The Acacia Strain at the Gramercy Theatre

Vincent Bennett of the Acacia Strain

Lead vocalist and songwriter Vincent Bennett formed the metalcore band the Acacia Strain in 2001 in Chicopee, Massachusetts. The band has undergone numerous changes in the member line-up, even at one point sporting a three-guitar assault. Bennett is the sole remaining original member. The current line-up is Bennett, drummer Kevin Boutot, bassist Jack Strong, and two new members, lead guitarist Devin Shidaker and rhythm guitarist Richard Gomez. The Acacia Strain’s sixth and most recent album is 2012’s Death is the Only Mortal.

At the Gramercy Theatre tonight, someone near me in the audience asked someone else if he was a life-lover. The responder answered negatively and the two shared a high-five. The inquirer then asked me if I was a life-lover and I said yes. His response was vulgar. The Acacia Strain later echoed his perspective, as surely as misery loves company. At first, the Acacia Strain sounded like yet another howl and growl band with down-tuned guitars, irregular breakdowns and groove patterns. Then between songs the band’s leader started preaching nihilism and fatalism, and just inflicted a plain old-fashioned miserable attitude, repeatedly concluding his speeches with instructions to his audience to live every day as if it were the last day. His lyrics delivered similar messages. Yet the band rejects being labeled as deathcore. There was enough diversity in their songs to keep the music interesting, however, and the band’s heavy crunch encouraged a large mosh pit. The show ended with an encore, which Bennett let the crowd know was reluctantly performed.

Visit the Acacia Strain at http://www.theacaciastrain.com.