Signs of the Swarm

Relaxation was shortlived when Signs of the Swarm kicked back to listen to their 5th LP. It wasn’t just because they were compelled to headbang; instead it was producer Josh Schroeder (Lorna Shore, King 810) bashing his head against the wall when the destructive deathcore was so heavy it blew his subwoofer. It was mere days after a brutal breakdown had their manager laughing out loud at its heaviness. In short, Signs of the Swarm are in the business of breaking stuff—and Amongst the Low & Empty may be the final blow to expectations, glass ceilings, or listener’s eardrums and mind. “We’ve always been a deathcore band,” says Bobby Crow, the quartet's drummer and main songwriter. “But this record is MORE—it’s got death metal, metalcore, djent, some industrial stuff…we wanted to make something that was just heavy.” Heavy's an understatement, with the title track and “Malady” bookending an album that puts to shame the slamming “br00tality” of sophomore LP The Disfigurement of Existence. Vocalist David Simonich’s animalistic growls and screeches outdo any wild swarm or pack. Joining the Swarm are Joshua Travis (Emmure, Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza) and Cameron Losch (Born of Osiris), who added industrial flourishes and ideas to the monstrous—yet, at times, melodic—mix. Massive, unapologetic and unrelenting, Amongst the Low & Empty keeps listeners on the edge of their seat. They’ll leave breathless, yet acutely aware the only thing low is the tuning—and it’s far from empty.