Birthing (album)

Last updated

Birthing
Swans - Birthing.png
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 30, 2025 (2025-05-30)
Recorded2023–2024
Length115:35
Label
Producer Michael Gira
Swans chronology
Live Rope
(2024)
Birthing
(2025)
Singles from Birthing
  1. "I Am a Tower"
    Released: February 25, 2025

Birthing is the seventeenth studio album by the American experimental rock band Swans. It was released on May 30, 2025, through Mute and Young God Records. Frontman Michael Gira stated that the album was the last to focus on "all-consuming sound worlds", with future albums taking on a "significantly pared down form". [1] The first single from Birthing, "I Am a Tower", was released on February 25, 2025.

Contents

Background

Michael Gira, the frontman for Swans, stated that the material within Birthing was developed and recorded across a yearlong tour. [2] The songs were then further orchestrated and rearranged in the studio. [3] Gira also stated that it would be the last "big sound" Swans album, with future releases from the band being "significantly pared down" and that it would mark his last album as the main producer of Swans. [4] One last tour with the band's old sound is planned to take place near the end of 2025. [5]

Release

The first single from Birthing, "I Am a Tower" was released on February 25, 2025. [6] Commenting for Beats Per Minute's "BPM Curates: February 2025", John Amen wrote, "the track is a study in opposites and functions as a sonic diptych ... [Gira's] voice and the driving music conjuring a sublime blend of humility and braggadocio, embodiment and transcendence, megalomania and self-erasure". [7] Birthing was released on May 30, 2025, on 2xCD and 3xLP through Mute and Young God Records. [1] Initial pressings of the album came with a concert film of the band, (Rope) The Beggar, as well as a documentary focused on Gira's 2022 solo tour, I Wonder If I'm Singing What You're Thinking Me To Sing. [1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?8.2/10 [8]
Metacritic 87/100 [9]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Beats Per Minute 85% [11]
God Is in the TV 8/10 [12]
Louder Than War Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [13]
MusicOMH Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [14]
PopMatters 8/10 [15]
Slant Magazine Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [16]
Sputnikmusic 4.2/5 [17]
Uncut 8/10 [18]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic , Birthing received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 87 out of 100 from 8 critic scores. [9]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Michael Gira; all music is composed by Gira, Larry Mullins, Phil Puleo, Christopher Pravdica, Dana Schechter, Kristof Hahn, except where noted. [19]

No.TitleMusicLength
1."The Healers" 21:41
2."I Am a Tower" 19:17
3."Birthing" 22:20
4."Red Yellow"Gira6:51
5."Guardian Spirit"Gira10:57
6."The Merge"Gira15:19
7."(Rope) Away" 19:10
Total length:115:35

Physical versions of the album split "(Rope) Away" into two separate tracks: "Rope" (14:50) and "Away" (4:20).

Personnel

Credits adapted from Birthing liner notes. [20]

Swans

Guest musicians

Engineers

Charts

Chart performance for Birthing
Chart (2025)Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [21] 140
Croatian International Albums (HDU) [22] 10
French Rock & Metal Albums (SNEP) [23] 26
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [24] 25
Scottish Albums (OCC) [25] 12
UK Albums Sales (OCC) [26] 12
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [27] 5
UK Progressive Albums (OCC) [28] 10

References

  1. 1 2 3 Skinner, Tom (February 26, 2025). "Swans announce new album Birthing with sprawling 19-minute single 'I Am A Tower'". NME . Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  2. "Swans Announce 17th Studio Album Birthing". Blabbermouth. February 25, 2025. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  3. Ragusa, Paolo (February 25, 2025). "Swans announce new album Birthing, share sprawling new song "I Am a Tower"". Consequence . Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  4. Huot, Charlotte (February 25, 2025). "Swans Shares New Single "I Am a Tower" and Announces 17th Album Birthing For May 2025 Release". MXDWN. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  5. "Swans drop 17th studio album Birthing via Mute / Young God". Side Line. February 25, 2025. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  6. "Swans announce new album Birthing and share single "I Am a Tower"". LambGoat. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  7. Hakimian, Rob; Forstneger, Steve; Pickard, Joshua; Kohner, Kyle; Wohlmacher, John; McClain, Larry; Amen, John; McMullen, Chase; Thomas, Carlo (March 3, 2025). "BPM Curates: February 2025". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  8. "Birthing by Swans reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  9. 1 2 "Birthing by Swans Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic . Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  10. Simpson, Paul. "Swans – Birthing Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic . Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  11. Amen, John (June 3, 2025). "Album Review: Swans – Birthing". Beats Per Minute . Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  12. Fordham, Humphrey (June 4, 2025). "Swans – Birthing (Mute) - God Is In The TV". God Is in the TV . Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  13. Millard, Sean. "Swans: Birthing – Review – ALBUM OF THE WEEK!". Louder Than War . Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  14. Horton, Ross (June 5, 2025). "Swans - Birthing | Album Of The Week, Album Reviews". musicOMH. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  15. McEver, Matthew (June 11, 2025). "Swans' 'Birthing' Wants and Demands Transformation". PopMatters . Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  16. Attard, Paul. "Swans 'Birthing' Review: A Ritualistic Endurance Test That Demands Your Attention". Slant . Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  17. "Review: Swans – Birthing". Sputnikmusic . Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  18. "Uncut UK July 2025". Uncut : 36. July 2025.
  19. "Birthing YOUNG GOD RECORDS". Young God Records. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  20. Gira, Michael (2025). Birthing (Vinyl liner notes). Young God Records. p. 1. YG68.
  21. "Ultratop.be – Swans – Birthing" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  22. "Lista prodaje (strano) 25. tjedan 2025. (16.06.2025. – 22.06.2025.)". Top lista (in Croatian). June 30, 2025. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  23. "Top 100 Rock & Metal Albums du semaine 23, 2025" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique . Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  24. "Offiziellecharts.de – Swans – Birthing" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
  25. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  26. "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company . Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  27. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  28. "Official Progressive Albums Chart Top 30". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 16, 2025.