Agriculture: The Spiritual Sound Album Analysis – Boldly Beautiful Soundscapes from Blissful Extreme Metal Group
Every bit of elation, transcendence, and intensity in heavy sonic art radiates with blinding force from the sophomore release by this self-proclaimed "ecstatic black metal" collective hailing from Los Angeles.
This new album pairs immense heaviness with creative intricacies. Lead single Bodhidharma rides a riff suited to a biker gang, then a blast of noise and shrieking heralds a melancholic atmospheric rock middle eight. The often-criticized technique of the widdly-woo solo is spectacularly resurrected by guitarist Richard Chowenhill, whose lead work here and on standout the song Flea will have you levitating with joy – yet the gentle song the track Hallelujah showcases falling guitar notes played with youthful innocence.
Songs such as Micah (5.15.am) and Serenity are fast-paced punk rock, but the piece Dan’s Love Song is drum free and has glacial Sunn O)))-style distortion rumbling underneath its dream-pop loveliness. Melodies in black metal can often be either nonexistent or too complex, but Agriculture’s guitar lines and choruses are bright and original, and final track the song The Reply even recalls a more intense Radiohead.
Listeners who enjoy experimental metal acts similar artists will probably love all this dynamic shifting and fearlessly beautiful sound, particularly since the group also feature two distinct singing approaches, split here across two vocalists. Dan Meyer contributes occasional soulful, clean singing, but the star is the other vocalist, whose voice quivers on Bodhidharma but fiercely howling on other songs.
As is common in the genre, it’s hard to make out her lyrics, yet they are worth seeking out: the stories she conveys about suicidal friends and social injustice are heart-wrenching, just like her quest for meaning in a world that inexorably bends towards violence.
