Photos by Jamie Waters

Earlier this year, ascending UK firebrand Acres confirmed the full length follow-up to their well-received 2023 triumph, Burning Throne. Hailed as a potent booster of new blood in the landscape of modern metalcore, the album's weave of anthemic choruses, electronic accents and metallic brawn offered indication of the health and heft of the subgenre. 

Rather than rest on their laurels, Acres would quickly capitalize on that momentum, delivering a supplemental 5-song EP just a year later with What It's Like To Feel Worthless. Further substantiating the band's stylistic signature and their progression as creatives, the EP underscored the kind of skin Acres had in the game as artists.

Navigating the hype and the expectation that comes along with such acclaim, the band focused on tapping into their fullest potential of which that had only just scratched the surface. Finding an ally in Landon Tewers of The Plot In You, the frontman and producer hunkered down in the studio with the Portsmouth unit to record what would be their most complete iteration yet, The Host. 

Further distilling their meld of stylized aggression, Acres craft effective song dynamics via electronic layers, newly-incorporated drop-tuning and a balance of melody and volatility that suggest wherewithal beyond their years. Thus far, preview singles in "Bloodlust" and "Staring At the Sun" tout the band's bold vision, translated in explosive tracks that maintain broad appeal. Vocalist Ben Lumber soars as guitarist Alex Freeman, bassist/songwriter Jack Rogers and drummer Ash Scott work in lockstep to build formidable anthems, all to burn it all down gloriously. 

The latest preview from the album offers testament to band's refinement. "Built To Bleed" serves as the most assertive showing from the album yet, with a sonic urgency built in layers of electronic glitch, weighty riffs and Lumber unloading a vocal performance that delivers a sonic gut punch. 

Jack Rogers explained the catharsis that fuels the combustive track, "I wrote 'Built to Bleed' lyrically about how I realized I have been valuing myself for pretty much my entire life. I've never been one to feel positive about myself or celebrate 'achievements' or be happy with the way I look, etc. Starting therapy made me realize how I'd manage to normalize those feelings and believe them whole heartedly. It's a song where I'm at my absolute lowest mentally, laced with guilt for feeling the way I feel and being so good at hiding it and masking it. It's definitely the most lyrically open I've ever been about my inner thoughts of myself."

Ben Lumber elaborated on the scope and ambition of the album that frames Acres at their very best. "The Host represents a bold step in a new direction for us as a band, we've always pushed ourselves to evolve with every album and never write the same record twice. This time the process was unlike anything we've done before, working with Landon Tewers brought a fresh perspective and added a new flair to our sound that we’re really excited about!"

Coinciding with the May 2nd arrival of The Host on Solid State Records, Acres will be trekking the US with a slate of live dates supporting The Devil Wears Prada as well as a handful of dates with Beartooth. A full run of dates and cities can be found below. 

The Host from Acres drops May 2nd via Sold State Records. Get the album - HERE