An alluring mix of uncertainty and confrontation.
Birthing by Swans is a labyrinth of spiritual and emotional depths, carrying the listener through climactic heights and unsettling moments of uncertainty. Swans place the listener at the heart of the experience, as if summoned to witness a performance that borders on the ritualistic.
Michael Gira formed the band Swans in ’81 and reformed it in 2010. Since then, they have released four full-length albums and resumed touring in ’19. While the band’s style and lineup have evolved over the years, Swans’ sound has remained true to its core – defined by a beautifully haunting aesthetic. Gira once described the meaning behind the band’s name: “Swans are majestic, beautiful-looking creatures. With really ugly temperaments.” This perfectly reflects Gira’s style of blending elegance and intensity, capturing the dual nature that defines the band’s sound.
The album opens with “Healers,” a 22-minute track that begins in eerie stillness, laced with mystery and a sense that something lies beyond. It unfolds slowly with chant-like incantations, holding a cryptic message that eventually builds into a passionate momentum, pushing the listener forward into the next chapter of the journey. By the end of “Healers,” you’re no longer just listening – you’ve become part of a spiritual passage that has only just begun.
Throughout the album, Swans maintains a sense of unpredictability and surprise. One moment evokes the feeling of stumbling upon a secretive ritual; the next, something more reminiscent of traditional rock music. This genre-blending, with its shifting textures and tones, creates a lingering mystery, leaving the listener uncertain of how to feel.
The album reaches a turning point during the title track, “Birthing.” After a voice pleads the question “Does it end? Will it end?” on repeat, listeners are suddenly instructed to “Pay attention.” In this pivotal moment, Swans introduce what seems to be a foreign language – yet if listened to closely, it reveals itself as the previous lyrics played in reverse. From that point forward, chaos erupts across the album’s second half, marked by references to childhood, interwoven with dire and apocalyptic confrontation.
Birthing is not media that can be consumed passively. It is not merely to be listened to but fully experienced – inviting listeners to make the decision to follow Swans into their world and once inside, to embrace and explore it completely.
Swans released Birthing on May 30th, 2025 and have announced a tour that will begin later this year in North America.
Leave a Comment