The Band Agriculture: The Spiritual Sound Album Analysis – Boldly Beautiful Soundscapes from Blissful Extreme Metal Band

All the elation, transcendence, and power of heavy music bursts forth with blinding energy from the sophomore release by this self-described "ecstatic black metal" collective based in Los Angeles.

The Spiritual Sound pairs crushing weight with creative intricacies. Key track the song Bodhidharma rides a guitar motif fit for a biker gang, before a burst of static and shrieking heralds a sad atmospheric rock middle eight. The often-criticized technique of the widdly-woo solo is brilliantly revived by guitarist the lead guitarist, whose lead work on this track and on standout Flea will have you floating in ecstasy – yet the gentle song the track Hallelujah showcases falling guitar notes played with youthful innocence.

Songs such as Micah and the song Serenity are fast-paced hardcore punk, while Dan’s Love Song is drum free and has glacial drone-metal distortion rumbling underneath its ethereal beauty. Melodies in black metal can often be absent or too complex, yet Agriculture’s guitar lines and choruses are bright and original, and final track the song The Reply even evokes a more intense Radiohead.

Fans of experimental metal acts similar artists will probably love all this dynamic shifting and unabashedly gorgeous noise, especially because Agriculture also have two distinct vocal styles, divided here across two vocalists. One vocalist adds sporadic melodic vocals, yet the standout is the other vocalist, her voice trembling on one track but fiercely howling on other songs.

As is common in the genre, it's difficult to discern the words she sings, but they’re worth seeking out: the narratives she sings about suicidal friends and anti-LGBTQ bigotry are heart-wrenching, just like her quest for meaning in a world that relentlessly trends towards violence.