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Ahh, The Acacia Strain. If I had to pick one word to describe this band, it would be heavy. 3750 is so heavy I can't pick it up!
To give you a feel for the monster that is The Acacia Strain, I'll try and tell you how heavy they are. The Acacia Strain has three guitarists who tune down to A# (that's low). The vocals often have some sort of effect on them to add to the already vile presence. The breakdown of the song, "Smoke Ya Later," is more metal than the tin man. When all three guitarists hit the open chugs, it rattles my speakers.
But is being heavy and brutal all The Acacia Strain has to offer? No. The guitarists are quite talented, with numerous interesting lead lines accenting the sheer force of the chugs. The Acacia Strain also has a knack for clean, melodic guitar parts (see the song "Halcyon"). With the guitarists' talent, they are able to pull off wonderful guitar harmonies, constructing a memorable, melodic side. These melodies serve as the perfect setup for the oncoming hit to the face that listeners will inevitably endure soon after.
The other band members hold their own as well. The vocals are mostly deep screams, but not the oh-so-common growls everyone has these days. At various points throughout 3750 the vocals will have a reverb or some other effect on them, which only adds to the song. For a perfect example this, see 3750's intro, "Carbomb." As for the drum parts, they stay refreshing and alternate between fast beats, breakdowns, and melodic parts all with ease.
My only gripe with this album would be its staying power. As much as I love it, all the breakdowns and chugging will just eventually be too much. I can listen to it all the way through, as they do change things up with the fresh melodies and such, but I just think eventually it will all wear on me. All in all, a fantastic listen. Sheer brutality. Check them out as soon as possible.
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