Thursday March 28th 2024

ACARO – THE DISEASE OF FEAR

acaro

ACARO / THE DISEASE OF FEAR / CD REVIEW

Produced by: ACARO and Benny Grotto

 

ACARO is a 5 piece, metalcore band out of Boston, Massachusetts. I’ve seen them live in local clubs a few times and have been blown away by their performances each time. To put it simply, ACARO kicks ass live! If you ever get a chance to check them out live, definitely go for it … you won’t be disappointed.

So when I managed to get a copy of their new CD, The Disease of Fear, I was very curious to see if they could translate the energy and excitement of their live performances onto plastic.

I was also wondering, how ACARO’s method and madness would stack up against some of the current, commercially successful, metalcore bands, like, Bullets for my Valentine, Killswitch Engage, Atreyu, As I Lie Dying, and All That Remains (to name a few).

For those not familiar with the metalcore style of music, metalcore is the synthesis of heavy metal and hardcore music genres. It is most notably signified by throaty screaming vocals, harmonized guitar riffs, machine gun-like drumming with lots of double bass techniques, and musical breakdown sections conducive to moshing. Many of the more popular bands also incorporate clean vocals during a bridge or chorus. These days, if you’re in a band that likes to play metal, it’s a pretty good bet you’re playing some form of metalcore. OK, enough of the metalcore 101, let’s get on to the CD review.

There’s a couple of things you notice right off the bat when you throw this CD into your player and start listening. First and foremost, the production (quality and sound) is phenomenal. ACARO definitely managed to capture the essence, energy and excitement of their great live performances. As I was listening, I could almost see vocalist Chris Harrell leaping about maniacally as the rest of the guys rocked out.

The next thing you notice is that these guys can flat out play. All five guys are very talented musicians who know their craft very well. Jason Fitzgerald (drummer) and Kevin Smith (Bass) create a very tight and driving rhythm section that excellently supports the searing, harmonized riffs and solos of the awesome guitar tandem made up of Felipe Roa and Chris Leblanc. And then there’s Chris Harrell creating ACARO’s personality by expertly bending and wrapping his wild, raging voice to whatever end a tune requires.

And finally, and most importantly, the last thing you notice is that this CD contains 8 incredible, hot rockin’ tunes that will blow your socks off. Just a word of warning. When you get this CD, make sure you take a deep breath before you start playing it, because once it starts playing, you won’t get another chance to breath until the last song is over (….almost like reading this line). It plays like a runaway freight train rushing through the streets of Boston. If you dig metal/metalcore, you’re gonna love this CD.

I’m sure many of you will recognize the awesome tune, ‘Becoming the Process’ from ACARO’s YouTube video (also featured on this site), but honestly, every tune on this CD has got something cool to offer. Of course, I do have my favorites (as I’m sure you will too), like ‘Throne of Blood’, ‘ROJ’ and ‘Forever is Temporary’, but picking a single favorite tune on this CD is nearly impossible. But it’s a nice problem to have. Better yet, just do what I did. Get the CD, pop it in your dash, crank it up and rock out!!!

Earlier in this review, I said I wondered how ACARO would stack up along side some of their more commercially successful contemporaries. Well, IMHO, I’d say ACARO stacks up very well. Of course, music is a very subjective art form, and what one person likes another may hate. But as far as I’m concerned, ACARO has all the tools and talent to take their music as far as they want it to go. It’s really up to them. I wish them the best of luck!

And so, in keeping with the spirit of Lemmy K.’s immortal words, “…the chase is better than the catch…”, life is truly a never ending journey to everywhere and nowhere. But along the way, we now have something new to pop into our dashboards and crank up to eleven, ACARO’s CD, The Disease of Fear. I know I will.

 

Later

(Andy Bang)

 

Related Tags:

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.

More from category

Live Fast Die Fast – “Snakes In Disguise”
Live Fast Die Fast – “Snakes In Disguise”

Live Fast Die Fast – “Snakes In Disguise”   Every New York band that TNB has written about in [Read More]

Miracle Blood – “This Message Contains No Content”
Miracle Blood – “This Message Contains No Content”

Miracle Blood – “This Message Contains No Content”   I recently saw Miracle Blood perform for [Read More]

Wrought Iron Hex – “Wrought Iron Hex”
Wrought Iron Hex – “Wrought Iron Hex”

Wrought Iron Hex – “Wrought Iron Hex”   One of my favorite things about writing about bands and [Read More]

Triggered – “Piss You Off”
Triggered – “Piss You Off”

Triggered – “Piss You Off”   Triggered is a fairly new band upon the local Boston scene. I [Read More]

A Bunch Of Jerks – “Shart Topping Hits”
A Bunch Of Jerks – “Shart Topping Hits”

A Bunch Of Jerks – “Shart Topping Hits”   A lot of people rightly accuse TNB as being “a [Read More]

Insider

Archives