On July 28th, Pittsburgh deathcore unit Signs Of The Swarm will unleash their fifth full-length, Amongst the Low & Empty, via Century Media Records. For a preview of the album, the new single – “Malady” – can be streamed here; the video (directed by Joey Durango) can be seen at: https://youtu.be/7Br2zmu-sEI
Vocalist David Simonich comments: “This song reflects previous battles I’ve faced with my depression. A moment in my life reminded me of what I’d been through, and it became the fuel for ‘Malady.’ The song pushed me to be vulnerable in the studio, expressing my thoughts and emotions to my producer to paint the picture I was going for.”
Drummer Bobby Crow adds: “I wanted to craft a dark and primal song to match Dave’s subject matter, so the music and lyrics elevate one another. Seeing as ‘Malady’ is another word for disease, I wanted the song to be catchy enough to infect yet deteriorates as sickness does to your body over time. The song builds to a painful climax, growing in intensity as it devolves into a noisy cacophony. You can’t even wrap your head around it, then it’s over.”
Watch the videos for the previously released singles below:
–“Amongst the Low & Empty”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kPEbV8T35
–“Tower Of Torsos”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d4P51ye_0I
Pre-order Amongst the Low & Empty now here: https://signsoftheswarm.lnk.to/AmongstTheLowAndEmpty – where the album is available in the following versions:
–Jewelcase CD
–Gatefold black LP
–Gatefold aqua colored LP – USA retail exclusive
–Gatefold transp. light blue-black marbled LP – EU retail exclusive
–Gatefold white-dark blue marbled LP – Signs Of The Swarm exclusive
–Digital album
Produced by Josh Schroeder (Lorna Shore, King 810, Tallah, Varials), Amongst the Low & Empty is the first Signs Of The Swarm album to feature an outside producer. Massive, unapologetic and unrelenting in its assault, this fifth full-length keeps listeners on the edge of their seat. Songs like the title track, “Pray For Death” and “Malady” put to shame the slamming “br00tality” of sophomore LP The Disfigurement of Existence, with vocalist David Simonich’s animalistic growls and screeches outdoing any swarm, pack, or otherwise, found in the wild. Despite the savage brutality, the leader of this herd IS the structure that is simultaneously more rigid yet more explorative, complete with a catchy groove underneath – the likes of which hasn’t been heard from Signs Of The Swarm. It’s the bedrock that allows “Tower of Torsos,” “DREAMKILLER” and “Pray For Death” to be as catchy as they are. Songs like “Shackles Like Talons” and “Fire and Stone” split the difference incisively. On the more cacophonous side, industrial flirtations were added both in-studio by band and producer, and beyond, with Joshua Travis (Emmure, Glass Cloud, The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza) and Cameron Losch (Born of Osiris) throwing riffs and ruckus into the mix (“At one point, Joshua Travis was recording a chainsaw in his backyard,” the bandreveals). Trivium mastermind Matthew K. Heafy even sent over a guest shout for “The Witch Beckons”.
The resulting 11 tracks are so destructively deafening, it blew out Josh Schroeder’s subwoofer! “We’ve always been a deathcore band,” states Bobby Crow, the quartet’s longest-standing member, who serves as drummer and main songwriter. “But this record is a lot MORE – it’s got death metal, metalcore, djent, some industrial stuff…We wanted to make something that was just heavy.”
Amongst the Low & Empty track-listing
1. Amongst the Low & Empty
2. Tower of Torsos
3. Pray for Death
4. Borrowed Time
5. Between Fire & Stone
6. Shackles Like Talons
7. DREAMKILLER
8. The Witch Beckons (feat. Matthew K. Heafy)
9. Echelon
10. Faces Without Names
11. Malady
Upon album release, Signs Of The Swarm will play several special shows in the USA, then head overseas for the summer; European fans can catch them at some of the biggest festivals, in addition to co-headlining off-dates with Humanity’s Last Breathand more. To finish off the season, Signs Of The Swarm will trek to the UK for a headliner with To the Grave and Harbinger. See below for all dates!
Signs Of The Swarm ‘Amongst the Low & Empty’ Album Release Shows
July 28, 2023 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Preserving
July 29, 2023 – Cleveland, OH @ Winchester
July 30, 2023 – Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place
Aug. 4, 2023 – Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
Aug. 5, 2023 – Fredericksburg, VA @ KC’s Music Alley
Signs Of The Swarm European Festivals
+ Co-headliners with Humanity’s Last Breath & more
Aug. 9, 2023 – Warsaw, PL @ Hybrydy &
Aug. 10, 2023 – Jaroměř, CZ @ Brutal Assault
Aug. 11, 2023 – Oberhausen, DE @ Kulttempel #
Aug. 12, 2023 – Hannover, DE @ Béi Chéz Heinz ? %
Aug. 13, 2023 – Copenhagen, DK @ Prime Fest
Aug. 14, 2023 – Hamburg, DE @ Indra + %
Aug. 15, 2023 – Amsterdam, NL @ Q-Factory + %
Aug. 16, 2023 – Erfurt, DE @ VEB Kultur + %
Aug. 18, 2023 – Dinkelsbühl, DE @ Summer Breeze Open Air
Aug. 19, 2023 – Eindhoven, NL @ Dynamo Metalfest
Aug. 20, 2023 – Frankfurt, DE @ Das Bett + %
Aug. 21, 2023 – Aarau, CH @ KIFF + %
Aug. 22, 2023 – Milan, IT @ Slaughter Club + %
Aug. 23, 2023 – Munich, DE @ Backstage + %
Aug. 24, 2023 – Andernach, DE @ Deathfeast Open Air
Aug. 25, 2023 – Ghent, BE @ Asgaard %
& = w/ Archspire
# = w/ Shadow of Intent
? = w/ Frontierer
% = w/ To the Grave
+ = w/ Humanity’s Last Breath
Signs Of The Swarm UK Headliner with To the Grave, Harbinger
Aug. 26, 2023 – London UK @ The Underworld
Aug. 27, 2023 – Birmingham UK @ Devil’s Dog
Aug. 28, 2023 – Sheffield UK @ Corporation
Aug. 29, 2023 – Leeds UK @ The Key Club
Aug. 30, 2023 – Glasgow UK @ Audio
Aug. 31, 2023 – Manchester UK @ Rebellion
Sept. 1, 2023 – Bristol UK @ The Exchange
Sept. 2, 2023 – Southampton UK @ The Joiners
Signs Of The Swarm line-up:
Bobby Crow – Drums
David Simonich – Vocals
Jeff Russo – Guitars
Michael Cassese – Bass
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