The Acacia Strain

The Acacia Strain is an American deathcore band that was founded in 2001 and originally based in Chicopee, Massachusetts, but now based in Albany, New York. The group is currently signed to Rise Records^[1] and initially consisted of high school friends Vincent Bennett, Christopher Daniele, and Ben Abert, Karrie Whitfield, Daniel "DL" Laskiewicz, and Daniel Daponde joining shortly after. They recorded and released their debut album ...And Life Is Very Long in 2002 via Devil's Head records. Since then, the band has released eleven more full-length albums.

The Acacia Strain in 2010

The Acacia Strain
The Acacia Strain in 2014
Background information
Origin	Chicopee, Massachusetts, U.S.
Genres	Metalcore deathcore
Years active	2001–present
Labels	Rise Closed Casket Activities Prosthetic Devil's Head
Members	Vincent Bennett Devin Shidaker Griffin Landa Mike Mulholland Matt Guglielmo
Past members	Daniel "DL" Laskiewicz Christopher Daniele Daniel "Outhouse" Daponde Karrie Whitfield Jeanne Sagan Seth Coleman Ben Abert Kevin Boutot Jack Strong Richard Gomez Tom Smith Kevin Smith

Artistry

Musical style

The Acacia Strain's music has been primarily described as deathcore^[2][3] and metalcore,^[4] and has been noted to include heavy influences from sludge,^[5] doom metal^[5][6][7] and death metal^[8] along with some punk rock-style aesthetic and sensibilities.^[9]

AllMusic characterizes the band's musical style as "utiliz[ing] a bone-crushing rhythm section, apocalyptic samples, and a unique triple-guitar assault to deliver their signature blend of hardcore punk, noise, death metal and doom metal."^[5] The site's review of Wormwood elaborates on the band's sound as "an inelegant and unstoppable juggernaut fueled by memories of the unchecked aggression unleashed on the world by the likes of Sepultura and Pantera."^[10]

Vocalist Vincent Bennett and drummer Kevin Boutot have both denied that The Acacia Strain is of the "deathcore genre", going as far as expressing dislike for the label,^[11][12] though Bennett was later more ambivalent towards it, stating "sometimes I get it, sometimes I don't."^[13]

The Acacia Strain's influences include Candiria, Integrity, Dismember, Rush, Iron Maiden, Crowbar, Meshuggah, Hatebreed, Slayer, Arch Enemy, and Overcast.^[14][12][15]

Lyrics

Written by lead vocalist Vincent Bennett, the band's lyrics generally center around misanthropy^[16] and nihilism.^[17] Bennett employs misogynistic and sexually deviant imagery in his lyrics, but usually only as metaphors to help get his points across while keeping the songs' overall meanings open for interpretation.^[16][17][18]

Members

Current Vincent Bennett – lead vocals (2001–present) Devin Shidaker – lead guitar, backing vocals (2013–present) Griffin Landa – bass (2015–present) Mike Mulholland – rhythm guitar (2022–present) Matt Guglielmo – drums (2023–present)

Former Daniel "DL" Laskiewicz – lead guitar, programming (2001–2013); rhythm guitar (2007–2013) Daniel Daponde – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2001–2006) Christopher Daniele – third guitar (2001–2005) Ben Abert – drums (2001–2004) Karrie Whitfield – bass (2001–2003) Jeanne Sagan – bass (2003) Seth Coleman – bass (2004–2006) Kevin Boutot – drums (2005–2023) Jack Strong – bass (2006–2015) Richard Gomez – rhythm guitar (2013–2016) Tom Smith – rhythm guitar (2016–2022)

Touring musicians Mark Castillo – drums (2004) John Preston – bass (2003) David Sroka – rhythm guitar (2009) Mike Casavant – rhythm guitar (2009–2010) Tim Cavallari – lead guitar (2010–2012) Tony Diaz – rhythm guitar (2010–2012) Matt Guglielmo – drums (2018) Terrance Pettitt - drums (2023)

Timeline

Drummer Kevin Boutot was the second-longest remaining member of the band behind vocalist Bennett.

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		US [19]	US Heat. [20]	US Indie. [21]	US Rock [22]	US Hard Rock [23]
...And Life Is Very Long	Released: September 2, 2002 Label: Devil's Head Formats: CD, digital download	—	—	—	—	—
3750	Released: July 13, 2004 Label: Devil's Head, Prosthetic Formats: CD, digital download	—	—	—	—	—
The Dead Walk	Released: June 13, 2006 Label: Prosthetic Formats: CD, digital download	—	40	47	—	—
Continent	Released: August 19, 2008 Label: Prosthetic Formats: CD, digital download	107	2	13	—	18
Wormwood	Released: July 20, 2010 Label: Prosthetic Formats: CD, digital download	67	—	6	21	8
Death Is the Only Mortal	Released: October 9, 2012 Label: Rise Formats: CD, digital download	51	—	10	21	5
Coma Witch	Released: October 14, 2014 Label: Rise Formats: CD, digital download	31	—	4	8	1
Gravebloom	Released: June 30, 2017 Label: Rise Formats: CD, digital download	146	—	4	29	8
It Comes in Waves	Released: December 26, 2019[24] Label: Closed Casket Activities Formats: CD, digital download	—	—	—	—	—
Slow Decay	Released: July 24, 2020[25] Label: Rise Formats: CD, digital download	87	—	1	1	1
Step Into the Light	Released: May 12, 2023[26] Label: Rise Formats: CD, digital download, vinyl	—	—	—	—	—
Failure Will Follow	Released: May 12, 2023[27] Label: Rise Formats: CD, digital download, vinyl	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Live albums

