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Every bit of euphoria, transcendence, and power in heavy sonic art bursts forth with blinding energy from the sophomore release by this self-proclaimed "ecstatic black metal" ensemble hailing from Los Angeles.

This new album pairs crushing weight with imaginative detailing. Lead single the song Bodhidharma rides a riff suited to a motorcycle crew, then a blast of noise and screaming introduces a melancholic post-rock bridge section. The often-criticized technique of the widdly-woo solo is spectacularly resurrected by axeman the lead guitarist, whose soloing on this track and on standout the song Flea will have you levitating with joy – but then the gentle song Hallelujah features descending guitar melodies played with childlike simplicity.

Songs such as Micah (5.15.am) and the song Serenity are fast-paced hardcore punk, while the piece Dan’s Love Song is without percussion and has slow-moving Sunn O)))-style distortion rumbling underneath its ethereal beauty. Black metal melodies can often be either nonexistent or overly fussy, but Agriculture’s guitar lines and choruses are vibrant and innovative, and closer the song The Reply even evokes a much heavier Radiohead.

Listeners who enjoy post-metallers Deafheaven will likely adore all this contrasting dynamics and fearlessly beautiful sound, especially because Agriculture also have two distinct singing approaches, divided here across two singers. One vocalist adds occasional soulful, clean singing, but the star is the other vocalist, whose voice quivers on Bodhidharma but splenetically caterwauling on other songs.

As is common in the genre, it's difficult to make out her lyrics, but they’re worth the effort: the stories she sings about suicidal friends and social injustice are heart-wrenching, as is her search for meaning in a world that relentlessly trends towards conflict.