The Serpent & the Sphere

{{Album ratings

|MC=84/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/the-serpent-the-sphere/agalloch|title=The Serpemt & the Sphere|publisher=Metacritic.com|accessdate=2014-05-14}}

|rev1=AbsolutePunk

|rev1Score=8/10{{cite web|last=Jenkins|first=Jake|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=3700243|title=Agalloch – The Serpent & The Sphere|publisher=AbsolutePunk. SpinMedia|accessdate=February 28, 2015}}

|rev2=AllMusic

|rev2Score={{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|last=Monger|first=James Christopher|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-serpent-the-sphere-mw0002641700|title=Agalloch – The Serpent & The Sphere Album Reviews, Songs & More|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=June 8, 2023}}

|rev3=The Austin Chronicle

|rev3Score={{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Toland|first=Michael|date=June 27, 2014|url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2014-06-27/agalloch-the-serpent-and-the-sphere/|title=Agalloch|work=The Austin Chronicle|accessdate=February 28, 2015}}

|rev4=Exclaim!

|rev4Score=10/10{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/Reviews/Metal/agalloch-serpent_sphere|title=Album Review|publisher=Exclaim.ca|last=Walschots|first=Natalie|date=2014-05-12|accessdate=2014-05-14}}

|rev5=Metal Hammer

|rev5Score=6/7{{cite web|last=Müller|first=Robert|date=June 2, 2014|url=http://www.metal-hammer.de/reviews/alben/article580600/agalloch-the-serpent-amp-the-sphere.html|title=Review zum Album THE SERPENT & THE SPHERE von Agalloch|language=German|work=Metal Hammer|publisher=TeamRock|accessdate=February 28, 2015}}

|rev6=Metal Storm

|rev6Score=8,3/10{{cite web|author=R'Vannith|date=May 13, 2014|url=http://www.metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=12544|title=Agalloch – The Serpent & The Sphere review |publisher=Metal Storm|accessdate=February 28, 2015}}

|rev7=Pitchfork

|rev7Score=8.3/10{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/19269-agalloch-the-serpent-the-sphere/ |title=Agalloch: The Serpent and The Sphere|publisher=Pitchfork|last=Currin|first=Grayson|date=2014-05-16|accessdate=2014-04-06}}

|rev8=Slant Magazine

|rev8Score={{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/agalloch-the-serpent-the-sphere|title=Agalloch: The Serpent & the Sphere {{!}} Music Review |work= Slant Magazine|publisher=Slantmagazine.com|last=Sweeney|first=Joe|date=2014-05-09|accessdate=2014-05-14}}

|rev9=Spin

|rev9Score=8/10{{cite web|last= Kelly|first=Kim|date=May 14, 2014|url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/agalloch-the-serpent-and-the-sphere/|title=Agalloch's Blackened Folk Metal Soothes the Soul on 'The Serpent & the Sphere'|work=Spin|publisher=SpinMedia|accessdate=February 28, 2015}}

|rev10=Sputnikmusic

|rev10Score=2/5{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/62251/Agalloch-The-Serpent-and-the-Sphere|title=Agalloch. The Serpent and The Sphere|publisher=Sputnikmusic.com|last=Ward|first=Kyle|date=2014-05-11|accessdate=2014-05-20}}

}}

The album received mostly positive reviews. Michael Toland of The Austin Chronicle described the album as "one boot in balmy progressive folk and the other in frigid black metal" with "some of its prettiest, most haunted acoustic textures and heaviest, raspiest roars". Kim Kelly of Spin stated that the band's "blackened sound" is "more pronounced than ever" while describing the production as "impeccable: Agalloch have never sounded so rich, so full".

{{Track listing

|headline = The Serpent & the Sphere track listing{{cite web|url=http://www.profoundlorerecords.com/agalloch-complete-work-on-new-album/|title=AGALLOCH – Complete Work On New Album|publisher=Profound Lore Records |accessdate=March 19, 2014}}

|total_length= 59:44

|title1= Birth and Death of the Pillars of Creation

|length1= 10:28

|title2= (serpens caput)

|length2= 3:06

|title3= The Astral Dialogue

|length3= 5:11

|title4= Dark Matter Gods

|length4= 8:36

|title5= Celestial Effigy

|length5= 6:59

|title6= Cor Serpentis (the sphere)

|length6= 2:58

|title7= Vales Beyond Dimension

|length7= 6:48

|title8= Plateau of the Ages

|length8= 12:26

|title9= (serpens cauda)

|length9= 3:12

}}

;Agalloch

• John Haughm – guitars, acoustic guitar, vocals, whisper, percussion, art direction
• Don Anderson – guitars, piano, keyboards
• Jason William Walton – bass
• Aesop Dekker – drums

;Guest musicians

• Nathanaël Larochette (Musk Ox) – acoustic guitars {{small|(track 2, 6, 9)}}

;Technical

• Justin Weis – mastering
• Veleda Thorsson – photography
• Billy Anderson – production

{{Reflist}}

{{Agalloch}}

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Category:2014 albums

Category:Agalloch albums

Category:Profound Lore Records albums