First exposure to Swans was one of their more new-agey records (I thought it was ok but expected something harder). 2nd exposure was 'Filth' and about ten seconds into it my life had been completely flipped upside-down.. Can't reccomend that old stuff enough. There is a great video on you tube I saw about a year ago of them doing 'Coward'.. check that out. One of the best bands ever... Their last ((????? maybe not) record 'Soundtracks for the Blind' is also really fucking good..

don't get me wrong, i like the gentler swans i've heard so far, and i like angels of light too (at least the latest), it's just that i'm surprised that most people prefer their more...ethereal side instead of the no wavy blues grind metal of their earlier selves.

and no, i haven't heard any of that, i've heard children of god, filth, body to body, cop, young god, greed, holy money and a bootleg of that show bloodbeach was talking about. i've heard songs from throughout though, same with angels of light; it's not that i don't want to listen to their other stuff but i'm very stocked with their early stuff i feel i can't move on from it, at least not right now; i'm sure later on i'll think i will give a listen to something else by them, will definitely take in consideration your recomendations.

I'm kicking myself for not having bought their albums yet, especially filth, which is quite possibly the most crushing music I've heard.

i love swans, and michael gira is brilliant, i really like his new angels of light stuff too

Cop is my favorite; that is some strong stuff that still doesn't sound tame two decades on.
I also love Children Of God though; it represents a great hybrid between the more violent Swans and the beautiful Swans.
Angels of Light are OK, but I wish he hadn't picked Akron/Family as his backing band.

Hah, the only Swans album I've ever heard was The Great Destroyer. And I didn't like it very much, to be honest.

the thing about swans is that they make me go back because i always have this sense that i'm missing something, not getting something. or maybe i'm a masochist.

except for children of god, that one i feel spent after listening to it, or at least i did. haven't heard it in forever.

and angels of light, judging from fan reactions and reviews, seem very spotty; but the new one is amazing, pretty much it's like cop but 180° apart in terms of ambience, lyrics and mood.