The Acacia Strain

Artistry

Musical style

The Acacia Strain's music has been primarily described as deathcore and metalcore, and has been noted to include heavy influences from sludge, and death metal along with some punk rock-style aesthetic and sensibilities.

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." 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."

Vocalist Vincent Bennett has denied that The Acacia Strain is of the "deathcore genre", going as far as expressing dislike for the label,

The Acacia Strain's influences include Candiria, Integrity, Dismember, Crowbar, Meshuggah, Hatebreed, Slayer, Arch Enemy, and Overcast.

The Acacia Strain's music videos were also known for being humorous, and generally not taking the deathcore scene seriously.

Lyrics

Written by lead vocalist Vincent Bennett, the band's lyrics generally center around misanthropy and nihilism. 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.

Band members

Current

• Vincent Bennett – lead vocals (2001–present)
• Devin "Big Slime" 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, backing vocals (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 Jr. – rhythm guitar (2016–2022)

Touring

• 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

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Discography

Studio albums

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

References

1. "The Acacia Strain". [[MusicMight]].
2. (March 27, 2017). "Hear the Acacia Strain's brutal new song "Bitter Pill"". [[Alternative Press (magazine).
3. (October 9, 2012). "Death Is the Only Mortal by The Acacia Strain on Apple Music". [[iTunes]].
4. (June 11, 2013). "The Acacia Strain and guitarist DL Laskiewicz part ways". Guitar Player.
5. Mark Tremblay. (July 22, 2020). "The Acacia Strain Are Unafraid of Reinvention on 'Slow Decay'". [[Exclaim!]].
6. Max Heilman. (May 4, 2023). "Review: The Acacia Strain Mines the Depths of Doom with Failure Will Follow".
7. [https://www.metalsucks.net/2019/07/23/lets-talk-about-knocked-loose/ Lets Talk About Knocked Loose] [[MetalSucks]]
8. (February 28, 2011). "THE ACACIA STRAIN IS MY FAVORITE BAND [W/ INTERVIEW]".
9. Monger, James Christopher. "The Acacia Strain". [[AllMusic]].
10. Heaney, Gregory. "Wormwood – The Acacia Strain". [[Allmusic]].
11. Bee Roth, David. (December 30, 2008). "Exclusive Interview with The Acacia Strain's Vincent Bennett". [[MetalSucks]].
12. Bellino, Vince. (2019-12-26). "Interview: Acacia Strain Vocalist Vincent Bennett Discusses New Album 'It Comes in Waves'".
13. Rosen, Steven. (March 7, 2009). "Acacia Strain: 'We Keep Stuff Like That Really Tasteful'". [[Ultimate-Guitar.com]].
14. Smart, Noel. (July 21, 2011). "Interview With Kevin Boutot of The Acacia Strain – Summer 2011". Sick Drummer.
15. Doyle, Alan. (December 30, 2003). "The Acacia Strain". Hardcore Times.
16. (March 28, 2009). "The Acacia Strain – 2009 Interview with Vincent Bennett". hardtimes.ca.
17. (May 15, 2009). "Interview with Vincent Bennett of The Acacia Strain". Sick Drummer Magazine.
18. (May 26, 2006). "The Acacia Strain Interview". Driven Far Off.
19. "The Acacia Strain – Chart History: Billboard 200".
20. "The Acacia Strain – Chart History: Heatseekers Albums".
21. "The Acacia Strain – Chart History: Independent Albums".
22. "The Acacia Strain – Chart History: Top Rock Albums".
23. "The Acacia Strain – Chart History: Hard Rock Albums".
24. (December 21, 2019). "NEWS: The Acacia Strain to drop ninth album, ''It Comes In Waves''!".
25. (June 12, 2020). "The Acacia Strain Debut Two New Songs, Detail 'Slow Decay' Album".
26. Andrew Sacher. (February 14, 2023). "The Acacia Strain announce new LP 'Step Into the Light' (new song & exclusive swirl vinyl)".
27. Sam Taylor. (March 15, 2023). "The Acacia Strain have announced a second new album for May".