One of the disadvantages of running a hobby site is that real-life responsibilities can get in the way. That's my excuse not getting to this write up of Monday night's Agriculture show until now. That, and the fact that the mental load of *gestures broadly at everything* is completely exhausting. Late as this writeup might be, Agriculture was the show I needed as catharsis from reality. 

Agriculture's The Spiritual Sound was my number three album of 2025, so it's fair to say that I had high expectations of their sold-out show at the 7th St. Entry. For those not from Minnesota, the Entry, as most people call it, is the smaller, secondary room at the legendary First Avenue. The room's capacity is 250 people, and when it's at capacity it feels absolutely packed. First Ave owns and operates multiple other venues around the Twin Cities, and I'm surprised they didn't upgrade it to a bigger venue like the Turf Club in St. Paul - as we were in line to get in, they were turning people away who showed up on the off chance a few extra tickets freed up. 

One thing I've noticed at heavy shows in the last couple years is that the crowd is becoming increasingly visibly queer. Obviously, metal has always had a queer element - Rob Halford was critically important in establishing the leather and chains esthetic of metal in the 70s and 80s - but in recent years there are more and more bands with out queer members, such as Agriculture vocalist/bassist Leah Levinson. Many of the band's songs deal directly with queer issues, and therefore it was no surprise to see such a large percentage of the crowd wearing clothes bearing queer pride symbols. It's an absolutely beautiful thing to see. 

Agriculture's set pulled heavily from The Spiritual Sound, with the band playing seven of the album's 10 tracks, plus three from their first album and the title track from the Living is Easy EP. Like the new album, their set alternated between quieter moments and furious heaviness. I was especially happy that they performed both "Bodhiharma" and "Hallelujah" and did them back to back, preserving the album's signature pairing of blistering noise and quiet reflection.

Agriculture describe themselves as "ecstatic black metal," and that label definitely felt fitting on Monday night. Each of the band's four members seemed to process performing the music in different ways. Drummer Kern Haug in particular seemed to be experiencing a kind of religious extasy while performing. Both Levinson and guitarist/co-vocalist Dan Meyer appeared to be releasing real pain and rage as they sang, while second guitarist Richard Chowenhill almost seemed to be in a trance, laying down riffs with an eerie precision. Every member of the band was on fire for the entire set, despite a few level issues in the first song or two and a string giving Meyer trouble momentarily near the end of the set. 

Tennessee's Knoll opened and we caught most of their set, albeit with a seriously obstructed view. I had heard them categorized as a grindcore band, but that definitely doesn't capture their sound. The band describes themselves as "funeral grind," a descriptor that's closer to the mark but still doesn't fully encapsulate their sound, which is... challenging. While there is certainly a grindcore base to their music, the song structure reminded me a lot of the improvisational, jazz-like feel of Sumac, and Knoll may be the only band ever to make me think "This kind of reminds me of The Body." Their set was heavy, dark, sinister, and unpredictable. Super cool stuff.

Near the end of their set, Agriculture thanked the crowd profusely for everything the people of Minneapolis have been doing to resist the federal government's terror campaign. They said that everywhere they've been on this tour, people have been talking about our bravery. I've heard bands thank the audience countless times before, but nothing like this. There was real, sincere emotion about what we have collectively done in vocalist Dan Meyer's voice. We in the crowd came together to celebrate the band's music, and the band took a moment to celebrate us.

Stay strong, Minnesota. They will not win.