Signs of the Swarm – Amongst the Low & Empty (Review)

This is the fifth album from US deathcore/death metal band Signs of the Swarm.

It’s always good to have some new Signs of the Swarm, as the band haven’t disappointed me yet. 2017’s The Disfigurement of Existence, 2019’s Vital Deprivation, and 2021’s Absolvere were all crushing slabs of heaviness, and the 42 minutes of new material on Amongst the Low & Empty is no exception. Having said that, it’s not completely business as usual either, and Signs of the Swarm have produced their best work so far.

On this album Signs of the Swarm sound heavier than ever. The guitars are thick and meaty, while the drums punish and pound. The breakdowns are huge and merciless, and the singer’s vocals are just monstrous. Yep, this is what you want from Signs of the Swarm.

The band’s deathcore heart is beating strong and loud, while their death metal elements are brutally refined. Amongst the Low & Empty adds a few different weapons into the band’s arsenal too. This includes lessons learned from the metalcore, industrial, and djent styles, all of which are used in various places to sharpen the music’s blades. These additional influences are skilfully woven into Signs of the Swarm’s existing sound, enhancing it in key places to good effect.

The songwriting on Amongst the Low & Empty feels more refined, concise, and developed. There are more catchy elements, more layers of sound thanks to the abovementioned stylistic additions, and more energy overall. It sounds as if the band have deliberately kept each track’s focus on being as demolishing as possible, while also paying attention to structure, flow, and dynamics. Signs of the Swarm have stepped things up a gear on Amongst the Low & Empty, and this has resulted in their most well-rounded and devastating album yet.

What’s more to say, really? Signs of the Swarm were always a deathcore band that I paid particular attention to, but Among the Low & Empty propels them a level higher in my estimation. If you’re a fan of the style then you won’t want to miss out on this.

Very highly recommended.