The Acacia Strain is an American deathcore band that was founded in 2001 and originally based in Chicopee, Massachusetts, but now based out of 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.
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]
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]
^"THE ACACIA STRAIN IS MY FAVORITE BAND [W/ INTERVIEW]". MetalSucks. February 28, 2011.
^Heaney, Gregory. "Wormwood – The Acacia Strain". Allmusic. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
^Bee Roth, David (December 30, 2008). "Exclusive Interview with The Acacia Strain's Vincent Bennett". MetalSucks. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
^ abSmart, Noel (July 21, 2011). "Interview With Kevin Boutot of The Acacia Strain – Summer 2011". Sick Drummer. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
^Bellino, Vince (December 26, 2019). "Interview: Acacia Strain Vocalist Vincent Bennett Discusses New Album 'It Comes in Waves'". Decibel Magazine. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
^Rosen, Steven (March 7, 2009). "Acacia Strain: 'We Keep Stuff Like That Really Tasteful'". Ultimate-Guitar.com. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
^Doyle, Alan (December 30, 2003). "The Acacia Strain". Hardcore Times. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
^ ab"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.
^ ab"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.
^"The Acacia Strain Interview". Driven Far Off. May 26, 2006. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
^"The Acacia Strain – Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
^"The Acacia Strain – Chart History: Top Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
^"The Acacia Strain – Chart History: Hard Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
^"NEWS: The Acacia Strain to drop ninth album, It Comes In Waves!". Dead Press!. December 21, 2019.
^DiVita, Joe. "The Acacia Strain Debut Two New Songs, Detail 'Slow Decay' Album". Loudwire. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
^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.
^Sam Taylor (March 15, 2023). "The Acacia Strain have announced a second new album for May". Upset. Retrieved March 15, 2023.