Destructo Swarmbots was born from the imagination of Mike Mare, who remains the stalwart captain of the vessel that endlessly explores the furthermost reaches of experimental music. Born and raised in New York City, Mare started Swarmbots in 2001. Influenced by the sound of the city, and generally not intrigued by what was happening in music, the first Swarmbots sounds were ear-blistering instrumental manifestos hoping to decapitate whatever they came in contact with.
Never wanting to impose conventions on his music, Mare has allowed Swarmbots to grow at it's own pace and on it's own terms. This has led to unique opportunities, including the inclusion of member Joshua Booth. As a former member of All Natural Lemon Lime Flavors, classical composer and music professor at Rutgers University, Booth is a core part of the group's sound. The duo of Mare and Booth, working together as Swarmbots, also joined the group Dälek, touring the world pulling double-duty shifts in both groups.
Currently, Mare and Booth both compose music for Swarmbots while Mare tours independently. The recorded material as well as the live performances continue to change and progress, with added tortured rhythmic elements actually making showgoers dance (where they use to just stare in hypnotic fear).
It's hard to find a review of a Destructo Swarmbots album that doesn't include the adjective "cinematic" in relation to the sound. Naturally, soundscapes and film scores have been a natural progression for Mare, who has recently completed music for the films Lay Me Down by Shinako Sudo, which is currently traveling the festival circuit and Cipher by Neil Kendricks (The Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, CA).
Besides television, commercial and film work, Mare has been working on collaborations and remixes. 2009 saw the release of MGR y Destructo Swarmbots (Neurot Recordings), a collaboration between Mare and Mike Gallagher of ISIS fame. Destructo Swarmbots remixes include: ISIS, Genghis Tron, Darsombra, Goes Cube, Thrushes, and Action Beat, among others.
Live performances continue to a place of exploration and experimentation for Mare. While he performs independently as Destructo Swarmbots, he also uses the opportunity to collaborate with many others, including Oddateee, Action Beat, Darsombra, Guilty Connector and Griots & Gods(the collaboration of The Young Gods and Dälek).
It's unclear what opportunities will come next for Destructo Swarmbots, scoring films, performing with an orchestra, making people dance to drone/pop Whatever happens, the music will continue to live a life of it's own.
“Spaced-out psychedelic ambient noise, a droning, drifting soundscape for journeys through the far, frozen reaches of outer space, or perhaps a journey to the center of your mind; either way, this is truly excellent music for zoning out. The man's droning psych pimp hand is strong.!” -Dead Angel
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"With a name like that, Queens, NY drone wielder Mike Mare’s brainchild would be better off laser gunning Daleks in 'Doctor Who'. New outing 'Clear Light' is quite a chilly affair. On the monumental 40-minute opener ‘Banta’, Mare’s concoction from his arsenal of prepared instruments and textural archives twist and chirp before the intense ‘drifting vessel’ drone in the background takes a life of its own and navigates dead subterranean passages before settling in the tundra stillness of detached Arctic permafrost.
Next, ‘Phases’ delivers a warmer tone amidst the background machinery samples and a persistent, stringent guitar scrape that Khanate/Phantomsmasher/Khlyst sonic agitator James Plotkin, here on mastering duties, would deliver a nod to. But the serrated edginess is still there on ‘Fireberry’, a lingering perception that a great mental distance has been travelled here. Another handiwork, somewhere between Fear Falls Burning and Birchville Cat Motel, that should claim its slot in your ambient drone collection." - Terrorizer
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“Clear Light is a realised and strong piece of sonic composition, which constantly breathes torment yet somehow manages to evoke elation through the use of softer melodic hums. Forming itself around you like a cocoon of noise it’ll absorb your attention if you give it the time, place and patience.” -Rock-a-Rolla
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“.a dark field of screaming acid-guitar leads peeled off over an oozing drone pulse and sheets of shimmering starlit keyboard. a monstrous gleaming driftscape of slowly blossoming washes of heavy distorted feedback and fuzzy amplifier buzz coursing out across the heavens while mournful minor key synths and strains of wah-pedal whoosh streak through the layers of buzz and drone, ending in a flurry of melted melodies. some of his most isolationist droneworks yet.” -Crucialblast.net
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"Destructo Swarmbots' brilliant, dark noise follows the lead of composures like Cabaret Voltaire in creating sinister soundscapes that are powerful enough to evoke images of insects tunneling through dirt, of the bodies decaying beneath them and the untold stories of the world's darkest corners. Essential for lovers of the new noise."--Punk Planet ***************************************************************************
"There's something truly unique about Destructo Swarmbots' experimentation. Somewhere between the creaking ambiance of Larsen and the incessantly clipping Xela, Destructo Swarmbots will ruin your life." -XLR8R
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