Music

Average customer rating:

Now, this is some heavy stuff
I think I'm physically injured!!
Path of Destruction
Pantera like Devastation
A Metalcore CD That Isn't The Same-Old

The Dead Walk
The Acacia Strain
Manufacturer: Prosthetic
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Price of Existence
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Allegiance

ASIN: B000F9T6II
Release Date: 2006-06-13

Tracks:

Sarin: The End
Burnface
4x4
As If Set Afire
Angry Mob Justice
Whoa! Shut It Down
See You Next Tuesday
Demolishor
Pity
Predator: Never Prey
The Dead Walk

Customer Reviews:

Now, this is some heavy stuff.......2007-06-06

While there are some metalcore bands that suck, there are some bands out there that I like including Despised Icon, Chimaira, Between the Buried and Me, The Red Chord, and especially this band that I'am currently reviewing The Acacia Strain. I got into this band when I heard the song "4x4" on my Music Choice Metal Channel (channel 310 on my television). So I went out and got their new album "The Dead Walk", and I really like what I've heard. In a time where most metalcore bands today just sound the same, that's not even the case with this band. The Acacia Strain come like a cross between the brutality and aggression of Pantera, and the technical complexity of Meshuggah. Frontman Vincent Bennent has got great brutal growling vocals that he just spews right from the guts. The guitarists on here come across a hybrid of the super-aggressive buzzsaw-like tone playing style of Pantera, and the catchy yet complex time changes of Meshuggah. The riffs are very catchy, heavy, and downright catchy. The drumming is very impressive as well with lots of nice tempo and ryhthm changes. My favorite song on here is without question "4x4" which contains heavy grinding riffs, brutal pounding drums, nice tempo changes, and even a guitar solo. Other favorites on here include "Whoa! Shut It Down" which has catchy bobbing rhythms, and the earthshaking riffs and vicious drumwork on "Burnface". "Demolishor" is another favorite which includes some more demolishing riffs, as well as some hefty double bass drumwork and sick gut wrenching vocals. The closing title track "The Dead Walk" features more head pounding riffs, clobbering rhythms, and a nice solo. Overall this whole album is just awesome. So if you're looking for an album, that's just heavy, brutal, and all out abrasive, then this album is yours. Skip anything by 36 Crazyfists, Atreyu, Bleeding Through, and buy this album instead. Enjoy!!
Jeremy's song ratings:
1. Sarin: The End - 4/5
2. Burnface - 5/5
3. 4x4 - 5/5 (Favorite Song)
4. As If Set Afire - 5/5
5. Angry Mob Justice - 5/5
6. Whoa! Shut It Down - 5/5
7. See You Next Tuesday - 5/5
8. Demolishor - 5/5
9. Pity - 5/5
10. Predator: Never Prey - 5/5
11. The Dead Walk - 5/5

I think I'm physically injured!!.......2007-01-04

This is one of those albums that just grabs you and then shakes you around then drops you again only to pick you up and shake you again. Is it just me or does Adam D seem to produce most of everything that is good right now.. let me re-phrase anything that is just blindingly heavy and crushing. The Dead Walk is a meshuggah like sludge of off timed beats and brutal vocals. 3750 was pretty dope but this just owns! I bought this during the X-Mas season (it's very holiday) but listened to it and loved every moment.. don't pass it up, it's a great CD and deserves a listen.

Path of Destruction.......2006-12-06

The Acacia Strain are a new metal band I had decided to investigate after reading some good reviews, and after repeated spins I can certainly recommend them to any fan of death metal or grind.

One of the first things you notice about The Acacia Strain is the sheer ferocity of their attack; they pummel you severely right off the bat with the neo-Meshuggah-like polyrhythms of "Sarin: The End" and don't let up throughout the entire disc. Tight, sometimes quite progressive riffs adorned with harmonic squeals and never lacking in heaviness; this is a great new band whose guitarists come across like a hybrid of Pantera (in the super-agressive playing style and buzzsaw-like tone) and Meshuggah (in the complex time changes). Add the harsh, quasi-death metal vocal style and nihilistic lyrics, and the overall package is a great metal release. Recommended if you need a dose of the good old ultraviolence.

