decay and transformation, seamlessly blending ferocity with moments of serene beauty.
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When the Sun Drowns in the Ocean — This track showcases the band's ability to evoke deep emotion through contrasting dynamics, moving from harsh riffs to ethereal passages that linger hauntingly.
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Feather & Bone — With its intricate guitar work and shifting tempos, this song exemplifies Altar of Plagues' experimental spirit while maintaining a strong emotional core throughout.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Mammal's intricate compositions and immersive soundscapes establish it as a significant work in atmospheric black metal.
What we noticed
- The album features four tracks, each exceeding eight minutes, allowing for extended atmospheric development.
- Layered guitar textures create a dense soundscape, with shifts in dynamics that alternate between intense crescendos and quieter, haunting passages.
- Vocals are often buried within the mix, blending with the instrumentation rather than standing out, contributing to the overall immersive experience.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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9/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Neptune Is Dead 18:45
- 2 Feather & Bone 11:43
- 3 When the Sun Drowns in the Ocean 8:18
- 4 All Life Converges to Some Centre 13:16
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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