Album Review: Acres - The Host

UK quartet Acres presents their third album, The Host, offering a blend of celestial and gritty transcendence.

Toxic dependency manifests in many forms, each as distinct and imposing as the winged giant Typhoeus, who famously bore many heads. It can appear under the guise of a drug, a drink, a captivating hobby, or even a partner, lurking beneath the surface of our desires. Regardless of the tumultuous storms it conjures, we find ourselves drawn back time and again, until a point of exhaustion is reached, leaving us with nothing but emptiness in its wake.

For the UK metalcore band Acres, these profound and universal themes serve as the cornerstone of their latest album, The Host. As the quartet boldly confronts the many facets of this shared human affliction, The Host reveals the pinnacle of their compelling sound, showcasing an exhilarating blend of irresistibly catchy melodies, bone-jarring grooves, and hauntingly beautiful soundscapes, creating an unpredictable auditory experience that captivates listeners from start to finish.

As The Host embarks on its mesmerizing journey, it opens with the evocative tracks "Bloodlust," "Not So Different," and "Staring At The Sun." The music envelops the listener in a crystallized fury, blending deep, rich electronic atmospheres with convulsing guitars and heartbeat-quickening drums. Acres masterfully craft a dynamic interplay that creates a suffocating yet liberating environment, capturing the essence of their struggle in a tapestry of sound that grips the soul and invites reflection before diving into the rest of the album.

As The Host embarks on its mesmerizing journey, it opens with the evocative tracks "Bloodlust," "Not So Different," and "Staring At The Sun." The music envelops the listener in a crystallized fury, blending deep, rich electronic atmospheres with convulsing guitars and heartbeat-quickening drums. Acres masterfully crafts a dynamic interplay that creates an environment both suffocating yet liberating, capturing the essence of their struggle in a tapestry of sound that grips the soul and invites reflection before diving into the rest of the album.

The Host embarks on a captivating journey of sonic evolution with tracks like "Built To Bleed," "Your Goodbye," and "Steal The Light." Their sound transforms into a powerful fusion of cinematic, hefty melodies and flourishes of raw, outraged musical forces, expanding the deep and introspective narrative that explores the insidious impacts on our lives, painting a struggle to break free from or leave behind the burdens that consume us in detrimental ways as Arches materializes its central theme. Whether grappling with addiction, navigating a tumultuous relationship, enduring a stifling job, or coping with profound loss, Acres delivers a classic metalcore experience infused with sweeping emotional choruses and expansive soundscapes. Together, these elements paint a vivid picture of the suffering endured under the relentless weight of internal turmoil, inviting one to confront the complexities of pain and resilience.

The Host ends with a more stripped-down, delicate, voltaic experience, "Around Again." A celestial blend of interstellar melodic moments and pained vocal vulnerability, The Host delivers an impassioned, multi-layered experience that shows how much Acres values the emotional components of their sound up to the last track.

The Host is a profoundly immersive auditory journey that envelops its listeners in a realm of suffering and anger, yet ultimately guides them through a cathartic release. As the intense waves of emotion wash over every track of The Host, one emerges renewed, shedding the weight of life's struggles while still carrying the lessons learned from the pain it inflicted. With this latest release, Acres showcases an evolution in their sound, demonstrating a remarkable depth and complexity that suggests this is merely the beginning of their artistic exploration. The Host promises a futuristic, rich, and gritty experience brimming with potential, inviting listeners to witness the band's ongoing growth and creativity as they navigate through the tumultuous landscape of suffering and what it takes to put such experiences behind you after the intercosmic dust has settled.