“Extreme music expresses hardship and suffering – but we’re reaching towards joy”: Introducing Agriculture, the “ecstatic black metal” band who recorded their sophomore LP as the LA wildfires closed in

Agriculture.

Drawing inspiration from Zen Buddhism, queer history and Bob Dylan to Jaco Pastorious and beyond, Agriculture have long been interested in exploring joy amid suffering.

“If you’re in a forest, you can’t see all the water underground, nourishing these beautiful trees,” says guitarist Dan Meyer. “Joy is the underground source of life in the forest of extreme metal!”