Swans announced their 17th studio album, Birthing, on February 25, 2025, with a release date of May 30 via Young God Records and Mute. The record follows 2023's The Beggar.

The first taste is I Am a Tower, a track running more than 19 minutes that previews the dense, expansive sound of Michael Gira's group. The material was developed during the band's 2023 and 2024 tour and then rearranged in the studio in Berlin.

Gira said Birthing closes his chapter as producer and impresario for this version of Swans. According to him, the band will do one final tour in this mode at the end of 2025 and then continue in a significantly pared-down form.

The album was recorded at Soundfabrik Berlin, engineered by Ingo Krauss, and mixed at Candy Bomber Studio. The lineup includes Phil Puleo, Kristof Hahn, Dana Schechter, Christopher Pravdica, Larry Mullins and Norman Westberg.