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". The first single from Birthing, "I Am a Tower", was released on February 25, 2025.
Background Michael Gira, the frontman for Swans, stated that the material within Birthing was developed and recorded across a yearlong tour. The songs were then further orchestrated and rearranged in the studio. 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. A tour for the album ended on November 28 in Berlin. A live album, Newly Sentient Being, will be released documenting the tour.
Release The first single from Birthing, "I Am a Tower" was released on February 25, 2025. Commenting for Beats Per Minutes "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". Birthing was released on May 30, 2025, on 2xCD and 3xLP through Mute and Young God Records. 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.
Critical reception
Track listing
Physical versions of the album list "(Rope) Away" as two separate tracks: "Rope" and "Away" with the same lengths listed above.
Personnel Credits adapted from Birthing liner notes.Swans Michael Gira – vocals, acoustic guitar, producer, art direction, design Phil Puleo – drums, hammered dulcimer, flute, melodica, percussion, layout Kristof Hahn – lap steel guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, loops, backing vocals Dana Schechter – lap steel guitar, bass guitar, loops Christopher Pravdica – bass guitar, Taishōgoto, loops, sound effects, keyboards Larry Mullins – Mellotron, keyboards, piano, synthesizer, drums, vibraphone, percussion, backing vocals Norman Westberg – electric guitar, loopsGuest musicians Jennifer Gira – guest, backing vocals Laura Carbone – guest, backing vocals Lucy Kruger – guest, backing vocals Andreas Dormann – guest, soprano saxophone Little Mikey – guest, backing vocals Timothy Wyskida – drums on "The Merge"Engineers' Doug Henderson – mastering Ingo Krauss – recording, mixing Kiron Gaudi – engineering assistance
Charts + Chart performance for Birthing Chart (2025) Peakposition Croatian International Albums (HDU) 10 French Rock & Metal Albums (SNEP) 26 UK Albums Sales (OCC) 12
References