Once an original part of the coldwave music scene that fused guitars with industrial music, Chicago's Acumen Nation have logged hundreds of shows, 6 albums and a dozen US tours over the years.  As well as running their own imprint and producing music for videogames, television and other bands, Acumen Nation continuously evolves, adding the sounds of drum n bass, breakbeat, and hardcore into the mix over the years, resulting in a harsh amalgam of metal and electronics.  Live they are a 4-piece metal crushfest with backing samples and loops who have cut their teeth on the road and locally with such bands as Ministry, Sevendust, Rammstein, KMFDM, Local H, Soil, Mushroomhead, Skinlab, Lords of Acid and Sister Machine Gun.  Their new album “Anticore” is the fastest and meanest slab of meat and mischief put forth by the band to date. Retaining their signature sound of complex minor chord melodies and harsh, intelligent programming, tempos are now faster, songs shorter, lyrics even more cynical and the emotions are urgent. The 4 on the floor club sounds a thing of the past, the new Acumen Nation sound can easily be described as hardcore tech-metal, finding companionship with the likes of Poison the Well, Dillinger Escape Plan and Lamb of God. 

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