I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: January 24, 2026] Agriculture

I saw Agriculture open for Boris just two months ago.  I enjoyed their set so much that I knew I’d see them again and two months was not too short of a time to wait.

Agriculture calls their music ecstatic black metal and that description, while slightly vague, is really spot on.  There is screaming and growling, speed and heaviness but also a lot of brightness and beauty.

They put out a new album last year and most of their Boris set was from that album.  The headline set added two more songs form that record and a few more older tracks.

First out was guitarist Richard Chowenhill who started playing one note really really fast.  I was standing right in front of him and I was really blown away by how fast he was picking the string.   The rest of the band came out and started Flea, which features bassist Leah Levinson reciting lyrics while guitarist Dan Meyer who still has a big beard screamed gutturally.  The fact the the song shifts gears midway through to a pleasant, uplifting voice while Leah sings gently only make the screams that she does shortly all the more crazy.

I loved watching drummer Kern Haug.  He has exceptional sideburns and he plays so fast and yet with such precision.  I’m surprised for the second time that he wore a button down shirt,  But I was less surprised to see him trying to stretch out his back mid set because holy cow what a workout.

But it was really amazing being in front of Chowenhill as he played these amazing solos. Whether he shredded furiously or was doing fascinating finger tapping while sliding up and down the neck, the speed and accuracy were mind blowing.

It was pretty bizarre about half way through the show a guy pushed his way up front and started “singing” along to Leah’s screamed vocals. He clearly knew the words and he did try to sound screamy but it was almost like have a translator next to me.  I let him get in front so he’s stop shouting in my ear.

I was happy to recognize some songs from the last time, like the amazing Bodhidharma (it opens with a catchy heavy riff and then slows to almost nothing–just a slow drum beat while Leah screams her head off.  Then she sings quietly, achingly; and then the song takes off again and Chowenhill plays one of the best guitar solos I’ve seen in a long time).  But they also played songs that they didn’t have time for last time.

I also love their quieter moments, when the band steps aside and Dan strums the guitar.  He also sings with a beautiful voice–so different from his growl–on a mournful song like Hallelujah. Or the introspective The Reply

And I look up at the sky Towards the point where sky encounters the water And I reflect On the early spring in Europe in 1914. At the very height Of the world they built They destroyed it For no reason.

The biggest surprise for me was that both Haug and Chowenhill did solos–an actual drum solo and an actual guitar solo.  So unexpected in a show like this.  Dan spoke near the end saying that he was so fucking angry today (after yet another murder by ICE agents in Minnesota) and yet he hoped that we could use that anger to move forward with compassion and love.   It was really moving for such a heavy show, but that’s what ecstatic black metal is all about.

Like last time, they ended with Living is Easy (and the crowd went nuts).  Opening with a fast but pretty guitar melody, it has several parts that are, simply, anthemic.  Pretty, uplifting guitars in both riffage and soloing.  And lots of screaming, of course.  I thought of this song as the song that never ends because it seemed to have about five climax moments where it seemed like they were winding up to end the song and then they moved on to another part that sounded like it would end the song. But when it did, what catharsis.

I’m so glad I was able to see them again so soon and yes, I would see them again soon if they came back around.

§ The Spiritual Sound (2025) [they didn’t play Serenity, The Spiritual Sound, Dan’s Love Song]
£ Living is Easy EP (2024)
∀ Agriculture (2023)