Michael Gira and friends are going back into the studio in September.

The news was announced via Swans’ Facebook page a few days ago together with a list of their remaining tour dates for 2015. The band also posted a pair of rare live videos to their YouTube account yesterday (April 28), with a personal message from Gira extolling the virtues of the physical medium.

You can read Gira’s words and check out both videos below, which feature the band performing To Be Kind tracks ‘Just a Little Boy’ and ‘A Little God In My Hands’ at Hellfest – not only are they heavy, they’re a lot slicker than your average concert recordings. [via Stereogum]

Hello, thank you for listening to our music. I hope it gives you some joy and pleasure.

I am pleased that you have discovered our music through this medium. I view this experience as the equivalent of previewing a record in a record store in days of old. However, if you wish to experience the music in its’ fullest form, I would strongly encourage you to acquire it in a physical format you can bring into your home. Not only will you then be able to experience the richest version of the music sonically, but you will also be afforded the opportunity to enjoy the tangible artwork, which was conceived in tandem with the music, and serves as a further portal to experiencing the total conceptual and spiritual and emotional content of the work we have labored, lovingly, to bring to you.

I love you,

– Michael Gira / Swans / Young God Records