Metascore
87

Universal acclaim - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
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  1. Oct 3, 2025
    100
    All of the euphoria, transcendence and power of heavy music emanates with blinding force from the second album by this self-described “ecstatic black metal” band from Los Angeles.
  2. Oct 3, 2025
    90
    Make absolutely no mistake, this record is a force of nature. It’s one of the most crucial additions to the metal canon this decade.
  3. Oct 3, 2025
    86
    The Spiritual Sound is the best metal album of the year. It’s not abrasive or coarse, instead splendid and weird and possible.
  4. Oct 3, 2025
    84
    This album might not flow as perfectly as others or have one consistent style, but what it does have is riffs, balls and atmosphere aplenty, and when creating music based in black metal, it doesn’t get any better than that.
  5. Nov 7, 2025
    83
    It doesn’t shy away from the pain, hurt, and suffering of the world — how could you, especially with blast beats and bloodcurdling shrieks — but the end result is always intoxicatingly life-affirming.
  6. Jan 7, 2026
    80
    On a record whose lyrics can be unintelligible, I normally wouldn’t spend so much time dissecting the words, but Agriculture so often directs us toward closer analysis, deeper listening, fuller understanding.
  7. Oct 3, 2025
    80
    The great joy of Agriculture’s music is the way they make these abrupt shifts flow naturally. On their second album they broaden the scope of their sound while integrating its many aspects more fluidly.
  8. Oct 3, 2025
    80
    The Spiritual Sound is a fathomless pool worth hurling yourself into, a shimmering, shattering new landmark on heavy music’s mind-expanding outer limits.
  9. Oct 6, 2025
    70
    Agriculture comes closer earlier on the record, when “Micah (5:15 am)” commences its final run through the song’s compelling set of tremolo chords and then the massive riff of “The Weight” crashes down. It’s the best part of a good record, excepting perhaps the middle portion of “The Weight,” when the band’s playing reaches an acutely feverish pitch.

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