Review Summary: Failure Will Follow You Wherever You May Go
In stark contrast with the efforts displayed on the simultaneously released ‘Step Into the Light,’ The Acacia Strain explores the slower, gloomier side of their sound with three tracks, all over ten minutes in length. Whilst I do personally feel that this record is a bit lesser compared to its counterpart, it’s hard to argue that The Acacia Strain have created something truly unique within their discography without sacrificing some of their core elements. This record really allows us to gnaw on the tortured despair of these songs without feeling bored or drained because there seems to be a very mindful effort to create brief interludes within each of these monster tracks as space to breathe and allow for seamless transitions.
The opening track, “pillar of salt” sets the stage for the tone and misery that we’ll experience for the next forty minutes. The slow, brooding, haunting intro that erupts into this slow, sludgy, melancholic riff layered with deep distorted effects and reverb displays establishes the dynamic qualities that TAS will beckon throughout this release. The slow building and addition of instrumental layers, group vocals and other effects really summons those doom metal vibes. The brief stops in sound in favor of spoken word or quiet electronics really highlights how hard the riffs and breakdowns hit. Vincent’s vocal tone also works so wonderfully with this style of music; his slow, desperate delivery and ability to reach those catastrophic lows helps heighten the miserable atmosphere. Then there’s Dylan Walker of Full of Hell who features on this first track; his banshee shrieks and Gollum-like yelps contrast Vincent so amazingly and makes the song feel like a soundtrack for psychological horror film. There’s also that last breakdown within the last thirty seconds of the song that obliterates your speakers; this song is immense to say the least and probably remains my favorite track on this record.
“bog walker” belongs in a southern gothic horror film. The quiet groovy riff that laces the opening of the track does go on a bit too long in my opinion but when the song finally explodes into full volume, it just feels like the apocalypse is beginning. The addition of those deeper clean vocals coupled with Vincent’s deep gutturals feels very grunge. While this track does transform and build upon itself, it does feel a bit more one dimensional than the other two tracks on this record more akin to a long bottomless pit rather than a dynamic weaving maze in the swamps of Louisiana. Without being mistaken as too negative, this song still has a lot of elements that are deeply enjoyable but it’s also a point on the record where the length of the track works against the quality of the record.
Unlike the other tracks which feature very long winding intros, the closing track “basin of vows” wastes no time with its molasses chugs and Vincent’s dark cries into the void. This song is also technically the shortest on the record, clocking in at just over ten minutes. The moments of guitar feedback and Vincent’s descending low gutturals as well as the repetitive chugging patterns feel a bit more akin to TAS’s usual work but then we fall into another quiet interlude which features lovely clean guitar work and soft drums. The breathing room leads us into more destruction to close out the record and at this point, I feel a sort of relief. The riffs on this song could really snap your neck if you let them and the pure rage and misery could devastate the happiest person, holding their hand into a spiraling depression, tying the noose and kicking the chair.
Atmospherically, this record is depression incarnate. The slowness of the musical passages and careful building on these songs’ kind of mimics the spiraling panic and doom that those who struggle with anxiety, paranoia, depression, PTSD, etc. experience. I would argue that even though ‘Step Into the Light’ is a much faster, more aggressive record, ‘Failure Will Follow’ is a heavier listening experience with more emotional depth and higher levels of musicality. That being said, I still do prefer the brevity and impact of ‘Step Into the Light’ but this record also scratches a certain musical itch with its massive crescendos and ominous sound palate. These two records greatly contrast sonically but those core TAS elements remain throughout plus the ingenuity of this band continues to impress and astound me creating excitement with where this renaissance of creativity will lead them in the future.
