PRESS

Louder than War Albums of the Year 2016
17. Swans –  The Glowing Man A solid 10/10 from Editor in Chief John Robb for the latest from Swans. An album he says,  “leaves you exhausted and bathed in sweat when you listen to it and emotionally and physically turned inside out.” Read his review here. Read more...
Louder Than War March 2017
Read more...
GREAT ANNIHILATOR 1995 PRESS KIT
Read more...
Traces of the Real TBK review
Millions And Millions of Stars In Your Eyes June 15, 2014 by Hugh There is a song on the new Swans album, To Be Kind, that is directly inspired by Lars Von Trier’s brilliant 2011 film Melancholia. The film tells the story of two sisters, Claire and Justine, and their differing reactions to the impending arrival of a rogue planet, which, as becomes apparent as the film progresses, is in danger of crashing into and destroying the Earth. The first half of the film revolves around a wedding party at a... Read more...
SWANS – THE MABUHAY GARDENS, SAN FRANCISCO [APRIL 12, 1986]
THE SWANS – THE MABUHAY GARDENS, SAN FRANCISCO [APRIL 12, 1986] View photos on original site here This particular show was a revelation, on a number of levels.  The most impressive one was the fact that this band could be so sonically overwhelming, and yet, it was a delight to witness.  I had been introduced to their earlier recordings, thanks to my colleagues, John and Lexy, at the small “mom and pop” record store we worked at, at the time.  While I was in charge of ordering the mainstream releases,... Read more...
Louder Than War Glowing Man Review
SwansThe Glowing Man10/10album review Yet again Swans make another powerful hypnotic album that is as terrifying as it is beautiful as it concerns itself with the powerful intoxicant of love and all the highs and lows that entails says LTW boss and Membranes frontman John Robb So, all good things come to the end. Where Swans go from here no-one can really speculate but there is an end here. A real sense of finality. This is a juddering and enormous full stop to this incredible four album journey that began... Read more...
Get Into This O2 Ritz, Manchester Concert Review
Swans farewell gig at the O2 Ritz in Manchester was a quasi-religious experience and Getintothis’ Rick Leachthinks we won’t see their like again. A Sunday evening. Highway with Harry Seacombe. Songs of Praise on BBC1. This is how it was thirty three years ago. Highway and Harry Seacombe are long gone; Songs of Praise is still hanging on. As are Swans. Just. Thirty three years ago they were on their starting blocks, beginning a sonic journey like no other, beginning with the still incredibly unique Filth album, a visceral assault... Read more...
Heathen Harvest Review
.:.THE SOUND OF FREEDOM.:. Brief Reflections on the Live and Studio Experience of Swans by Conor Fynes ___ The evolution of Swans is one of the most fascinating I’ve ever come across in music. Where other bands may have stagnated or fallen apart decades ago, Swans have veritably established themselves as a go-to flagship in experimental music. As someone who generally frequents those circles, it’s been commonplace to see them talked about with a certain kind of reverence usually reserved for the most godlike of cult artists, as well as... Read more...
Oxford Student Concert Review
Live Review: Swans ByGabriel Naughton Posted on 11th November 2016 If you were to ask the average person to imagine the loudest, heaviest, most punishing band active right now it’s unlikely that they will picture a sextet of middle-aged and elderly men. Yet the New York based Swans have always been an unimaginably odd band. Across their 30+ year history they have indulged in almost every “underground” genre there is. From harsh, dissonant no wave in the early 80’s to epic and expansive post rock in the mid 90’s, the... Read more...
Strathclyde Telegraph Òran Mór Concert Review
Gig review: Swans, Òran Mór, Tuesday 11th October By Georgia Curran Imagine seeing one of the most brutal experimental rock bands in the history of music in a renovated church basement. Swans formed in 1982 and split in 1997, only to reunite thirteen years later. Their post-reunion releases and performances have so far met universal acclaim. At least now policemen don’t turn up to shut down their gigs, and front-man Michael Gira doesn’t beat up audience members for headbanging anymore. The band have mellowed with age; but are they turning... Read more...

NEWS

MORE >>