Pantera like Devastation.......2006-09-22

The guitar riffs are thunderous unlike any other band out there. The base and drum are pummeling as other reviewers mentioned. The roaring vocals compliment this apocolyptic presence of the music.. But, this band changes up the tempo during their each song to a very catchy groove.. Overall this a more mature album then their previous ones with a faster tempo and a tighter sound..
I saw them live and these guys rip it up..

A Metalcore CD That Isn't The Same-Old.......2006-09-19

Many bands these days just hate to sound generic and wish to stand out in the crowd. While certain bands will try but fail, the Acacia Strain is an example of how they break barriers with this CD. With this being their 3rd full-length, the band proves that they haven't let themselves down at all. If you dig guitars that are downtuned to A, you will dig this. If you dig hardcore with elements of sludge metal in it, this will be your new favorite band. And no, this band isn't ALL breakdowns. Recommended for something heavy and fun.

Average customer rating:

... and Life Is Very Long
The Acacia Strain
Manufacturer: Devils Head Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000P7TDMO

Product Description

Technical heaviness from the Northeast thats heavily influenced by Coalesce, Dillinger Escape Plan, and Meshuggah. Strained low end growls and utterly massive repetition with all of the grooves going on, before busting out into parts that are much faster, chaotic, and metallic. Plus there are some pretty killer breakdowns on here as well. Produced by Adam from Killswitch Engage. First cd by the band that went on to bring you 3750 and The Dead Walk. 10 Tracks of HEAVY!!!

Average customer rating:

Bought the two separately but...
Forgotten Treasure
incredible beginning
May be a classic but...
( May 2, 2006) A classic....

Lunar Strain/Subterranean
In Flames
Manufacturer: Dream on
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Whoracle
Jester Race: Black Ash Inheritance
Clayman
Colony
Reroute to Remain

ASIN: B00006IQE9
Release Date: 2005-01-25

Tracks:

Behind Space
Lunar Strain
Starforsaken
Dreamscape
Everlost (Part I)
Everlost (Part II)
Hargalaten
In Flames
Upon An Oaken Throne
Clad In Shadows
Stand Ablaze
Everdying
Subterranean
Timeless
Biosphere
Dead Eternity
The Inborn Lifeless
Eye Of The Beholder (Bonus Track For Korea)

Album Description

Re-release of first two classic albums from this Swedish dark metal act, both have been unavailable for years. Includes one bonus track, a rare cover of Metallica's 'Eye Of The Beholder'.

Album Details

Exclusive Asian Release featuring Two Releases on One CD, and a Cover of Metallica's "Eye of the Beholder" as a Bonus Track.

Customer Reviews:

Bought the two separately but..........2006-11-28

Lunar Strain (tracks 1-10)
First In Flames album. It is raw and unfocused. That's what's great about it. Unexpected things happen in unexpected places. For instance, there's an all-violin instrumental, and a track done entirely using female vocals. I want to say that it's almost experimental, like they were trying out a bunch of different styles to find a sound. Of course, production quality is not the best, but after the initial listen one hardly notices anymore. It is just a little flat sounding.

Subterranean (tracks 11-15, or 11-17, not sure if those two were included on the original cd)
Heavenly. But then again, I listen to guitars more than drums or vocals or anything. Dead Eternity also appears on The Jester Race, but this version is done quite differently and adds a new perspective on the song. The Inborn Lifeless, one will see, is Dead God in Me with different lyrics (or is it the other way around?).

Overall, I probably wouldn't recommend this as a first experience with In Flames (check out The Jester Race or Whoracle.) But a good buy for someone who has a couple CDs and wants to hear how it started.

