Review: Oak, Ash & Thorn – Our Grief is Thus

Style: Melodic Death Metal (Mixed vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Scar Symmetry, Allegaeon, Ensiferum, faster-paced Khemmis
Review by: Dave
Country: Colorado, United States
Release date: 19 April 2024

Since my recent falling-back-in-love with folk metal artisans Agalloch, I not only welcome any opportunity to be pigeonholed as “the folk guy”, I actively seek out my chances in hopes of finding something else that is pagan, foresty, atmospheric, and not called Agalloch or Alunah. So when a band called Oak, Ash & Thorn drops their album Our Grief is Thus into our backlog, I immediately anticipate foresty pagan folk. Oaks, Ashes, and Thorns? I’m already sold! Now, the question is, does Our Grief is Thus scratch the Agalloch itch?

I think the question I should have asked is, “Does this approach get me anything close to Agalloch?” and the answer here is: absolutely not. Our Grief is Thus has more in common with Scar Symmetry’s Holographic Universe and Khemmis’s Desolation than it does with Ulver’s Kveldssanger or Alunah’s Awakening the Forest. While the lyrical themes certainly fall under a similar purview as the latter, exploring ideas of old-world paganism, the instrumental approach is radically different, grounding the music in fast-paced melodic death metal that occasionally takes a break to spread its wings and indulge in epic theatrics. For most of its runtime, Our Grief is Thus races along hyper-melodic riffage underlaid with rhythmic chugs and a healthy mix of outstanding harsh and clean vocals, with drums that occasionally make themselves known with blast beats and double kicks. There is even a touch of folk instrumentation to be found on the opener “Dying Culture”.

While I am typically not a fan of melodeath post-2008 or so, Oak, Ash & Thorn work extremely well within the space and have a strong sense of how to use its components to the best of their abilities. The harsh vocals maintain energy through the verses and present a springboard for the cleans to shine on the choruses, notably on “Dying Culture,” “Auras,” and “Distant Mountains, Distant Gods”. “Ten Years on the Tundra” has my favorite vocal performance, maintaining powerful theatrical cleans throughout its runtime. I could have sworn that Phil Pendergast of Khemmis did vocals here on my first listen due to Adam Armstrong’s ability to evoke a similar timbre and drama as the Khemmis vocalist (Khemmist?). As for the guitars, “Like the Sea I Raged” opens on a riff filled with melody, groove, and a driving power, bringing its momentum to a climax during the tremolo-picked bridge; “Auras” showcases impressive guitar work with chugs interplaying nicely with operatic vocal lines over subtly changing tempos; and “Light My Pyre” is reminiscent of the most fun and speedy moments of Iron-era Ensiferum.

The bramble from which Oak, Ash & Thorn emerges leaves room for growth, however. While Our Grief is Thus is spectacularly energetic as a whole, I find that the closer “Unchain the Wolf” is a little weak in comparison to the rest of the material, being the most straightforward song and doing little to add to what is already present. Moreover, because Our Grief is Thus is such a high-energy listen, I would prefer something a little more subdued to bring me down from the intensity at the end, which opens up a perfect opportunity to incorporate more folk instrumentation as was done on the opener. We are presented with a tease of folk sensibilities at the beginning of Our Grief is Thus, and it leaves me wanting more: I would have loved if these moments were interspersed over the whole album and not sequestered to the introduction.

My over-eagerness to discover Dave’s Next Big Folk Hyperfixation has led me astray once again, but not in vain: Our Grief is Thus is a magnificent album which has revived my love for melodic death metal through its intense interpretation of pagan themes. Despite a couple small missteps with the closer and unfortunately fewer folk moments than I wanted, Our Grief is Thus is a tight and polished album that doesn’t overstay its welcome, fit for anyone who has an inclination for melodeath. Just don’t go in expecting The Mantle.

Recommended tracks: Ten Years on the Tundra, Auras, Dying Culture
You may also like: Wandering Oak, Suotana, Cân Bardd, Stortregn
Final verdict: 7.5/10

Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Metal-Archives | RateYourMusic

Label: Lost Future – Bandcamp | Facebook | Official Website

Oak, Ash & Thorn is:
– Cierra White (drums)
– Adam Armstrong (vocals, guitars)
– Erik Hoffman (bass)
– Jason Harding (vocals, guitars)