Interview: Swarm Effect take us track by track through album “Cotard’s Syndrome”!

“Cotard’s Syndrome” is an invitation into a world where darkness and chaos not only frighten but also provoke deep thought about the meaning of life and the reality surrounding us. A debut album and a concept release from multi national Death Metal band Swarm Effect, it is the work of musicians separated by great distances. Originally founded in 2016 in Kropyvnytskyi Ukraine, where guitarist Denys Burlaka played with Killscream, things ground to a halt when vocalist Illia Shapovalov relocated to Portugal. However in 2023 they decided to re-activate the project, bringing in Polish session drummer Krzysztof Klingbein (Belphegor, Vader, Batushka) to provide the necessary evil.

The band break down the album track by track:

1. Personal Hell: “From the very first track, listeners are plunged into the endless internal hell that resides within each of us. The struggle against one’s demons becomes a relentless war with no winners—only losses”
2. Lilith: “This track continues exploring the destructive aspects of human nature, immersing the listener in a treacherous world of addictions that consume individuals, transforming them into mere shadows of their former selves”
3. Outcome: “The third track echoes a prophecy of humanity’s end. However, instead of despair, we hear a call to live life fully, without regrets. It serves as a reminder that even in the face of inevitable demise, there is still room for life and self-expression”
4. Chosen Ones / Ocean of Lies: “Tracks four and six delve into the essence of power that grips us in its claws, turning people into slaves. They convey the grand lie that permeates society, leaving us as empty shells devoid of our own thoughts and will”
5. Journey on Down: “This song is a journey through a surreal and haunting landscape of nightmares. It encapsulates the concept of a parallel world that one can enter during sleep—a realm where fears and dreams intertwine, creating vivid and sometimes disturbing experiences”
6. Echoes of Eternity: “The album closes with a track dedicated to memories of long-gone times. It evokes nostalgia for something that can never return, yet it still holds the warmth of a dream that may one day come true”

“Cotard’s Syndrome” by Swarm Effect is out now and available over at bandcamp