Combining elements of hardcore and slam death metal, Signs of the Swarm emerged in the mid-2010s with a neck-snapping blend of breakdowns, caustic yet catchy riffs, and unhinged vocals. The brutal death metal enthusiasts formed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 2014 around the talents of vocalist CJ McCreery, drummer Bobby Crow, guitarists Cory Smarsh and Jacob Toy, and bassist Collin Barker. They released their debut album, Senseless Order, independently in 2016, which caught the attention of heavy metal indie Unique Leader Records. Disfigurement of Existence, the band's sophomore effort and first outing for the label, arrived the following year and marked the studio debut of new drummer Jimmy Pino. Lead singer CJ McCreery left the fold amicably ahead of the release of album number three. The resulting Vital Deprivation arrived in 2019 and featured new vocalist Dave Simonich. ~ James Christopher Monger