Agriculture is different. I felt it from the very first time I heard their music. Black metal has many faces, as there are bands, and then there is Agriculture. They’re about to drop their second album, “The Spiritual Sound”, and that anticipation is bubbling away, about to burst. Their UK & EU tour is almost finished, completed, done, and I’m sad, as the wait for the next gig will be long.
Agriculture
Hackney’s Oslo stage was on fire, ignited by the pure and joyous ecstasy of sound. Sometimes black metal can be exhausting if you’re not wired a certain way; its tempos and tremolo picking can cause slight sensory overload. For an inexperienced listener, and I still consider myself one, it can send your mind into overdrive. But this has never happened when listening to Agriculture. Not even once.
They use classic black metal techniques, yet overlay them with pure happiness. Somehow, they’ve found the formula where, even in the most chaotic moments, you feel the warmth of sunlight on your face, and that warmth guides you through the often-unforgiving rhythms. Watching Agriculture and their instrumental genius, so meticulous, so specific, challenging yet executed with ease, was a real treat. You could see on their faces that they deeply feel what they play. Their craft connects you to another world, the spirit world. You cannot look away. It’s a gravitational pull that brings you closer to the light.
The promising and teasing new single from the upcoming sophomore “Bodhidharma” live is something else entirely. The happy whistles, hands clapping, and joyous screams in the room showed how much we crave their new material. And it’s coming.
Machuka
To spice things up, let me try to unpack the opening act from the way they ended their set. As the final claps faded, a slight disbelief crept over the faces of Machuka. Their words were: “We cannot believe we are on tour with Agriculture.” As much as they were grateful, this was no accident. This band is insanely good. I’ll be brave enough to say it: there was no other band that could match Agriculture’s vibes and still find their own unique energy on stage. They matched each other’s instrumental genius in their own way. Machuka is a band that should be on your radar if you appreciate post-black metal and dark hardcore.
Walking with my camera between songs felt almost rude at times; their set was an experience. One heartfelt and filled with pain, resembling a ritual. I paused many times just to listen, letting the moment disappear into the room, shared only with those present. That intimacy, laying your pain bare on stage, is what makes them stand out in today’s crowded music scene. Saxophone in hand and Ukrainian lyrics elevated the experience. Thank goodness we live in a world where you can embrace your native tongue on international stages.
Agriculture is gearing up for its upcoming US tour in November. Please follow their socials for more information.