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Every bit of euphoria, transcendence, and intensity of heavy music bursts forth with blinding energy from the second album by this self-proclaimed "blissful black metal" ensemble hailing from Los Angeles.

The Spiritual Sound pairs immense heaviness with imaginative detailing. Lead single the song Bodhidharma propels along a guitar motif fit for a motorcycle crew, then a blast of noise and screaming heralds a sad post-rock middle eight. The often-criticized technique of the widdly-woo solo is spectacularly resurrected by guitarist the lead guitarist, whose lead work here and on standout Flea will have you floating in ecstasy – but then the gentle song the track Hallelujah features falling guitar notes played with childlike simplicity.

Tracks like Micah and Serenity are fast-paced hardcore punk, while Dan’s Love Song is drum free and has glacial Sunn O)))-style fuzz rumbling along underneath its ethereal beauty. Black metal melodies can often be either nonexistent or too complex, but Agriculture’s riffs and hooks are bright and original, and closer The Reply even recalls a much heavier the band Radiohead.

Fans of experimental metal acts similar artists will probably love all this dynamic shifting and unabashedly gorgeous noise, particularly since the group also have two divergent vocal styles, split here across two singers. One vocalist contributes sporadic melodic vocals, yet the standout is Leah Levinson, whose voice quivers on Bodhidharma but fiercely howling elsewhere.

As is common in the genre, it’s hard to discern the words she sings, yet they are worth seeking out: the stories she sings about personal struggles and anti-LGBTQ bigotry are devastating, as is her quest for purpose in a reality that inexorably bends towards violence.