The Acacia Strain in Atlanta at the Masquerade

Written By | Jason Stark

The city of Atlanta is known for having tons of live entertainment on a daily basis. This past weekend was no exception. While it was a cold and dreary day, The Masquerade hosted some heavy hitters, like: Rotting Out, Creeping Death, Chamber, Fuming Mouth and the headliner, The Acacia Strain, that brought enough energy to heat up the city.

View more photos of Fuming Mouth HERE

To open the night and get the blood pumping was Boston newcomers, Fuming Mouth. As soon as the crowd heard the sound of the opening riff, the whole room came alive. The crowd’s energy was intensified when the band shouted “I want everyone in here to lose their fucking minds!” From this moment on, you knew you were in for 20 mins of brutality. Fuming Mouth was exactly what the crowd needed to get moving and set the tone for the rest of the evening.

View more photos of Chamber HERE

Next up was Nashville natives, Chamber. They are a band I’ve seen before and they never disappoint. I was blown away by their stage presence and energy. Vocalist, Jacob Lilly, belted out lyric after lyric that made your soul crave every echoing scream. The crowd never stopped moving, and at the end of their set, you could hear a chant of “One more song! One more song!” ring out.

View more photos of Creeping Death HERE

Next we were treated to some Texas death metal from Creeping Death. The 5 piece delivered a 30 min set that proved  death metal is much alive and well in a genre that sometimes tends to get lost in the shuffle when you have such a diverse line up.

View more photos of Rotting Out HERE

Next set was California hardcore band, Rotting Out. They were the Co-Headliner, and probably the most diverse band on the bill. The crowd fed off their heavy West Coast energy and screamed along with every single lyric. This set had it all! There were mosh pits, crowd surfing, high amounts of energy and a glimpse into the more sensitive side of heavy metal. Walter made a point to address the crowd, at several points during their set, to let them know that attending shows, just like this one tonight, was a much better outlet then turning to self destructing coping mechanisms. This was his way of discouraging the use of alcohol and drugs to deal with the downfalls of life.

View more photos of Acacia Strain HERE

Finally, the moment we all have been waiting for was upon us. Massachusetts heavy weights, The Acacia Strain, took the stage. Vocalist, Vincent Bennett, erupted with a 45 minute onslaught of classic songs, like: Carbomb, Dr.Doom, to one of there newest releases in Feed a Pigeon, Breed A Rat. The room felt like it was literally moving at times from the pure chaos that only an Acacia Strain show can bring. Bennett, several times, throughout the night expressed his gratitude and encouraged the entire venue to chase their dreams.

He discussed his 19 years with his band and the ups and downs that came along with it. He maintained a honest and relatable approach to his own personal struggles that resonated with every single person. He discussed his first show, where they played in front of five people and compared it to where they are now; preforming in front of a sold out show. This concert, the bands, the sets all brought an incredible insight into heavy metal. They not only reflected on self love and self care throughout the evening, they also brought an energy and vibe that lit up the entire room. Make sure to catch this tour when it comes to a city near you.

Photos By | Jason Stark

See more work from Jason Stark HERE