Localized: SWARMER

With heavy doom from SWARMER and blackened thrash from Alghoul, plus a healthy dose of metalcore from opener Distant Lands, the October edition of SLUG Localized is not for the faint of heart. Monday, October 20 at Urban Lounge will be a chaotic night of growls and riffs starting at 8 p.m. Sponsored by Riso-Geist and Helper Beer, the show costs just $5 for entry. Get your tickets here!

Metal splits into an interlaced catacomb of independent underground subgenres that even the most dedicated metalheads have difficulty navigating. Some metal bands knit melodic lamentations between a chorus of wailing guitars, while others pack relentless pressure, high punch volumes and an aggressive flurry of hooks. Developing their sound with weaving time signatures and technical grooves, SWARMER took the stage in 2018 with a mean southpaw.

Throughout the years, SWARMER starred in several Crucialfests and played with local bands like Eagle Twin and Baby Gurl. Lead guitarist and vocalist Peter Makowski says, “We look forward to Crucialfest all year because it allows bands to play with other metal bands that they otherwise wouldn’t get to. It’s really important to the metal scene in Utah.”

“Jarom [Bischoff] and Tiffany [Bischoff] do such an amazing job running Crucialfest,” adds Chris Clement, vocalist and rhythm guitarist.

SWARMER also performed with other local bands such as Last and Gracemaker at Kilby Court. “I like playing with bands that are a different kind of heavy. I like genre-mixed shows,” says bassist and backup vocalist Jason Weidauer.

“We look forward to Crucialfest all year because it allows bands to play with other metal bands that they otherwise wouldn’t get to. It’s really important to the metal scene in Utah.”

Writing music through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, SWARMER released their latest album in 2021 and aims to release their next album in the winter of 2025. “When writing music, I try to draw on experiences. I went to Egypt with my family and was enamored with it,” Makowski says. “I wanted to write an Egypt-themed song. There’s this concept where all the statues will have their left foot in front of the right foot because that aligns with your heart, the center of yourself, with where you’re moving forward — your left foot being forward creates that alignment. The concept is to lead with your heart in life and in everything that you do, which is what I try to do in music.”

“Lyrics have been split between Peter and me,” Clement says. “I come from a different place than Peter does, so we’re telling multiple stories. Peter expresses experiences, while I focus on healing and what I think other people might be able to relate to. Like with our song ‘Stardust,’ we’re not as different from each other as we’re told we are. We’re all star stuff.”

“They are good painters,” adds drummer Andrew Drechsel. “Peter will paint something cool on Chris’s riff and Chris will paint something cool on Peter’s riff and make something new.”

Intertwining stylistic guitar riffs is one of many SWARMER’s not-so-hidden talents, with each member having a background in various musical practices and endeavors — ranging from touring to producing. “It’s like figuring out where your Venn diagram meets,” Clement says. “It’s made me a better guitarist playing with someone [with] Peter’s style.”

“If you want to be interesting, be interested. If you’re ingesting a lot of great art, then you are going to create great art.”

“It’s fun to watch, too, because they bounce ideas off of each other and there’s an excitement there,” Weidauer says. “And yeah, we’re all older and have careers and families, but we still get the chills when we discover something that sounds good.”

As experienced as the members of SWARMER are, with each musician dedicating time to several passions, pursuits and personal lives, their excitement and ambition remain ageless through the art of collaboration and consistency. “If you want to be interesting, be interested. If you’re ingesting a lot of great art, then you are going to create great art. Be your biggest fan — the audience comes second,” Drechsel says. Clement adds, “You need to have the dynamic outside of the music, too — find the right people.”

“Be patient with yourself and with one another. You’ll end up with something great if you allow yourself enough time to develop,” Weidauer says. “And grow a mustache like Andrew’s.”

Follow SWARMER on Instagram for the latest updates on shows and new releases at @swarmermusic.

Read more SLUG Localized features here:
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Localized: Jazzy Olivo