Forgotten Treasure.......2006-10-10

Let me start this off by saying I love Sweden, especially its music. Nearly half of my favorite bands come from their. In Flames, however, are by far my favorite. Godly riffs, smart lyrics, and strained vocals really make me all fuzzy feeling. With all albums but Reroute and Soundtrack under my wing, its time to give this CD a shot, so where to begin?

Well, first thing you will notice is the vocals. The singer is not, and I repeat, is not Anders. Although this singer does his job good, (cant remember his name, believe hes from Dark Tranquility), he doesnt lay a finger on Anders in term of range and compassion. Another thing you will notice is the folk-inspired theme, which is probally due to the fact that Jesper's father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather were all Swedish folk musicians. And finally, The guitars dont sound nearly as good as they do on Jester Race, merely because Jesper isnt as good as a guitarist on this record, (in particular, his solos are very sloppy.)

However, this is still a required buy, especially if you love everything Gothenberg. My favorites from this CD include Biosphere, Upon an Oaken Throne, Starforsaken, and Behind Space, but I did not once skip.

Get this CD, and enjoy, for the future of melodeath, and metal in general, looks bleak...

incredible beginning.......2006-09-10

what a great way to start up in flames. this cd is much much different than thier newest crappy album (come clarity) or whatever. the vocals as someone else said are a little primitive. vocals on the other cd's "clayman" and reroute are more fixed up sounding and seem almost like he is screaming with some kind of special effect. the vocals in this cd are very raw and frankly if the music wasn't so good it would drag it down. a lot of the riffs are awesome. not to mention these guys play a mean melodic riff here and there like in the end of the first song. it sounds like something straight out of pirates of the caribbean or something. very good stuff. it is much more metally than thier latest album which are beginning to move toward that nu-metal as i lay dying style. yuck... so anyways i'd say fans vary for this cd. your either a "clayman" fan or a "lunar strain fan". if you liked this cd, go ahead and buy the "jester race/black ash inheritance". it is much like this one but the vocals have begun to improve.

May be a classic but..........2006-09-04

The vocals suck worse than ever, some of the guitar parts sound the same, and the production quality sucks. I truly believe that this re-issue is highly over-rated. Even the original pressings of these two release are over-rated. "Lunar Strain" and "Subterranean" are In Flames first two albums. With these two releases In Flames helped forge Melodic Death Metal. And they are great release, but they are not the best of what Melodic Death Metal has to offer. The drums are plain and boring, there is virtually no bass guitar heard(Heresy!). The guitar work is good, but not the best ever.
I feel that "Lunar Strain" and "Subterranean" are too highly over-rated releases that do not represent In Flames all that well.

( May 2, 2006) A classic...........2006-03-13

I originally wrote a review for this cd sometime ago but deleted it. I had said that this was my first death metal cd in a long time but I am going to wait and say that for the Cynic cd I'm going to get at the end of the week. Anyway, this is a combination of death metal like Death but mixed with melodic guitar playing similar to Iron Maiden. This is a good package here and has some sick songs on it especially Everlost part 1 and part 2. This style of death metal is usually called melodic death metal or Gothenburg metal. Gothenburg is the city in Sweden where this style supposedly originated from. This is a well done cd and I suggest to those who like good metal, In Flames, brutal metal mixed with melody, or good music to go pick this one up.

Average customer rating:

See this boy LIVE!
Simply Amazing
a 20something white kid who GETS IT
Is it is or is it ain't?

Ocean or a Teardrop
David Jacobs Strain
Manufacturer: Northern Blues
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Blues | Styles | Music

Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music

Modern Blues | Blues | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0002T7YV2
Release Date: 2004-09-07

Tracks:

Kokomo Blues
Ocean Or A Teardrop
The Girl I Love
Sleepless Dream
Take My Chances
Soul Of A Man
Yelapa Breakdown
Shoot The Devil
Earthquake
Illinois
Bonus Track

Customer Reviews:

See this boy LIVE!.......2006-06-09

I first saw David Jacob-Strain at the Kerrville Folk Festival and wasn't sure what to expect from such a young kid. However, as he opened up his set with an acoustic piece, shivers spread immediately all over my body. The ferver in which he played only grew with each song, regardless of the instrument he took up, and I knew as soon as he finished (with a standing ovation from the entire crowd) that I needed to buy his albums.

