Swarm of the Lotus - When White Becomes Black

If any band didn't deserve its fate, it was Swarm of the Lotus. This Baltimore band recently called it quits after eight years of bad luck. Frequent lineup changes, touring problems, and shady promoters dogged the band, who left the world two full-lengths and a 7" picture disc.

Swarm of the Lotus was like a Southern, sludgier version of Converge. The band's swan song, The Sirens of Silence, was great, with awesome artwork by Kristin Fialko and some of Kurt Ballou's best production to date. However, I'm partial to their first album, When White Becomes Black (on At a Loss) for its raw power. The band could let loose Converge-style swinging dissonance like no one's business. But they were at their best when they lay back and grooved. When SotL slowed down, put space between notes, and let their amps throb, they were crushing.

These clips illustrate this. "Committed to Ash" turns a simple minor chord progression into a mourners' chorus of gnawing bends and leading tones. If a funeral had a moshpit, this would be the soundtrack. "From Embers" is a master class in tension and release. Halfway through, the guitars fall back to jangly figures, with organic drum grooves underneath. Whispered vocals underscore the feeling that the song has exhaled. But distortion creeps back in, the layers building and building until release finally comes after five minutes. Try not to break your neck to that groove.

Swarm of the Lotus - Committed to Ash
Swarm of the Lotus - From Embers

This band had heart, and it touched mine (you can read an interview I did with the band here). I'm sad to see them go. This scorched-earth masterpiece is available

@ Stick Figure
@ Very