Entry 372 - Signs of the Swarm - Vital Deprivation

 

I'll be honest, deathcore or slam normally is not my thing... like in the slightest. Normally I get bored incredibly quickly, and the breakdowns/slams just do absolutely nothing for me. They are annoying at best and completely laughable at worst. Like all things though there is nuance to rules, and Signs of the Swarm is a very welcome exception to my deathcore rule.

These guys undoubtedly play deathcore, with a h e a v y focus on riffs and atmosphere... and absolutely disgusting vocals. This shit is heavy as all get out, it's almost slam. You know... except listenable.

What sets Signs of the Swarm apart from most of their contemporaries is a couple of things. First off, while they do have breakdowns they are wrapped organically into the songs. They progress seamlessly from one section of the song into the breakdown and then continue with the song without a "stop everything... BREAKDOWN" style that so many other deathcore bands have.

The second thing that helps these guys stand out is they write interesting riffs. The main focus of the album is the creation of good songs. They do this through insanely heavy riffs, interesting elements and atmospheres, and vocals that sound like a demon having a vomiting fit.

Deathcore has to be heavy by definition, but right off the bat these guys are doing something different. After the exceptionally short first track we're greeted by a full on choir. Later on we have quiet atmospheric sections, well written riffs that are dynamic and progress. There is some solid song writing on display on Vital Deprivation, and I like it.

Even as much as this record sticks out from the rest of deathcore, I still have to be in the exact right mood to enjoy it. That said when the mood strikes this is an excellent record to jam to.