I'm not disappointed. Any fan of Ani Difranco (I know, she's not blues... but the complexity of guitar talent parallels) will love his music. I recommend that regardless of your music genre of choice, you will highly enjoy listening to the intricate musical exploration on which David Jacob-Strain will take you. Still, if you want to see the best of his music, PLEASE see him perform live. That, in my opinion, is where he is at his most comfortable and best.

Simply Amazing.......2006-02-13

David has put together one of the finest albums I have heard in a long time. After listening to it since it's release, it still is in heavy rotation in my collection. A very well thought out and put together work, everything from the choice of songs to the choice of musicians is brilliant. I wish I could say what a weak point on this album could be, but I can't find any weak points! David will be a household name before too long, all the young prodigies you hear about then fade away have to look at David to see how it should be done. His musicianship is unparralled, (just look at how many blues camps hire David to teach,) his vocals are soulful, mature and very listenable, his sense of rythym and timing are extrodinary and he is versitle, unlike so many blues players. I get goose bumps every time I listen to this album! Look at the musicians who want to play with him also. These are people who can play with just about anyone they want to, and they want to play with David. Kenny Passarelli, a legendary bass man who drove the back beat for the likes of Joe Walsh and Elton John. Members of David Grisman's band. Anne Weiss, The god-child of Aretha Franklin, 4 octaves of goose bump and grind soul stylings that haunt you long after the songs are sung. If you don't have this, get it! If you haven't seen David perform, drop what you are doing, go to his website tour page and see when he will be within 12 hours of driving, get your tickets and bring all your friends. You will be their hero forever! I know David is mine.
Peace...\Eric

a 20something white kid who GETS IT.......2004-12-31

good lord this kid has got it. i was just simply perusing my local borders books and music's blues section looking for a keb'mo album or something when this kid caught my eye. i decided to take a listen, and what i heard blew me away. not only does this kid show the wear and tear of a 50 year old blues artist, but he's an ace on the acoustic guitar (i've never been a HUGE fan of the chicago-style electric blues) and the other people who play with him (the harmonica is fantastic) make for a recipe of some great blues music.

if you need something to compare him to, think john mayer, but bluesified. he has some definately bob dylan influence, especially in track #5, "take my chances". his lyrics are smart and meaningful, the music is fantastic and i think would appeal to even the purist blues lover.

i was thinking about which tracks i would put on a "must listen to" list, but they're all incredible. i still blast this CD from my car with pride.

Z, age 16

Is it is or is it ain't?.......2004-10-21

These are the facts. David Jacobs Strain plays, writes and sings like his soul already topped the one hundred thousand mile mark. Guitar Player magazine dubbed him as one of the up and coming players in the business. His vocals have an appealing weather beaten quality to them and his songs show a maturity beyond his short years. I just don't know if this will appeal to blues purists or not. It's a blues album when he's covering songs by Fred McDowell, Blind Willie Johnson and Sleepy John Estes. His own stuff tends to have a more singer-songwriter sound in the vein of a John Hiatt. You know, blues tinged but aiming for radio airplay. Don't take that as a slam. Just take it as a possible sign that DJS may be thinking of joining the mainstream just as Jonny Lang and Kenny Wayne Shepard have. I don't know that it's worked out all that well for the other two.