• The Most Known Unknown (2010)

EPs

• When Angels Shed Their Wings Volume 3 with Loyal to the Grave (2003)
• Money for Nothing (2013)
• The Depression Sessions with Thy Art Is Murder and Fit for an Autopsy (2016)

Singles

• "Jonestown" (2010)
• "Servant in the Place of Truth" (2012)
• "Above" / "Below" (2013)
• "Bitter Pill" (2017)
• "Big Sleep" (2017)
• "D" (2020)
• "E" (2020)
• "C" (2020)
• "A" (2020)
• "Y" (2020)
• "Untended Graves" (2022)
• "Fresh Bones" (2023)
• "Chain" (feat. Jacob Lilly) (2022)

Demos

• Demo 2001 (2001)
• Demo 2002 (2002)

DVDs

• The Most Known Unknown (2010)

Music videos

• "Smoke Ya Later" (2004)
• "3750" (2005)
• "Angry Mob Justice" (2006)
• "Skynet" (2009)
• "The Hills Have Eyes" (2010)
• "The Impaler" (2011)
• "Cauterizer" (2014)
• "Send Help" (2015)
• "One Thousand Painful Stings" (2020)

References

1. "The Acacia Strain". MusicMight. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
2. "Hear the Acacia Strain's brutal new song "Bitter Pill"". Alternative Press. March 27, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
3. "Death Is the Only Mortal by The Acacia Strain on Apple Music". iTunes. October 9, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
4. "The Acacia Strain and guitarist DL Laskiewicz part ways". Guitar Player. June 11, 2013. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
5. Monger, James Christopher. "The Acacia Strain". AllMusic. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
6. Mark Tremblay (July 22, 2020). "The Acacia Strain Are Unafraid of Reinvention on 'Slow Decay'". Exclaim!. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
7. Max Heilman (May 4, 2023). "Review: The Acacia Strain Mines the Depths of Doom with Failure Will Follow". www.metalsucks.net. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
8. Lets Talk About Knocked Loose MetalSucks
9. "THE ACACIA STRAIN IS MY FAVORITE BAND [W/ INTERVIEW]". MetalSucks. February 28, 2011.
10. Heaney, Gregory. "Wormwood – The Acacia Strain". Allmusic. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
11. Bee Roth, David (December 30, 2008). "Exclusive Interview with The Acacia Strain's Vincent Bennett". MetalSucks. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
12. Smart, Noel (July 21, 2011). "Interview With Kevin Boutot of The Acacia Strain – Summer 2011". Sick Drummer. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
13. Bellino, Vince (December 26, 2019). "Interview: Acacia Strain Vocalist Vincent Bennett Discusses New Album 'It Comes in Waves'". Decibel Magazine. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
14. Rosen, Steven (March 7, 2009). "Acacia Strain: 'We Keep Stuff Like That Really Tasteful'". Ultimate-Guitar.com. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
15. Doyle, Alan (December 30, 2003). "The Acacia Strain". Hardcore Times. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
16. "The Acacia Strain – 2009 Interview with Vincent Bennett". hardtimes.ca. March 28, 2009. Archived from the original on August 17, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
17. "Interview with Vincent Bennett of The Acacia Strain". Sick Drummer Magazine. May 15, 2009. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
18. "The Acacia Strain Interview". Driven Far Off. May 26, 2006. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
19. "The Acacia Strain – Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
20. "The Acacia Strain – Chart History: Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
21. "The Acacia Strain – Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
22. "The Acacia Strain – Chart History: Top Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
23. "The Acacia Strain – Chart History: Hard Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
24. "NEWS: The Acacia Strain to drop ninth album, It Comes In Waves!". Dead Press!. December 21, 2019.
25. DiVita, Joe. "The Acacia Strain Debut Two New Songs, Detail 'Slow Decay' Album". Loudwire. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
26. Andrew Sacher (February 14, 2023). "The Acacia Strain announce new LP 'Step Into the Light' (new song & exclusive swirl vinyl)". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
27. Sam Taylor (March 15, 2023). "The Acacia Strain have announced a second new album for May". Upset. Retrieved March 15, 2023.

External links

• Official website