Swans has just released the chilling new single, “When Will I Return?.” The track is off their upcoming album, The Glowing Man, to be released June 17.
“When Will I Return?” is an absolutely haunting song that one feels to the core. The lyrics are extremely personal, and laced with dark lines such as, “I still kill him in my sleep.” In the beginning, these words are accompanied by nothing more than soft strumming and drums. However, the tempo picks up halfway through the song with a surge of intensity. In addition, each word is said in an almost-whisper, which leads one to speculate about the emotions behind the song. While this is open to interpretation, the track seems to be comprised of a mix of anger, fear, strength and resilience. All of these emotions come together to form a beautiful song that many can appreciate and relate to.
“I wrote the song ‘When Will I Return?’ specifically for [my wife] Jennifer Gira to sing,” frontman Michael Gira said in statement. “It’s a tribute to her strength, courage, and resilience in the face of a deeply scarring experience she once endured, and that she continues to overcome daily.” This statement explains the power behind the song and situation. Jennifer has admitted in the past that she is a victim of sexual abuse, and highly sympathizes with other victims.
Of course, other issues must come to light. Earlier this year, musician Larkin Grimm accused Michael Gira of sexual harassment. However, the initial Facebook post from Grimm has been deleted, and both he and his wife Jennifer have vehemently denied the claims. At this point, the group is focusing on their music, with Gira having just finished a European tour and the release of The Glowing Man less than a month away. It is no doubt that “When Will I Return?” is an incredibly powerful song, and the rest of the album will surely be no different.
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