Torture Killer is a rather ambiguous band either way you may see it. On the one hand we have the continuing or even a possible opponent of Six Feet Under and on the other, we see a lot of fuss going on about the cover, the lyrics and the extreme image and musically nothing is actually new to our ears.
Torture Killer belongs to the category of bands that started out purely for fun and ended up into something serious, having realized the potentials and the immediate following of a sustainable part of the Death Metal fans. Although it is a quite recent band, existing since 2002, it has triggered a variety of comments within the Metal society and has drawn attention, especially of the Finnish Death Metal scene. If you ask me, Torture Killer would have never made such an impact if they had lacked the involvement of Chris Barnes. The only thing sure is that the band doesn't seem to succeed in its goal, as far as the sound is concerned. A mid-tempo Death Metal creation from the beginning to the end, but still with nothing excitingly new to contribute.
Swarm! is the second album of Torture Killer. Their debut album For Maggots To Devour was released in 2003 through Karmageddon Media and it was the one, along with a split release with the Finnish Death Metal band Sotajumala, that grasped the interest of Chris Barnes, former Cannibal Corpse frontman and leader of Six Feet Under. After Barnes joined TK and the deal they got with Metal Blade Records, Swarm! was released with him being greatly involved in the songwriting part.
Swarm! can be described as a simplistic, old school oriented Death Metal album. Raw and violent but rarely exciting. It revolves around excellent lead playing, Thrash-infected riffs and lyrics that would bring tears to Hannibal Lecter's eyes. No questions would have risen if Swarm came out as a Six Feet Under album. Tracks like Heading Towards The Butchery, Multiple Counts Of Murder, I Killed You and Forever Dead are certainly not to die for, but still they can make you visualize the schizophrenic assassin getting ready for the next victim.
Generally, even by thinking that the actual name of the band came from a Six Feet Under song, it additionally surcharges Torture Killer for following SFU's steps. Although there is a very good production and some catchy / groovy ideas, there is little left to our imagination and it's pretty obvious the way each track progresses.
Entertaining result, pleasantly listenable sound, a very good work for Chris Barnes' standards and a necessity for all Finnish Death Metal fans.