The New England Metal & Hardcore Fest just keeps getting more and more stacked-out with reasons to go. As if Opeth, Hatebreed, the entire Metal Alliance Tour (including Anthrax!), The Dillinger Escape Plan and Suicidal Tendencies weren’t occasion enough to start getting train tickets to Worcester at the ready, the organizers lifted the curtain on two big adds today. The Acacia Strain will now headline Thursday, April 18th’s pre-party kickoff, and Every Time I Die has been announced as the first day’s special guest, with only Anthrax and Hatebreed being billed over them.
The Acacia Strain always plays well to NEMHF’s audience, as they were a big highlight of last year’s Friday lineup and come off with sheer intensity live. But Every Time I Die playing alongside Exodus and Hatebreed speaks to the blend that the festival seems to pull off seamlessly on an annual basis, giving fans of old-school thrash, metallic hardcore and modern metalcore a place to gather under one roof. And with huge records from Killswitch Engage, Ghost and Volbeat due out next month, this is yet another reason April can’t come soon enough.
