The underground has been buzzing about The Acacia Strain for the better part of two years. The band’s last album, The Dead Walk took a lot of people by surprise. The Massachusetts band’s blend of metal precision and hardcore informed tempos definitely struck a nerve with fans when they hit the road to support the record. To help capitalize on the momentum, the band entered the studio with uber-producer Zeuss (Municipal Waste, Hatebreed) and worked on what vocalist Vincent Bennett promised to be their, “darkest” effort to date.

Continent, the resulting album, gets started with the doomsday sounds of “Skynet” which really sets the tone for the remainder of the material. The first thing that pops out is the vocals. Bennett’s sandpapered growls have never sounded as vicious as they do here. “Dr. Doom” has some of the album’s most inspired guitar playing with DL laying down the riff goodness. His chugging on “The Combine” somehow combines the mid-tempo groove of Obituary with the dissonance of bands like Converge and Century. This song in particular will surely incite kung-fu styled kicks when they play it live.

The standout track on Continent has to be “Balboa Towers” with its forward thinking arrangement and infectious bass lines expertly provided by Jack Strong. “The Behemoth” closes the album with a completely stylistic left turn showing off dynamic bursts of ambience and powerful use of space within the mix. It’s doubtful this album will get a fair shot in the eyes of the metal purists but it’s hard to argue with its potency.

Rating: 7/10
Label: Prosthetic Records
Website: www.prostheticrecords.com

By Carlos Ramirez

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 5th, 2008 at 9:58 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Mike K wrote:

You tend to be very critical of metal “purists.” Sorry for having some standards.

August 11th, 2008 at 6:37 pm

Anonymous wrote:

Huge difference between “standards” and stupidity.

August 13th, 2008 at 7:03 pm

Anonymous wrote:

yeah i mean read their lyrics, it has nothing to do with metal purists or being open minded, the acacia strain is just a bad band, musically and lyrically

August 15th, 2008 at 1:40 pm

Anonymous wrote:

carlos ramirez, beaners obviously dont know metal

August 15th, 2008 at 1:41 pm

CarlosRamirez wrote:

Yeah, “beaners” don’t know metal. I wonder what Tom Araya, Dave Lombardo, Pete Sandoval, Craig Locicero (Forbidden), Black Tide, and countless others would say about that.

August 18th, 2008 at 9:09 pm

Anonymous wrote:

lol @ black tide statement

August 18th, 2008 at 11:07 pm

Anonymous wrote:

Saw this band last year at Sounds of the Underground. And thought they fucking sucked.

I am so burnt out on all these bands that do a fast death metal part, then a boaring ass breakdown part. So all the scenester fags can fling thier arms around.

Id much rather listen to the Red Chord!!

August 21st, 2008 at 2:52 pm

Ed wrote:

Screw you all this band is fucking great. and if its so bad why are you looking at reviews of its cd? i mean hell i dont like emo bands and you dont see me looking up shit on there cds cause i dont give a fuck. but yeah fuck you guys this band is great.

August 24th, 2008 at 5:45 pm

Anonymous wrote:

I grew up/around with these guys, first cd was incredible, the dead walk? eh, but this cd has caught my attention once again. As far as the lyrics? If you have seen, or know these guys than you will understand that’s how they have always been…my cousin was thrown up on once at a show in our hometown by an old bass player…funny shit. They have many cds, someone thinks their ok.

August 28th, 2008 at 8:45 am

Mike K wrote:

I look at these reviews and make critical comments, because 99% of this site gives metal a bad name.

August 28th, 2008 at 11:05 am

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