So many artists, so many songs, so little time. Each week we review a handful of new albums (of all genres), round up even more new music that we'd call "indie," and talk about what metal is coming out. We post music news, track premieres, and more all day. We update a playlist weekly of some of our current favorite tracks.
Metalcore/deathcore vets The Acacia Strain have announced their annual two-day holiday extravaganza, "Tune Low Die Slow Ho Ho," which goes down in Albany on December 13 & 14 at Empire Live. "Merry TASMAS, Round Two," says vocalist Vincent Bennett. "Everyone has an Xmas festival now. Guess what? Next year, we are doing Thanksgiving. Come pit and be merry!"
"Dimmed Sun," which opens the band's latest album, Dreams of Being Dust, defines this new direction as it alternates between burly metalcore and cleaner, more expansive prog-emo. Gnarly, compressed guitars are paired with shouted or snarled vocals; noodly harmonized riffs accompany the more skyward-reaching singing. Throughout it all, drummer Steven Buttery gets busy, breaking free of the chains of the slow-build climaxes that once hamstrung his abilities.