Swarm of Eyes’ Bassist & Guitarist Are Super-Powered. Thanks For Asking!
It’s been a busy couple months for the Swarm of Eyes guys. In addition to playing several killer gigs, the guys have been hard at work on new material, side projects, and developing super powers.
You heard that right: Super. Freakin’. Powers.
We’re not sure how it happened, but sometime in between slaying audiences at the Spotlight Tavern and brutalizing the Brighton Music Hall in Alston, Derrik and Jeff developed super powers.
And with great power, comes great responsibility.
Move over, Superman! One side, cheeseball Cyclops! Derrik’s got laser vision now! Look out world!
Jeff recently manifested telekinetic powers and the ability to lift small-to-medium objects. Economizing time by eating and performing on stage is now on the menu.
Speculation as to how our stoic guitarist and martial arts-master bassist acquired said powers still swirls. We think it may have happened after they got too close to another band’s amp that was glowing green and then stepped in the Taco Belch burrito residue that Nervous Stomach Randy power-vomited up in the parking lot before the show. (Side note: Holy run-on sentence, Batman!)
The origins of these powers remain uncertain, but ultimately, Derrik emerged with laser vision and Jeff can now levitate small-to-medium-sized objects. (Unfortunately, this will not come in handy when it comes to loading and unloading Swarm of Eyes’ stage gear. Bummer, man.)
Although their superpowers have only served to enhance their charismatic stage presence and devastating, superhero-esque handsomeness, Derrik and Jeff remain humble as ever, choosing to use their powers for good. Or at least Neutral Good, in the parlance of Dungeons & Dragons terminology. Derrik has expanded his roster of hobbies to include a burgeoning interest in home welding projects, while Jeff has taken to upping his iron intake by telekinetically lifting delicious meatball subs into his mouth without need of a paper plate.
These new super powers stand to add an entirely new dimension to the Eyes guys’ live shows. Check out our gig sidebar to see where Swarm of Eyes is playing next to see the guys live and in-action!
Swarm of Eyes Slays Capacity Crowds with Overcast and The Empire Shall Fall
Photo courtesy of Hillarie Jason
Swarm of Eyes is livin’ the dream in 2015! Sharing the bill on two of four shows that saw metal legends Overcast make their triumphant return to the Boston area for the first time in nearly 20 years, Swarm of Eyes trotted out a list of (not so) old favorites and new material to a rabidly receptive crowd.
Swarm of Eyes were honored to share the stage with American metal pioneers Overcast and progressive metal maestros The Empire Shall Fall.
On Friday night, January 30th, 2015, Swarm of Eyes played to a near-capacity crowd at the massive Ruins at the Colosseum in Providence, Rhode Island. The following night, those darlings of doom metal took the stage at the landmark Ralph’s Rock Diner in Worcester, Massachusetts in front of a sold-out crowd.
On both nights, the handsome lads of Swarm of Eyes’ played a face-melting eight-song set jam-packed with material from their debut, Designing the Dystopia, including fan-favorites “Ruins of My Last Salvation,” “Endless Ashes,” and “Warzone.” In addition to old favorites, the band dusted off its blistering cover of The Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop” and pulled off the Herculean feat of getting both the Providence and Worcester crowds to sing along with their version of the Billy Idol classic, “Rebel Yell.”
The Providence show featured the live debut of Swarm of Eyes’ new song, “Tell Your God to Ready For Blood.” The new track was driven forward by a dirge-like bass groove, thunderous drums and heavy riffing that borrowed a vaguely Middle Eastern flavor. The band brought the new song and their particular brand of murky macabre merriment to Worcester, giving the loveable Massholes of Worcester a taste of Swarm-y things to come.
In a show filled with memorable metal moments, the Swarm of Eyes guys had a chance to enjoy the view from the crowd, bearing witness to Jesse Leach (of Killswitch Engage) taking a break from his role as frontman of The Empire Shall Fall and singing along with the sold-out Worcester crowd and joining in an epic mosh pit during Overcast’s set.
If you didn’t see it live, you missed a hell of a show. Keep an eye out for when The Empire Shall Fall and Overcast hit a venue near you. And stay tuned for the next batch of Swarm of Eyes shows, hitting a club near you. In the meantime, check out live footage of the band in-action at Ralph’s Rock Diner from January 31st:
A Holiday Letter From Swarm of Eyes
In the spirit of the season — and those awful family newsletters of yore that people you only heard from once a year sent to humblebrag to everyone in their Rolodex — Swarm of Eyes would like to share a year-end wrap up with our fans, family, and friends. Gather ’round the Yule log and allow us to regale you with tales of our triumphs from the year that has passed. Sit back, grab some eggnog, and enjoy our gift to you. (Hey, it beats the Belly Button Lint of the Month Club!)
Dear Swarmies,
Ah, yes! There is a touch of magic in the air and all the mice are in baggies! (I have no idea what that means, but it’s something dear old Great Uncle Cyril used to say after he got into the holiday bottle of Rock n’ Rye.) While rodents may or may not be nestled all snug in their plastic Ziplock enclosures, there truly is a glimmer of metal magic in the air and 2013 was full of many memorable moments for Swarm of Eyes.
For starters, Swarm of Eyes played lots and lots of live gigs. (Shame on you if you weren’t able to make it out to one!) The band even managed to traipse along part of the East coast on a jaunty little mini-tour. (Let us know in the comments where you live and if you’d like Swarm of Eyes to come visit you … like Krampus times five!)
Swarm of Eyes had the privilege of sharing the stage with some of the best dag-nabbit bands on the scene today, including Acaro and Death Ray Vision, to name just a few. One of the gigs the band was most proud to play was a benefit show alongside a reunited Austen’s Dead in which all proceeds went to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. (more…)