The Angels Of Light

Angels of Light was an American neofolk and experimental project formed in 1998 by singer-songwriter Michael Gira, who created the group immediately after disbanding his legendary avant-garde rock band, Swans, seeking a stark departure from that project’s signature sonic brutality. Rather than utilising punishing volume, this new collective prioritised a more melodic, acoustic-driven sound heavily influenced by folk, country, and Americana.

Operating as a revolving door of talented collaborators, the band’s instrumentation shifted away from traditional rock structures to embrace rich, textured arrangements featuring strings, accordions, and woodwinds. Despite the gentler musical backdrop, Gira maintained his characteristically intense, harrowing lyrical themes, exploring love, death, and human frailty. The project served as Gira's primary creative vehicle for over a decade until he chose to revive Swans in 2010.