The Acacia Strain is an American metalcore band formed in 2001. One of their most iconic albums is "Coma Witch," released in 2014. This album showcases their signature aggressive and heavy sound, combined with intense and introspective lyrics. "Coma Witch" deals with dark and emotionally heavy themes, exploring topics such as mental illness, despair, and internal struggles. The album's title serves as a metaphor for being trapped in a state of mental and emotional turmoil, similar to a coma. It reflects the band's willingness to dive deep into their own personal demons and express them through their music.
The Acacia Strain’s career has been a perplexing one to say the least. As one of the early bands to join the deathcore wave of the early 2000’s, they were also one of the first to feel the wave of hate emanating from metal fans. The Acacia Strain were always on the simple side of deathcore, and as time and albums went by they seemed drop the few actual death metal influences they had. They don’t use blast beats, technical riffing, or tremolo picking. Their only real link to deathcore is the prominent use of breakdowns and an extremely bottom heavy sound, not to mention vocalist Vincent Bennet’s guttural roars and screams. The sound is one more trudging than blistering, encompassing massive down tuned and drawn out riffs meant to sound as heavy as possible. In fact, it is easy to look to the band as the influence behind the emerging wave of downtempo deathcore (Black Tongue, Traitors) currently. The Acacia Strain has made a career out of that style, doing it better than any of this new wave have managed so far. Coma Witch is virtually more of the same, in some ways better while in other ways worse, but ending with a big surprise.
Their only real link to deathcore is the prominent use of breakdowns and an extremely bottom heavy sound, not to mention vocalist Vincent Bennet s guttural roars and screams. There are voice samples, notably a monologue from the TV show True Detective, doomy down tuned guitars, ambience in abundance, dare I say even beautiful moments, and then a final drop at the end.
It reflects the band's willingness to dive deep into their own personal demons and express them through their music. Musically, "Coma Witch" is a mix of relentless breakdowns, heavy guitar riffs, and brutal vocals. The band's use of dissonant chords and eerie atmospheres adds to the overall dark and menacing atmosphere of the album.
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The tracks often fluctuate between slow and crushing sections to chaotic and frenetic bursts of energy, keeping the listener engaged throughout the album. Lyrically, the album confronts the struggles of everyday life and the internal battles faced by individuals. It touches on themes of self-reflection, self-destruction, and the search for hope and redemption. The lyrics are raw and honest, offering a glimpse into the band's own experiences and emotions. Standout tracks from "Coma Witch" include "Holy Walls of the Vatican," which addresses the hypocrisy of religious institutions, and "Observer," a track that delves into personal struggles with mental health. In conclusion, "Coma Witch" is a powerful and intense album by The Acacia Strain. It showcases the band's ability to craft heavy and aggressive music while delving into dark and introspective themes. It is a must-listen for fans of metalcore and those looking for music that pushes boundaries and explores the depths of the human psyche..
Reviews for "Understanding the Symbolism Behind The Acacia Strain's Coma Witch"
1. John - ★☆☆☆☆
I was really excited to listen to The Acacia Strain's "Coma Witch" after hearing so many great things about it. However, I was sorely disappointed. The album was just a chaotic mess of noise, and I couldn't make out any distinct melodies or hooks. The vocals were grating and lacked any kind of depth or emotion. Overall, I found it to be a tedious and unenjoyable listening experience.
2. Sarah - ★★☆☆☆
I've always been a fan of The Acacia Strain's heavy and aggressive sound, but "Coma Witch" didn't do it for me. The album lacked the raw energy and intensity that made me love their previous work. It felt like they were trying too hard to be heavy and ended up sacrificing musicality and songwriting. The production also felt muddy and cluttered, making it hard to fully appreciate the technical skills of the band. Overall, I was left underwhelmed and craving their older material.
3. Mike - ★★☆☆☆
As a long-time fan of The Acacia Strain, I was eagerly anticipating "Coma Witch." However, I couldn't help but feel let down by this album. While it had some promising moments of aggression and heaviness, it lacked the memorable riffs and hooks that made their earlier releases so enjoyable. The song structures felt repetitive and formulaic, and I found myself losing interest halfway through. It's a shame because I know they are capable of delivering better material than this.