Agriculture – The Spiritual Sound
Agriculture‘s “ecstatic black metal” sound is one of emotional extremity. The California metal band made their debut in 2022 with The Circle Chant, comprising a cacophony of shrieking and instrumental shredding. Yet alongside that intensity were thoughtful and introspective lyrics, reflecting upon the duality of both darkness and light in the world. In a genre like black metal where so many bands are in a race to be the bleakest, Agriculture’s approach is refreshingly human.
With their 2023 self-titled LP and their 2024 EP Living Is Easy, Agriculture have continued to hone their craft, introducing more technical depth to their songs. The Spiritual Sound follows suit in that regard, but it is so much more than a leveling up in technique. It’s both a shining representation of their ecstatic music and a spiritually moving work of art.
Vocalist/guitarist Dan Meyer recently told me about the intent behind the record’s title; though the intent isn’t prescriptive, Meyer says “you might get more out of this record if you approach this from a spiritual angle that makes sense to you.” Spiritual references appear throughout the record—the song “Bodhidharma,” for example, references the monk who founded Zen Buddhism. While such references can be a signifier of the record’s spiritual content, the core spiritual appeal of The Spiritual Sound is found in the band’s transcendent performances, and in their intention towards technicality and lyrics.
In listening to The Spiritual Sound, you may notice a directness in Agriculture’s performances. They’re never straightforward in a boring way—quite the opposite in fact—but delivered with intention and clarity. Agriculture invites rebellion against passivity; no second screens, don’t treat this record as background noise, absorb it and see what it stirs within you. If you’re open to being present with the work, you may find yourself in a natural meditative flow, immersed in a kaleidoscope of sound and poetry.
Agriculture pepper their songs with technical nuances and showcase a versatile fluidity via stylistic blends and an ability to balance minimalist composition with maximalist sound, as well as in how they layer sound. The opening of “My Garden” sees the band unleashing a torrential onslaught, the dense array of sound bursting with adrenaline. This aggression continues until they drop the song into something more serene, slowing down the pummeling drums and bass as the guitar tone provides a gentle, airy melody.
Such sonic juxtapositions are common throughout the album, the group carefully pacing contrasting styles to allow for exciting transitions and combinations. “Micah (5.15am)” harbors an electrifying blend of melody and rhythm that thrashes forth with an exhilarating immediacy broken up with tempo shifts. “The Weight” is another showcase for their technical ingenuity, its sludgy textures leveraged to create a sense of tactile heaviness, further elevated by an ever-expanding air of doom. This heaviness never relents, but over the course of the song’s duration, the textural hybrid morphs into frenetic noise, reflecting the emotional horror of the song’s lyrics (“Try to move what’s left of me…“).
Lyrically, Meyer and vocalist/bassist Leah Levison bring two distinct voices to Agriculture. Between the two of them, there’s no desire to humor gimmicks or make vague gestures, focused instead on more human concerns. Among its thematic scope, The Spiritual Sound is inspired by Zen Buddhism, history, and queer/AIDS literature. Levison and Meyer present intimate vignettes both tragic and heartwarming; on “The Weight,” Levison paints a haunting look at some of the horrors queer people face in the world, whereas on “Dan’s Love Song,” Meyer sings of excitement and love at the prospect of one day raising a child.
Agriculture’s ecstatic metal is at its most electrifying, heart aching, and wondrous on The Spiritual Sound. While spirituality is a highly ephemeral and subjective thing, there’s nonetheless something special to this record. The heaviest kind of music is that which makes the deepest emotional connection, and The Spiritual Sound aims directly for the heart.
Label: The Flenser
Year: 2025
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Agriculture : The Spiritual Sound
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