Agriculture: The Spiritual Sound Review – Unabashedly Gorgeous Soundscapes from Blissful Extreme Metal Group
Every bit of elation, transcendence, and intensity of heavy music radiates with blinding energy from the sophomore release by this self-described "ecstatic black metal" ensemble hailing from Los Angeles.
The Spiritual Sound pairs crushing weight with creative intricacies. Lead single the song Bodhidharma propels along a guitar motif fit for a biker gang, then a blast of noise and screaming heralds a melancholic post-rock bridge section. The often-criticized technique of the widdly-woo solo is spectacularly resurrected by axeman Richard Chowenhill, whose lead work here and on standout Flea will have you floating in ecstasy – yet the calm ballad Hallelujah features falling guitar notes played with youthful innocence.
Songs such as Micah and the song Serenity are high-speed punk rock, while the piece Dan’s Love Song is without percussion and has slow-moving Sunn O)))-style fuzz rumbling along underneath its ethereal beauty. Melodies in black metal can often be absent or overly fussy, yet Agriculture’s guitar lines and choruses are bright and original, and final track The Reply even evokes a more intense Radiohead.
Fans of experimental metal acts Deafheaven will probably love all this contrasting dynamics and fearlessly beautiful sound, especially because Agriculture also feature two divergent singing approaches, divided here across two vocalists. One vocalist adds occasional melodic vocals, yet the standout is the other vocalist, her voice quivers on one track but fiercely howling elsewhere.
In typical black metal fashion, it's difficult to make out the words she sings, yet they are worth seeking out: the stories she conveys about personal struggles and anti-LGBTQ bigotry are devastating, just like her quest for meaning in a reality that inexorably bends towards violence.
