All the elation, transcendence, and power in heavy sonic art bursts forth with blinding force from the sophomore release by this self-proclaimed "blissful black metal" collective hailing from Los Angeles.
This new album combines immense heaviness with creative intricacies. Key track Bodhidharma rides a riff suited to a motorcycle crew, then a burst of static and shrieking heralds a sad post-rock bridge section. The maligned art of the widdly-woo solo is brilliantly revived by guitarist the lead guitarist, whose soloing on this track and on standout the song Flea will have you levitating with joy – yet the calm ballad the track Hallelujah features descending guitar melodies played with childlike simplicity.
Songs such as Micah (5.15.am) and Serenity are fast-paced punk rock, while the piece Dan’s Love Song is without percussion and has slow-moving Sunn O)))-style fuzz rumbling underneath its ethereal beauty. Black metal melodies can often be either nonexistent or too complex, yet Agriculture’s riffs and hooks are bright and original, and closer The Reply even recalls a much heavier Radiohead.
Listeners who enjoy experimental metal acts similar artists will probably love all this dynamic shifting and fearlessly beautiful sound, especially because the group also have two distinct singing approaches, divided here across two vocalists. Dan Meyer contributes sporadic soulful, clean singing, yet the standout is Leah Levinson, her voice trembling on one track but splenetically caterwauling elsewhere.
As is common in the genre, it's difficult to discern the words she sings, yet they are worth the effort: the stories she sings about suicidal friends and anti-LGBTQ bigotry are heart-wrenching, as is her quest for purpose in a world that relentlessly trends towards conflict.
