All the euphoria, transcendence, and power of heavy music radiates with blinding force from the sophomore release by this self-proclaimed "ecstatic black metal" ensemble hailing from Los Angeles.
This new album pairs crushing weight with creative intricacies. Key track Bodhidharma propels along a riff fit for a biker gang, before a burst of static and shrieking introduces a sad post-rock middle eight. The often-criticized technique of the widdly-woo solo is brilliantly revived by axeman Richard Chowenhill, whose lead work here and on standout Flea will have you floating in ecstasy – yet the calm ballad Hallelujah features descending guitar melodies played with youthful innocence.
Tracks like Micah and Serenity are high-speed punk rock, but Dan’s Love Song is without percussion and has slow-moving drone-metal fuzz rumbling underneath its dream-pop loveliness. Melodies in black metal can often be either nonexistent or too complex, but Agriculture’s riffs and hooks are vibrant and innovative, and final track The Reply even recalls a more intense the band Radiohead.
Fans of experimental metal acts similar artists will probably love all this dynamic shifting and fearlessly beautiful sound, especially because the group also feature two divergent singing approaches, split here across two vocalists. One vocalist adds occasional melodic vocals, yet the standout is the other vocalist, her voice quivers on Bodhidharma but splenetically caterwauling on other songs.
In typical black metal fashion, it’s hard to discern her lyrics, yet they are worth seeking out: the narratives she sings about suicidal friends and social injustice are devastating, just like her search for purpose in a reality that inexorably bends towards conflict.
