Agriculture: The Spiritual Sound Album Analysis – Boldly Beautiful Noise from Ecstatic Black Metal Band
All the euphoria, transcendence, and intensity in heavy sonic art radiates with blinding force from the second album by this self-described "ecstatic black metal" collective based in Los Angeles.
The Spiritual Sound pairs crushing weight with imaginative detailing. Lead single the song Bodhidharma propels along a riff fit for a motorcycle crew, before a blast of noise and shrieking introduces a melancholic atmospheric rock middle eight. The often-criticized technique of the widdly-woo solo is brilliantly revived by guitarist Richard Chowenhill, whose soloing here and on highlight Flea will have you levitating with joy – but then the gentle song the track Hallelujah showcases falling guitar notes played with childlike simplicity.
Songs such as Micah and Serenity are fast-paced hardcore punk, while the piece Dan’s Love Song is drum free and has slow-moving Sunn O)))-style fuzz rumbling underneath its dream-pop loveliness. Melodies in black metal can often be either nonexistent or overly fussy, but the band's riffs and hooks are bright and original, and closer the song The Reply even evokes a much heavier the band Radiohead.
Fans of post-metallers similar artists will likely adore all this contrasting dynamics and fearlessly beautiful sound, especially because Agriculture also have two distinct vocal styles, split here across two singers. Dan Meyer adds sporadic melodic vocals, but the star is Leah Levinson, her voice trembling on one track but fiercely howling elsewhere.
As is common in the genre, it’s hard to discern her lyrics, yet they are worth seeking out: the stories she conveys about personal struggles and anti-LGBTQ bigotry are devastating, as is her quest for meaning in a world that inexorably bends towards conflict.
