The Swarm are: Callum Thompson…vocals Ryan Delgaudio…guitar Mike Cross…bass Dan Montague…drums Olly Toogood…electronics/guitar After ditching their singer in 2003, Terrashima (which featured Ryan, Mike and Dan) carried on as a three piece for another year until they realised that to move in the direction they wanted to go, a fresh start was needed and the line up had to be expanded. The first new addition to the line up was electronics, which further enforce the atmospheric, experimental nature of the new sound; it’s a mix of samples, and various layers of synths and feedback, all fed through various guitar effects units. The natural choice for this role was Olly Toogood, a good friend of the band, who recorded Terrashima’s ‘Dirty Lie’ single back in 2001. After testing out different variations on the line up including the guitarist and drummer taking up vocal duties it was decided that a front man was needed; which came in the form of Callum Thompson, a regular at the last few Terrashima gigs and new acquaintance. He willingly put himself forward for the role, having no previous experience, adding that if he was shit they could tell him to fuck off! Fortunately, he was exactly what the band wanted, and had a much better vocal range than the previous vocalists. With the line up complete, they first changed the name to The Swarm, and then set about writing and rehearsing new material for the following 3 / 4 months. The sound created is a fierce and passionately dark arrangement, that leaps from visceral sonic intensity to a stripped down, brooding massacre. For the first gig the band enlisted another acquaintance; Scott to do visuals, which went so well, it became a permanent feature. It includes two old 16mm cinema projectors, strobes and other lighting. The two screens simultaneously show chopped up images, partly taken from underground films, public information videos, executions, and footage captured both by Scott and the band. Firstly The Swarm recorded a two track demo with Olly at the helm, which was a very lo-fi but punishing production. With new songs written, a newer demo was required. The band laid down three tracks with Jay Dean and Olly at Dub:rek Studios in Derby in January 2005, which is where the band rehearses, and also where Olly works. The Swarm will be returning to Dub:rek in June 2005, to begin recording an EP which will be released on Fight Me Records later in the year. Contact the band at intotheswarm@hotmail.com