Average customer rating:

A humble review
Fun, Fun, Fun Till Their Daddy Took Their T-Bird Away

No Soul No Strain
Wire Train
Manufacturer: Mca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Wire Train

ASIN: B000008MEI
Release Date: 1992-05-12

Tracks:

Stone Me
Open Sky
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
Crashing Back to You
Hey Jordan
Other Lover
How Many More Times
Willing It to Be
Higher
Impossible
When I Met You
17 Spooks

Customer Reviews:

A humble review.......2004-06-29

Its a little diferent of their other albums,,,they sound more mature,,,more rocky than poppy one of my favorites albums i have in my collection...I would recommended to anyone that listens to real music.....JACM

Fun, Fun, Fun Till Their Daddy Took Their T-Bird Away.......2003-06-27

This was Wire Train's last album, and it has a totally different vibe than their four previous efforts. I don't know if they knew, or at least suspected at the time, that this would be it, but it feels like they decided to go out having fun. The album has a very loose, relaxed, carefree vibe. The lyrics sound more spontaneous, the vocal harmonies are a little bit ragged, and all in all it sounds more "live". When I first bought the album in 1992, I was a bit put off by this, and it took me awhile to appreciate "No Soul No Strain", but now it's my second favorite Wire Train album, behind only 1990's eponymous set. Highlights include "Stone Me", "Willing It To Be", "Higher", "Impossible", and "17 Spooks".

Average customer rating:

English Hymn 3
Wells Cathedral Choir , and Archer
Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
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English Hymn 1
Jerusalem the Golden
A Vaughan Williams Hymnal
Hymns Triumphant 1 & 2

ASIN: B00006GO6I
Release Date: 2002-10-08

Tracks:

Hills Of The North, Rejoice
On Jordan's Bank
Of The Father's Heart Begotten
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
Brightest And Best Of The Sons Of The Morning
From The Eastern Mountains
Forty Days And Forty Nights
Lord Jesus, Think On Me
Ah, Holy Jesu, How Hast Thou Offended
It Is A Thing Most Wonderful
Drop, Drop, Slow Tears
When I Survey The Wondrous Cross
Come, Ye Faithful, Raise The Strain
Ye Choirs Of New Jerusalem
Hail The Day That Sees Him Rise
Gracious Spirit, Holy Ghost
Come, Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire
I Bind Unto Myself Today
Holy!, Holy!, Holy!
We Plough The Fields And Scatter
For The Beauty Of The Earth
Palms Of Glory, Raiment Bright
For All The Saints

Average customer rating:

A solid debut by an important band.
In Flames at their best
4 stars for the album, 2 stars for the packaging

Lunar Strain
In Flames
Manufacturer: Candlelight
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Subterranean
Jester Race: Black Ash Inheritance
Colony
Clayman
Whoracle

ASIN: B0009IW8I0
Release Date: 2005-06-14

Tracks:

Behind Space
Lunar Strain
Starforsaken
Dreamscape
Everlost, Pt. 1
Everlost, Pt. 2
Haln
In Flames
Upon an Oaken Throne
Clad in Shadows
In Flames [1993 Promo Version]
Upon an Oaken Throne [1993 Promo Version]
Acoustic Piece [from Promo 1993]
Clad in Shadows [1993 Promo Version]

Customer Reviews:

A solid debut by an important band........2006-05-21

In Flames' first release is certainly an interesting one. While the band are commonly considered to be pioneers of the melodic death sound along with Dark Tranquillity and At the Gates (all Swedish), their early work displayed many other facets that helped to grace the metal world with classy, intelligent death metal. Lunar Strain showcases the band at their most inventive, lacking the fear for experimentation that seems to have dulled their later releases.

After pressing play, the very first thing that enters my mind is Dark Tranquillity. Not only do they have many musical similarities, but Dark Tranquillity's vocalist Mikael Stanne is also present, making the likeness even stronger. In a strange twist of events, In Flames' later vocalist Anders Friden was at the time of this release the vocalist for none other than Dark Tranquillity. Putting the incest-like nature of the bands aside, I'll move on.

The Swedish outfit have generally riff driven tracks, yet are certainly not afraid to bring on some impressive lead-work. It's the melodies that make this album so catchy and it's the variety that allows it to still sound fresh even today. With a female vocal led ballad (Everlost Part II), a ripping thrash track (Upon an Oaken Throne), a doom-driven slab (Everlost Part I) along with their trademark Gothenburg death metal sound mean the listener never gets bored. Even if not everything they attempt on Lunar Strain works completely (the folkish "Hargalaten" a prime example), I still give them a whole lot of marks for effort.

