American metalcore band
The Acacia Strain
The Acacia Strain in 2014
Origin
Chicopee, Massachusetts , U.S. Genres Years active 2001–present Labels 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
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.
The Acacia Strain in 2010
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 ,
Deftones ,
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
Live albums
EPs
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
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
^
"The Acacia Strain" .
MusicMight . Archived from
the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2012 .
^
"Hear the Acacia Strain's brutal new song "Bitter Pill" " .
Alternative Press . March 27, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2018 .
^
"Death Is the Only Mortal by The Acacia Strain on Apple Music" .
iTunes . October 9, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2018 .
^
"The Acacia Strain and guitarist DL Laskiewicz part ways" . Guitar Player . June 11, 2013. Retrieved August 28, 2018 .
^
a
b
c Monger, James Christopher.
"The Acacia Strain" .
AllMusic . Retrieved August 7, 2011 .
^ Mark Tremblay (July 22, 2020).
"The Acacia Strain Are Unafraid of Reinvention on 'Slow Decay' " .
Exclaim! . Retrieved May 21, 2023 .
^ 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 .
^
Lets Talk About Knocked Loose
MetalSucks
^
"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 .
^
a
b Smart, 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 .
^
a
b
"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 .
^
a
b
"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: Heatseekers Albums" .
Billboard . Retrieved December 29, 2013 .
^
"The Acacia Strain – Chart History: Independent Albums" .
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 .
External links
Daniel "DL" Laskiewisz
Christopher Daniele
Daniel Daponde
Karrie Whitfield
Jeanne Sagan
Seth Coleman
Ben Abert
Mark Castillo
David Sroka
Mike Casavant
Jack Strong
Richard Gomez
Tom Smith, Jr.
Studio albums Live albums Related bands Record labels
International National Artists