The Glowing Man
Swans
(Young God/Mute)
Four stars
It’s hard to say that Swans have mellowed, exactly, in the 30-plus years since they formed in New York, because the grizzled veterans still make sprawling explorations into the unknown that think nothing of topping 25 minutes a track.
But this final album from their current line-up is certainly a long way from the early shows during which the band locked venue doors to stop audiences escaping the punishing noise terrorism unfolding on stage.
The Glowing Man continues Swans' latter-day take on almost-symphonic spaghetti westerns from hell, centred around the dark intonations of frontman Michael Gira. It all hinges on three leviathan tracks – although two others also exceed 10 minutes – the first of which, Cloud of Unknowing, sets a tone of drones, dramatic crescendos and bleak lyricism denouncing unseen foes that seem to represent the depths of humanity.
The title track, meanwhile, verges on ambient until eventually rolling into an almost-shamanic epic. Outwardly, then, Swans might appear ever-so-slightly more palatable these days, but have maintained coal-black hearts right up to their final uncompromising notes, across almost two hours of compelling sonic theatre.
aworkman@thenational.ae
