The Band Agriculture: Their Album 'The Spiritual Sound' Album Analysis – Boldly Beautiful Soundscapes from Ecstatic Black Metal Band
All the euphoria, spiritual ascent, and power in heavy sonic art radiates with blinding force from the sophomore release by this self-proclaimed "blissful black metal" collective hailing from Los Angeles.
The Spiritual Sound pairs crushing weight with imaginative detailing. Lead single Bodhidharma rides a riff suited to a motorcycle crew, before a blast of noise and screaming introduces a melancholic atmospheric rock middle eight. The often-criticized technique of the widdly-woo solo is spectacularly resurrected by guitarist the lead guitarist, whose lead work on this track and on standout Flea will have you floating in ecstasy – but then the gentle song Hallelujah features falling guitar notes played with childlike simplicity.
Songs such as Micah (5.15.am) and the song Serenity are high-speed punk rock, but Dan’s Love Song is without percussion and has slow-moving drone-metal fuzz rumbling along underneath its dream-pop loveliness. Melodies in black metal can often be either nonexistent or overly fussy, yet Agriculture’s guitar lines and choruses are vibrant and innovative, and final track the song The Reply even evokes a more intense the band Radiohead.
Fans of post-metallers Deafheaven will likely adore all this contrasting dynamics and fearlessly beautiful sound, particularly since the group also have two distinct vocal styles, split here across two vocalists. Dan Meyer adds occasional soulful, clean singing, but the star is the other vocalist, whose voice quivers on one track but splenetically caterwauling elsewhere.
In typical black metal fashion, it's difficult to discern the words she sings, but they’re worth seeking out: the stories she conveys about suicidal friends and social injustice are devastating, just like her quest for purpose in a reality that relentlessly trends towards violence.
