With just days left in the decade, The Acacia Strain gifted the world with their belated Christmas present. A new album. It Comes In Waves is the deathcore pioneers’ ninth studio release, and although it encapsulates the signature themes of the group’s music, the newest addition to the bands catalog highlights a new and not often seen side of the group.
The Acacia Strain’s traditional sound is brutal. In a vast ocean of different genres and sounds, the band has maintained their accolades as one of the most hardcore musical acts to date. And while the new album dabbles around the slow, drawn out progressions of doom metal, the band loses none of its intensity.
Partnering with Closed Casket Activities, the band is given the opportunity to creatively explore the unknown and at thirty minutes long, It Comes In Waves is a perfect execution of what the band was trying to achieve. The album itself is actually one song broken into seven tracks “Our, Only, Sin, Was, Giving, Them, Names”, meant to be heard in one continuous listen. Much like Martin Scorsese’s new acclaimed film The Irishman, the runtime is lengthy for one sitting but the end results are worth it. There is no “filler”, there is no lull. Every moment is a precise and important piece to what is the grand scheme of the album.
The band’s music and lyrical themes are no stranger to portraying the demise of the earth and depiction of God as the instigator of the world’s horrors, but It Comes In Waves takes a new twist to the concept. Diving deeper into existential thoughts of what, who, and why these beings wreak the havoc they do.
While spiritual psychedelic experiences can often be associated with bright colors and feelings of overwhelming euphoria, the new doom-style album veers far from those pleasures. Starting with an eerie choir chant, you can feel the colorless universe the band creates as they transition from their trademark, fast tempo pace, to long, drawn out, bellowing tones. The only bit of color is a small glimpse in your mind as singer Vincent Bennett screams out “Dreaming in Red // Living in Blue // Dying in Black and White.”
Bennett has often used his anger and aggression as motivation for forming the majority of Acacia’s lyrics, but as he has matured, he’s stated his feelings have changed.
” I didn’t like leaving my house, I didn’t like being in a band, I don’t like me. And one day I woke up and realized I needed to fucking change or it was going to eat me alive. So, one day I started making a list that detailed all the things that were making me miserable and making me depressed. And one by one I started crossing all of that bullshit off my list. It took me forever but I did it, and I can honestly say with a smile on my face that I am the best version of myself right now than I ever have been.
Although the band is close to the 20-year mark, and has gone through a few lineup changes, the current Acacia Strain might be the best yet. Of course, not saying projects like Continent and Woodworm aren’t some of their best work, but the newfound peace and drive the band has encapsulated must be noted. Still being signed to Rise Records, It Comes In Waves is somewhat of an experimental side release, an artistic expression that the band wanted to release apart from their routine releases. But Bennett has explained that the group had recorded two albums in six months and the next one will release sometime in 2020. Also stating that the album will be more of their traditional sound and not be as experimental.
As the year ends The Acacia Strain makes a small rumble amongst the community to prepare those who keep their ear close to the ground, aware of what is about to come. Catch the group on their newly announced headlining tour beginning Feb 28th, bringing along Rotting Out, Creeping Death, Chamber and Fuming Mouth.
View our gallery of The Acacia Strain’s performance at Warehouse Live in Houston, Texas photographed by Jennifer Lake.
About Author
