Few outfits have been as abrasive, heavy or loud as Swans. Led by the intense, fearless Michael Gira, the group debuted in the early-‘80s, making uncompromisingly ugly, confrontational noise rock. Slowly, the New Yorkers started to bring beauty and melody into the mix, with the influence of vocalist Jarboe and an ever-changing pool of collaborators. By the '90s, they were recording miniature symphonies that mixed ambient noise with stark folk. After an extended hiatus, Gira reconvened the band in 2010, exploring a denser, more repetitive, hypnotising sound to wild acclaim.