The Acacia Strain don’t like labels. Who does? Instead, they’re just an all encompassing ‘Heavy’ and heavy has no boundaries. Since forming in Massachusetts USA in 2001, the band have released six album, two splits, done an awesome cover of Slayer’s Seasons In The Abyss, toured with everyone from Hatebreed to Crowbar to The Casualties (and so many variously styled bands in between), played the Warped Tour and cracked the top 200 with two albums. Simply being ‘Heavy’ releases the shackles and truly lets a band do what they want. In 2012 they signed to Rise Records and released their latest and most crushing effort Death Is The Only Mortal. Later that same year they were involved in a rollover accident but it only slowed them down, it did not stop them.
Bouncing back mid last year with two new full time members, Devin Shidaker (ex Oceano) and Richard Gomez (ex Molotov Solution) The Acacia Strain are heading back to Australia this autumn to demonstrate their bone crushing rhythms, apocalyptic samples and triple guitar assault that combined, delivers their signature blend of hardcore, death and doom. Allmusic describes them as “an inelegant and unstoppable juggernaut fueled by memories of the unchecked aggression unleashed on the world by the likes of Pantera and Sepultura”
With lyrics centered around misanthropy and nihilism, with some misogyny and sexual deviance thrown in for good measure, you know a night with these
guys is most definitely going to be completely Heavy!
Joining them on their epic 12 date tour of the nation will be Aversions Crown and Graves.
Queensland’s Aversions Crown are an exercise in punishing extremity. With six members creating aural carnage by mixing up nihilistic fury and cosmic horror with relentless blasting, jackhammer rhythms and a dark ambience, the band crush all in their path.
Since their inception in 2011, Wollongong heavy hitters Graves have been on a constant rise through the Australian heavy music scene. Having supported Thy Art is Murder, Northlane, and House vs Hurricane, Graves quickly moved into main support slots for big internationals like Obey The Brave, Hundredth, Atilla and most recently, a full national tour with I Declare War after the release of their EP, Pestilence.
*** TOUR SUPPORT ANNOUNCED ****
The tour already features Queensland punishers Aversions Crown and Wollongong heavy hitters Graves, but things are about to get a whole lot heavier (if that was at all possible) with the inclusion of some awesome local supports for each city.
The tour kicks of in Perth with an All Ages at the YMCA. Iconoclast, Xenobiotic and Fallback will get proceedings started and Iconoclast back it up the next night at Amplifier Bar along with Anchored and This Existence
Fowlers in Adelaide gets treated to I Exalt and Cruel Intentions ahead of the main barrage in another All Ages night of mayhem before the circus heads to Melbourne for two more shows. The first, at Bang sees Exposures open the evening while the next day at Arrow On Swanston the All Ages show kicks off with Free World and Left For Wolves
From here the tour heads north and into Canberra where The Basement will need a refit after Reigner and Machina Genova start the demolition.
Overshooting Sydney for now, the tour heads to Newcastle for some midweek mayhem at The Cambridge Hotel where Taken By Force and Blind Oracle set the scene.
Sydney, having heard about the destruction heading their way, buckles down for two nights of hell. Firstly at The Lansdowne Hotel with Vices and Hunt The Hunted doing the groundwork and Final Frontier and Spheres will then set the scene at Studio Six up nicely at another All Ages on the Friday.
If Sydney thought it had it bad, Brisbane cops it twice on the same day! The Lab will host an All Ages event first up opened by A Night In Texas and I Shall Devour and First Sight get opening honours at Thriller later that night.
Finally, the tour will descend on the Gold Coast where any energy the bands have left will be left on the Expressive Grounds stage in one last balls to the wall performance that’s sure to leave the All Ages crowd in awe. Deceiver and Hand Of The Architect have been selected to introduce The Acacia Strain, Aversions Crown and Graves to the stage one last time on this run and what a run it is!
Tour Dates: April/May 2014
Wed 23 April YMCA HQ, Perth AA
with: Iconoclast, Xenobiotic and Fallback
Tickets available from Oztix on 1300 762 545, www.destroyalllines.oztix.com.au and Oztix Outlets
Thurs 24 April Amplifier Bar, Perth 18+
with: Iconoclast, Anchored and This Existence
Tickets available from Oztix on 1300 762 545, www.destroyalllines.oztix.com.au and Oztix Outlets
Fri 25 April Fowlers Live, Adelaide Lic/AA
with: I Exalt and Cruel Intentions
Tickets available from Moshtix on 1300 438 849, www.moshtix.com.au and Venue*Tix on (08) 8225 8888 or www.venuetix.com.au
Sat 26 April Bang, Melbourne 18+
with: Exposures Tickets available at the door
Sun 27 April Arrow On Swanston, Melbourne AA
with: Free World and Left For Wolves
Tickets available from Oztix on 1300 762 545, www.destroyalllines.oztix.com.au and Oztix Outlets
Tues 29 April The Basement, Canberra 18+
with: Reigner and Machina Genova
Tickets available from Oztix on 1300 762 545, www.destroyalllines.oztix.com.au and Oztix Outlets
Wed 30 April The Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle 18+
with: Taken By Force and Blind Oracle
Tickets available from Oztix on 1300 762 545, www.destroyalllines.oztix.com.au and Oztix Outlets
Thurs 1 May Lansdowne Hotel, Sydney 18+
with: Vices and Hunt The Hunted
Tickets available from Oztix on 1300 762 545, www.destroyalllines.oztix.com.au and Oztix Outlets
Fri 2 May Studio Six, Sydney Lic/AA
with: Final Frontier and Spheres
Tickets available from Oztix on 1300 762 545, www.destroyalllines.oztix.com.au and Oztix Outlets
Sat 3 May The Lab, Brisbane AA
with: A Night In Texas and I Shall Devour
Tickets available from Oztix on 1300 762 545, www.destroyalllines.oztix.com.au and Oztix Outlets
Sat 3 May Thriller, Brisbane 18+
with: First Sight Tickets available at the door
Sun 4 May Expressive Grounds, Gold Coast AA
with: Deceiver and Hand Of The Architect
Tickets available from Oztix on 1300 762 545, www.destroyalllines.oztix.com.au and Oztix Outlets
www.facebook.com/Theacaciastrain www.facebook.com/AversionsCrown / www.facebook.com/GravesOfficial