Album Review: Across The Swarm - Projections
Reviewed by Paul Hutchings
The global isolation may continue but so does the metal. Italy may be off limits but underneath the surface the death metal scene continues to bubble. As well as Fleshgod Apocalypse and the mighty Hour of Penance, you can now add Across the Swarm whose latest record ‘Projections’ is a tasty 23 minutes of skull splitting “shove metal”. According to the band release, ‘Projections’ is “a journey between light and shadow, one where you oscillate continuously touching extreme peaks and awareness of being, passing through dark compromises. It is a continuous search within oneself, so that everything always renews itself, being born and dying a little bit, day by day, accepting and sacrificing the human being”. Profound stuff indeed.
Well, whether you are oscillating continuously or not, there’s a real ferocity across the seven brutal tracks that cement this release which are likely to get you spinning. Opener ‘Monito’ is a raging start, whilst the band’s intention to switch direction and style in each track is evident in the Meshuggah vibe of ‘Knowing Became Doing’. Huge elements of groove, pulsing bass lines and clean riffing provide the basis for a maelstrom of punishing metal. With each track alarmingly short, the title track clocks in the longest at 3:46, Across the Swarm have focused on intensity to convey their message. With each track blending the band members various influences, you can expect to hear the likes of Misery Index and Dying Fetus in the band’s sound. 2016’s single ‘Waiting for the Hyenas’ may be recognisable to those who are aware of the band, and it’s a blistering demonstration of the savagery that Across the Storm bring. The album was recorded at Domination Studios by Simone Mularoni and Simone Bertozzi (Gory Blister, Rhapsody, Labyrinth) and mixed by Steve Wright at Steve Wright Studios in Baltimore, USA (Dying Fetus, Misery Index).
The album will be released via Time To Kill Records. Originally planned for April 10th, this is now delayed due to Covid-19.
