Swans release a remastered reissue of their ninth studio album, The Great Annihilator, on Mute / Young God Records. The Great Annihilator, originally released in 1995 and described at the time as “…a majestic symphony of haunting melodies and shifting moods” [SF Bay Guardian], is released on double vinyl and as a 2CD set. Both the vinyl (in the form of a download code) and CD feature Drainland, Michael Gira’s debut solo album recorded at the same time as The Great Annihilator. The album was entirely remastered by Doug Henderson, but only after Bill Rieflin (“honorary Swan“ a revelation of great sonic effect”. Talking about the recording, Gira said “I lived in a tent in a mosquito infested studio right next to Cabrini Green in Chicago for what (?) something like 3 months, rarely leaving. Band members and Jarboe and Bill Rieflin etc came and went, and somehow we crafted this thing into what it became.” The Great Annihilator line up features: Michael Gira, Jarboe, Bill Rieflin, Algis.
