BIRTHING

This is a good Swans album. Well, I don't think Swans has made a truly great album since The Seer in 2012. That said, The Healers isn't a great album either. Swans has a vast discography that spans from excellent to mediocre, but they've usually managed to maintain a consistently high musical standard. Released in 2025, The Healers is the 17th studio album from this avant-garde band from New York.

In recent years, Swans has evolved into a more experimental ambient project, leaving behind the grand scale and intensity that once defined their sound something I personally don't appreciate as much. Their music now draws comparisons to Dead Can Dance, which isn't necessarily a bad direction, but it feels as though some of their former unpredictability and raw energy have been subdued. The last few albums tend to explore similar sonic territory, circling a meditative atmosphere that, while deliberate, can feel creatively static. Of course, Swans is still an avant-garde, experimental post-rock/punk band at heart, and this could be seen as part of an ongoing artistic search.

Looking back at their recent releases To Be Kind (2014), The Glowing Man (2016), Leaving Meaning (2019), and The Beggar (2023). Birthing may be the most immersive and focused of them all. It leans fully into ambient textures, with hypnotic melodies and rich sonic layers that pull the listener into new emotional territory for the band. It doesn't carry the same explosive force as their earlier work, but it opens a quieter, more introspective chapter that feels genuine.

Birthing is a good album. It's not what Swans has accustomed us to, but it's a rewarding and engaging listen. For those willing to embrace the band's ambient evolution, it has plenty to offer.

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