Acres - 'The Host' - Album Review

Lighthouse Music
Sep 26
3 min read

BACKGROUND. It is about time we talked about Acres, the wonderfuly curious case of the UK band that effortlessly gets better and better with each passing day. As if they didn't just dropped an already perfectly good album The Host at the beginning of May this year, we are now looking at its Deluxe, or shall I say Complete edition, even more powerful and impactful than the original. Admittedly, something stopped me from covering the initial premiere, be it its relatively shorter 7-track EP format or somewhat hesitant finale that couldn't match its explosive beginning, but now that we get that full-lenght version, I am compelled to shower its disarming awesomness with well-deserved praise and respect.

BAND. A first article about them here, but far from the first time I admired the band in private, Acres have been making noise for quite some time before dropping their third effort The Host. Their 2019 debut Lonely World did raise a few eyebrows, but it wasn't until Burning Throne dropped in 2023 and stole the show with its monumental title track and that outstanding team-up with Silent Planet on 'Nothing.' (in the same year that SUPERBLOOM snatched my AOTY spot with quite some margin). All this aside, Acres recently found their perfectly suitable home at Tooth & Nail and Solid State Records, aligning sonic direction and career aspirations with personal beliefs and moral values for what is a truly outstanding result in this updated The Host 2.0.

ALBUM. A third record for Acres, The Host is as respectfully mature and deliberate as is refreshingly original and relevant. Release strategy aside, whatever was missing from that initial May drop is now fully covered and polished with meticulous attention and just three new tracks. Adding a balanced yet needed dose of raw power and primal energy to an otherwise hauntingly delicate and very focused offering certainly elevated it to new highs. All those complimenting layers, nuances and final strokes working in harmony with the solid foundation, creative vision and punching delivery for what is hopefully Acres' catapult into the big league.

SONGS. It all starts with 'Bloodlust', a proper opener for an album of such scope and a personal favourite with its Thornhill meets Bad Omens vibe that resonates throughout. From there, it is up to the crowd igniter 'Not So Different', the sing-along anthem 'Staring At The Sun', and the latest bouncy rager 'Take My Last Breath' to maintain that initial drive until the pulsating 'Built To Bleed', and the outstanding 'Push Me Away' shining bright in collaboration with Landon Tewers, modern metal trendsetter of its own right. At first, the finishing trio of 'Empty Room', 'Steal The Light' and 'Around Again', as pleasantly soaring as it was, seemed a little hesitant and incomplete, but spiced up with the furious pit-starter 'Welcome To The Family' now acts as the perfect way to end The Host with flair.

FUTURE. Proven legacy bands and seasoned arena headliners aside, Solid State needed a bit of fresh blood via Tooth & Nail Recs. and found it across the pond in good old England. The UK has always been a source of high quality modern metal and Acres might just be their most promising international export at present. So far this year, we have seen Silverstein drop a double album, while A Day To Remember delayed the digital premiere of their latest effort with a month, so as far as unconventional releases go, the almost instant deluxe upgrade of The Host is nothing that shocking, and when executed with such determination, is to be celebrated.