Album Review: Signs of the Swarm – To Rid Myself of Truth (Century Media)

Back with their sixth studio album, Signs of the Swarm continue to shed their slamming deathcore skin with ‘To Rid Myself of Truth’. Out on August 22nd, 2025, via Century Media Records.

Naturally evolving to have a more technical and progressive edge, while being as undeniably intense as ever, Signs of the Swarm hit a career high with this latest album and so much of why that is can be laid at the feet of vocalist David Simonich, who has taken a more personal approach on this record. Wearing his heart on his metaphorical sleeve, which creates a new kind of connection, and adds a freshness to the brutality of the album’s sound.

Be under no false illusions though, while Signs of the Swarm are evolving, they’re sounding heavier, nastier, and more intense than ever.

No further proof needed then the crushing ferocity of the opening title track, a varied slice of noise that has the band going straight for the jugular. It’s hideously savage, absurdly intense, and utterly brilliant, especially as it’s not speed focused. The heaviest breakdown they’ve ever delivered? It’s in with a shout.

It’s the bar setter for heaviness, that much is for sure, but Signs of the Swarm push themselves on this album and with Hellmustfearme, the speed comes out. But do you know what else comes out? A surprising anthemic sound. It’s a wild effort, but damn it, it’s a catchy wild effort. An aspect to the album that really does show how far this band has come and how their development is only going to win them more fans. Especially when their instrumental technicalities rise up on the likes of Natural Selection, Scars Upon Scars showcases vicious heaviness with relatable feeling, and Chariot shows off some serious experimentation. It will be interesting to see how a ‘hardcore’ Signs of the Swarm fan reacts to some of the brief industrial aspects of this one. Personally, I love it, as it gives the band a whole new vibe.

As a whole, Signs of the Swarm bring the noise and just when you thought it couldn’t get any heavier, along comes Clouded Retinas and Iron Sacrament. Two brutal and blistering showcases of deathcore that features two of the scenes most savage sounding guest vocalists, namely Lorna Shore’s Will Ramos and Whitechapel’s Phil Bozeman.

The former, a very personal track for David as it is about his struggle coming to terms with his vision loss and diagnosis of Stargardt disease. He and Will alone would be enough to confirm this as one of the heaviest tracks of the year, but when combined with titanic riffs and machinegun-like drumming, it reaches absurd levels.

Then there is the latter, an abrasive, but passionate beast that has bounce, albeit from the wrecking bodies side of things. Both are unforgettably brilliant.

Still pushing their own personal boundaries, the album takes a dramatic turn with Forcing to Forget as it takes a more modern approach to melody, has a retro nu-twist, touches of cinema, and unusual effects. Sure to be the most polarising of tracks, whereas Sarkazein’s melodic tones are shaped around the savagery and feel more natural.

Do you know what isn’t polarising though? Anthemic brutality that has nuance and features 156/Silence’s Jack Murray and Prison’s Johnny Crowder. That’s the penultimate track Fear & Judgement for you, and it slays. As does the finale of Creator, which has Signs of the Swarm closing out the record in intense style. A deathcore anthem that will wreck souls, go down so well live, and confirms this as the best album the band has released to date. This is Signs of the Swarm, and they are on freaking fire right now.

Signs of the Swarm – To Rid Myself of Truth Track Listing:

1. To Rid Myself of Truth
2. Hellmustfearme
3. Natural Selection
4. Scars Upon Scars
5. Chariot
6. Clouded Retinas (Ft. Will Ramos)
7. Iron Sacrament (Ft. Phil Bozeman)
8. Forcing to Forget
9. Sarkazein
10. Fear & Judgement (Ft. Jack Murray & Johnny Crowder)
11. Creator

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