Highlights for me include the album opener "Behind Space", "Everlost Part I" and Upon an Oaken Throne", but there's something here for everyone.

Lunar Strain is by no means their best album, but it's a great introduction to a hugely successful band, and should not be set below their more commercial work that would split their fan-base many years later.

In Flames at their best.......2006-02-27

This for me is the best In Flames album...very solid, creative, and epic. the songs made me feel as if i were in sweden...i love Everlost Part II. The female vocals are very strong. Behind Space is the best track on the album by far.

4 stars for the album, 2 stars for the packaging.......2006-02-17

Am I alone in being a bit disappointed by the Lunar Strain and Subterranean reissues? They're both great albums, and the remastering is a welcome improvement, but I expected a bit more from the reissued versions. The bonus tracks (3 demos and a 38 second acoustic instrumental) are a nice addition, but aren't really noteworthy.

My major complaint is the packaging. Each album's booklet is basically worthless. There's a black and white band photo and nothing else. No lyrics, no liner notes, nothing that even tells you who was in the band at the time, who wrote the songs, or the history of the bonus tracks. Did the band have any involvement with these reissues at all? Dark Tranquillity's reissues of the Gallery and the Mind's I really put these to shame. Perhaps it is the label's fault. Nuclear Blast's reissues of Whoracle, Colony, and Clayman were definitely done right.

I know the music is what really matters, but I expected a better overall package from a band like In Flames.

Average customer rating:

Robert Johnson would have been impressed!
Amazing, soulful, powerful

Stuck On The Way Back
David Jacobs-Strain
Manufacturer: Northern Blues
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Blues | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Ocean or a Teardrop
Change in the Weather
Not Too Late

ASIN: B000068D17
Release Date: 2002-06-18

Tracks:

River Was Green
Bowlegged Charlie
Poor Black Mattie
Sidewalk Rag
Poor Boy
Black And Blue
Dark Horse Blues
Wild Bill Jones
Linin' Track
Old Man Dancing
Cold Mountain Blues
Broken Wings

Customer Reviews:

Robert Johnson would have been impressed!.......2003-05-27

I bought this after reading a review in 'Guitar Player' magazine. He plays the blues, fingerstyle, slide, Jazz influences, etc. like he sold his soul at them crossroads. He sings as though the hellhound is on his trail. Recorded at the age of 19. Go figure...

Amazing, soulful, powerful.......2002-09-10

This guy, who I hear is 19, is amazing!! His voice sounds of that of a mature old energetic blues player. His guitar-playing is extremely forceful, rhythmic, percussive and strong. He plays very powerful, emotional, edgy music. I am 3 years older than him and if I can play guitar like him by the time I'm 70, I will have accomplished something. His music is well beyond his years. He also fingerpicks, brings some ragtime style into his playing, and carries on the blues in certain songs. Words can barely describe the soul that comes through in his songs. He's tremendously gifted. Buy this good music!!

Average customer rating:

Don't miss this recording

Trombone Concertos

Manufacturer: ABC Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000003IVT
Release Date: 1996-01-23

Customer Reviews:

Don't miss this recording.......2002-11-30

Warwick Tyrell has made a remarkable recording here (sadly, it's out of print--try and get it anyway). It's rare to hear such musicianship combined with his level of skill on any instrument, let alone something as obscure as the 'bone. While the Currie is prone to turning the trombone into a sound-effect machine, all the works on this disk are solid tunes worth hearing. The Bracanin is the treat here, and Tyrell shines on this showcase, giving a tricky piece a bright, clear reading with plenty of melodic beauty (not easy!). Don't confuse this artist with the less subtle stylings of Christian Lindberg. Compare Tyrell's performance of the Jacob with Lindberg's and you'll be convinced: Warwick Tyrell is a superb artist who happens to play the trombone.

