Absolvere

Last updated

Absolvere
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 24, 2021 (2021-09-24)
Genre Metalcore, deathcore [1]
Length40:14
Label Unique Leader
Producer
  • Shane Mayer
  • Bobby Crow
Signs of the Swarm chronology
Vital Deprivation
(2019)
Absolvere
(2021)
Amongst the Low & Empty
(2023)
Singles from Absolvere
  1. "Totem"
    Released: June 30, 2021 [2]
  2. "Hollow Prison"
    Released: July 27, 2021 [3]
  3. "Death Whistle"
    Released: September 7, 2021 [4]
  4. "Hymns ov Invocation"
    Released: October 26, 2021 [5]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Angry Metal Guy3/5 [6]
Distorted Sound8/10 [7]
Metal1.info9/10 [1]
New Transcendence9/10 [8]

Absolvere is the fourth studio album by American deathcore band Signs of the Swarm. It was released on September 24, 2021, via Century Media Records in LP, CD and digital formats. The album was announced on June 30, 2021, together with the release of the single, "Totem". [9] It is their only album with guitarist Jeff Russo, and their last album with bassist Jacob Toy and guitarist Cory Smarsh who both left the band a month before the album's release, with Smarsh fired due to sexual abuse allegations. [10] The album features guest appearances by Alex Erian (Despised Icon) in "Hollow Prison" and Ben Duerr (Shadow of Intent) in "Blood Seal", along with the band's first songs with clean vocals, "Dreaming Desecration" and "Death Whistle". [11]

Contents

Background and promotion

On June 29, 2021, they announced their fourth studio album, Absolvere, which released on September 24, 2021, and premiered its first single and music video, “Totem”. [12] About a month later on July 27, they released a second single, “Hollow Prison”, featuring Alex Erian of Despised Icon as a guest vocalist. [13]

In August 2021, the band parted ways with longtime member Cory Smarsh and following abuse allegations against him that surfaced on Facebook. [14] Fellow longtime member Jacob Toy left the band as well. Despite this, the band confirmed that the release of Absolvere and support tours would continue as planned, such as supporting Born of Osiris on their North American Angel or Alien tour in October and November 2021, with Shadow of Intent. [15] The band would also support Suicide Silence and Carnifex on their North American Chaos & Carnage tour in May and June 2022, with Lorna Shore, Upon a Burning Body, AngelMaker. [16]

Track listing

Absolvere track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Hymns ov Invocation"3:42
2."Boundless Manifestations"3:55
3."Dreaming Desecration"3:38
4."Totem"4:00
5."Nameless"4:00
6."Absolvere" (instrumental)2:03
7."Revelations ov a Silent King"3:11
8."Hollow Prison" (featuring Alex Erian)4:13
9."Blood Seal" (featuring Ben Duerr)5:39
10."Death Whistle"5:53
Total length:40:14

Personnel

Signs of the Swarm

Additional contributors

References

  1. 1 2 "Signs Of The Swarm – Absolvere". Metal1.info. September 23, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  2. "SIGNS OF THE SWARM Stomps Their Way Through Your Skull With "Totem"". Metal Injection. June 30, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  3. "SIGNS OF THE SWARM Recruits DESPISED ICON's Vocalist For New Song". Metal Injection. July 27, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  4. "Signs of the Swarm Unveil "Death Whistle" Single/Video". MetalSucks. September 7, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  5. "Signs of the Swarm Release Video for "Hymns Ov Invocation"". MetalSucks. October 26, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  6. "Signs of the Swarm – Absolvere Review". Angry Metal Guy. September 23, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  7. "ALBUM REVIEW: Absolvere – Signs Of The Swarm". Distorted Sound. September 21, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  8. "REVIEW: Signs of the Swarm – Absolvere [2021] – New Transcendence". New Transcendence. September 22, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  9. "Signs Of The Swarm release new music video for 'Totem'". Distorted Sound. June 30, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  10. "SIGNS OF THE SWARM Fire Guitarist Cory Smarsh After Assault/Sexual Abuse Allegations Surface". Metal Injection. August 6, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  11. "Interview with Bobby Crow from Signs Of The Swarm". Metal1.info. October 18, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  12. Redrup, Zach (June 30, 2021). "NEWS: Signs Of The Swarm announce fourth album, 'Absolvere'!". DEAD PRESS!. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  13. Rogers, Jack. "Signs Of The Swarm Have Released A Destructively Intense New Track - News". Rock Sound Magazine. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  14. Graham Hartmann (August 6, 2021). "Signs of the Swarm Fire Guitarist Cory Smarsh Following Abuse Allegations". Loudwire . Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  15. Kennelty, Greg (August 19, 2021). "BORN OF OSIRIS Announces Tour With SHADOW OF INTENT & SIGNS OF THE SWARM". Metal Injection .
  16. Kennelty, Greg (February 15, 2022). "Chaos & Carnage". Metal Injection .