Signs of the Swarm

Pittsburgh's contribution to American deathcore arrives in the shape of Signs of the Swarm, a group whose line-up has changed often enough to leave a mark on its records. Formed in 2014, the band has released six studio albums to date. Their sound took a decisive turn when black metal and hardcore entered the mix on their second record, an influence that has shaped their music ever since.

Their debut, Senseless Order, appeared in April 2016. Largely self-recorded, it drew mixed reviews but gave the group room to find its footing, and later that year it signed with Unique Leader Records. The Disfigurement of Existence followed in November 2017 and drew a positive response from its audience, preceded by the single 'Final Phase', which featured guest vocals from Dickie Allen of Infant Annihilator. Vital Deprivation, released in October 2019, marked David Simonich's debut with the band, although some critics felt the vocals drowned out the music. Absolvere arrived in September 2021, and in August 2022 the band moved to Century Media. Amongst the Low & Empty followed in July 2023, and the band has since announced the Decade of the Swarm to mark ten years together.