Average customer rating:

Mosh metal at its best!!!
Good, But Way Too Short [3.5 Stars]
please, no headbanging, pantera loving, white trash allowed...
wow...three guitarists...so?
One of my favourite local bands ever

3750
The Acacia Strain
Manufacturer: Prosthetic
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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The Healing Process
Hate, Malice, Revenge
Not One Word Has Been Omitted
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External Frames of Reference

ASIN: B0002DD5S4
Release Date: 2004-07-13

Tracks:

Carbomb
Brown Noise
3750
Smoke Ya Later
Extreme Wrath of the Jhiaxus
Drawn and Quartered
Passing the Pencil Test
Halcyon
Sun Poison and Skin Cancer

Customer Reviews:

Mosh metal at its best!!!.......2006-05-03

This is an amazing album. Although basically an EP, don't let the 9 tracks fool you, at just under 30 mins track 1 is an awesome breakdown intro that belts out "This is true crime!", track 5 is bunch of creepy noises (not a song) and track 8 is an acoustic interlude which you may think of as waste of space, but it was a great contrast before the best and most brutal song on the album, "Sun Poison and Skin Cancer" with guest vocals from Toby Dutkiewicz (brother of Adam D. guitarist from Killswitch Engage). This is also the longest song on the album at just under 5 mins. Altogether a very solid EP (although its not, it gives me more satisfaction to think of it that way). This band stands out from other bands, with some of the best and most frequent breakdowns, a few melodic parts reminiscent of All That Remains, some rock parts similar to Every Time I Die (Hot Damn! era) and with solid death metal vocals (that you can understand???) to top it off. Slow, extremely tuned down and booming breakdowns assault the listener time and time again without repeating itself. Production done by Adam D. which is always good. For fans of All That Reamins, On Broken Wings, Despised Icon, Blood has Been Shed.

Favorite Song: Sun Poison and Skin Cancer

Good, But Way Too Short [3.5 Stars].......2006-02-17

Ok so this cd has seen some controversial reviews thus far on this page. Far fans of pure "metal" ala Pantera and the like and especially those who hate the hardcore/metalcore scene and its trademarks, The Acacia Strain is probably not the band for you. Yes they don't reinvent the metalcore wheel, but that doesn't mean this cd is a write-off. In fact "3750" is one of the most addicting and satisfying cds I picked up in 2004. Basically those who are comparing this band to anything like Korn, Bleeding Through, KSE or Everytime I Die are pretty far off base. However there's still many things that The Acacia Strain gets right on this cd. And when they get it right, boy does it work.

J. Doe has pretty much nailed their sound on the head. Basically TAS does sound like a heavier version of Cannae or Innovocation of Nehek. This isn't that surprising since all three bands are on the same label (Prosthetic Records), and all share the same producer (Adam D. or Killswitch Engage). Yes, too big of a deal has been made about this band having three guitarists (probably the reason their third guitarist is no longer with them) but that has little to do with the quality of the music. For what it's worth, "3750" is a crushing slab of metalcore that will bombard you with the heaviest breakdowns and vocals you've probably heard in while. Listen to "Sunpoison And Skin Cancer" or the blistering "Brown Noise" and try not moving with the punishing rhythms. While the guitarists aren't turning out amazingly complicated riffs, they do a nice job hitting the heavy notes and making music that has a lot of rhythm to it, particularly on "Smoke Ya Later" and "Passing The Pencil Test". As far as the drumming being slow and boring, I don't really know where that came from. Unless the previous reviewer was talking about the drum patterns during the breakdowns (which are designed to be slow) I don't see how someone could arrive at that conclusion. And as for the vocals, they're typical of the metalcore genre. Vincent doesn't try to do too much, as he mostly concentrates on keeping his vocals as intense as the music. If you're looking for singers who "carry tunes", sing melodically or something of that nature, you probably aren't going to get into TAS to begin with. His lyrics however are particularly thought provoking and inventive, when so much of the hardcore scene is concentrated on love and other crap. It's nice to hear someone with some political and religious views whose not afraid to talk about it.

