There are few bands or let’s just say no bands that can reach the brutal sonic power of the Swans from this era (one other band called Slo Deluxe a few of you might have heard of!). Music stripped down to it’s essence and sent forth in thunderous slow repetitive blasts that build and build but never really climax, but just twist around pummeling you in their extremity. Keep in mind this was around the time punk was dying entirely and speed metal was gaining popularity. This video does a decent job of capturing it, but there really is nothing that could compare with the live experience of The Swans. It’s interesting to note that recording is still perhaps in it’s infancy, if you think about it…you can’t really recreate a live experience. I never cared much for the later directions they went in, but I have included a documentary link below, in which Michael Gira explains his reasoning for a departure from the sonic overload. I understand his reasoning…I guess the end result just never interested me as much as the earlier stuff, which at the time was completely unique.

Swans- Documentary

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