The only downside to "3750" (and unfortunately it's a fairly big one) is that it is entirely too short. In fact if you take away the two interludes ("Extreme Wrath of the Jhiaxus" and "Halcyon") and the short introduction track ("Carbomb" which isn't really a song anyway, just a big breakdown) then what you're left with is six new songs, or more or less a new EP. If they would have just dropped those three and marketed this as an EP, it would have worked a lot better. However since this is made out to be a full length, somehow I can't help but feel short changed. Granted it's not that expensive, and the band as well as their label could use the support (preferably the band, so buy the record from them at a show), it still just feels like they were trying to get a record out and maybe it wasn't completely done.

"3750" isn't going to change your mind about metalcore if you already hate it. It's also not going to bring you anything amazingly new as far as the genre is concerned. However what it will give you is 29 minutes of solid listening, especially if you love metal in the vein of Cannae or Innovocation of Nehek. Despite what some have said, The Acacia Strain is not a band that should be written off easily. Yea they aren't your typical Pantera metal or whatever (please stop this comparison, it isn't even remotely close), but they know how to play heavy music, and that's all that really counts. The guitars shred, the vocals are heavy, and the lyrics are better than most of the trendy metal/hardcore bands right now who are writing emo heartbreakers. While it is short, "3750" definitely merits a listen. People shouldn't get stuck on some typical view of metal, and should try to give other forms of heavy music the respect they deserve. This is the record to do that with.

please, no headbanging, pantera loving, white trash allowed..........2005-07-04

If all you want to do is complain on how there is a different scene than white trash rock, then you should probably do all of us a favor and kill yourself. If you have ever seen this band live and didnt want to move at all, then you deserve to be at a Backstreet boys concert with the guy who proclaims "I'll go in there wearing a Pantera shirt and knock you into next Tuesday." If that isnt enough of an embarassing statement as it is, then i dont know what would be. Maybe stating that "The guitar players resort to making racket as opposed to writing anything memorable" would be enough to embarass yourself. bottom line, for people with closed minds, you dont need to write any kind of review that can be seen by more people than yourself. This cd is amazing if it is your flavor, bottom line.

wow...three guitarists...so?.......2005-06-29

I don't hate this album, but I really don't like it...(...)
I mean...except being heavy, they don't bring something new to the scene....
Three guitarist+generic hardcore = predictible music and...nothing new...
The funniest thing is the publicity they get with this aspect of the lineup "OMG, three guitars! they're probably soooo brutal" or "this three guitar band is going to change your perception of the hardcore scene" and blahblah...
A big deception compared to their previous work...2 stars because i'm feeling great today...

One of my favourite local bands ever.......2005-06-19

Ok, not bashing don or anything, but TECHNICALLY The Acacia Strain origonated from Springfield, Massachusetts, but it's close enough to CT. My friends brother has played in a band with every member of the current band except the third guitarist, but dang, these guys are really something in concert. They're like, a kid with ADHD high on pixy stix and caffine pills. And their first album ... And Life Is Very Long blows this one out of the water, it captures their sound much better.

The three guitarists is probably one of the most innovative and unseen setups nowadays. And to whoever was saying their guitar is too loud and it drowns out the drum and what not, go to one of their concerts, cause it really doesn't. But, sadly, their third guitarist quit recently, so they're back to two.

Sun Posion and Skin Cancer is definatelly one of the best track on the CD. The begining is just beastly. The slide is just hinting at whats to come, then it breaks into a long series of complex guitar playing.

I like halcyon because i think it's nice to have a break from thrashing about, yet still have it be a good song.

Drawn and quartered is one of their more technical songs. The guitar is really cool, fast, and it's constantly changing rythym. The whole song has odd beats and starts and ends, this song is a great song on the technical side.

Music:

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