LP Review: 'High Country' by The Sword

Almost a decade since their revered debut ‘Age Of Winters’ (2006), The Sword return with their fifth record ‘High Country’. And if you’re like me and have followed the band’s sonic evolution over the years, their latest offering feels less like progression and more like full-blown reinvention. Throughout their career, The Sword have fed their brand of stoner rock to the masses, acting like a gateway to any number of stoner acts covered on this very site. But forget whatever preconceptions you have about this band. It doesn’t apply here. This is The Sword boldly stepping out from the shadows of their former selves.

Still ever-present are vocalist’s John Cronise signature melodies and mythological lyrics, but instead of being low in the mix as on previous records, here they shine through with confidence. With ‘Empty Temples’ Cronise is reminiscent of Thin Lizzy’s Phil Lynott, and there are more harmonies on show throughout the record than ever before, giving ‘High Country’ a genuine classic rock feel. Halfway in, the band's experimental horizons impress with synthesizers on the spaced-out interludes of ‘Agartha’, and ’Seriously Mysterious’. Perhaps the biggest departure from previous material are the guitar sounds... Cleaner and brighter, they’ve also moved up from drop C delivering a more vintage sound, akin to fellow Texan's ZZ Top.

Highlights include the slinky meandering southern groove of ‘Mist & Shadows’ (probably the track most similar to their back catalogue), foot-tapper and album opener ‘Empty Temples’ and the thrashy headbanger ’Suffer No Fools’.

With ‘High Country’ The Sword have embraced their classic rock influences with both hands, and shed their stoner-doom skin almost entirely. Whilst the more narrow-minded of fans may need a few spins to get onboard with ‘High Country’, The Sword effortlessly remind us of the roots of heavy music and we thank them for it.

Have a listen to ‘High Country’ below and let me know what you think...




Check out the band's Website | Facebook

SpaceGod's Top 10 - The Master Stash

2012, a year of confusion, illusion, and damnation. Our favorite crop saw legalization in 2 states in America, and it seems artists must have taken notice. There has been a surge of bands getting down to the inexplicable doom boogie, the vicious, visceral plod of thunderous music which can light a human up before digging his or her grave. It's spread is even pertinent enough for Pentagram to be played at New Years Eve Parties (yes you heard me, my party van driver on NYE was blasting Mr. Liebling.) As long as we stay away from persistently ripping off The Sword in 2013, the torch, or rather, the gargantuan L will be passed on to another year of ultimate riffdom!

10. The Sword- Apocryphon

Another intriguing entry from The Sword. It continues on the path taken by Warp Riders with sections evoking 70s rock. The Sword haven't deviated from their formula, as why this record didn't get further on this list, however, it retained a supreme sense of musicality and technicality. You can hear the fact that they have all gotten better as musicians, and they do not disappoint. Delivering great syncopated viciousness and upbeat rock, an album definitely worth one's time.

9. It's Not night it's space - Bowing but not Knowing to What

The first full-length from Hudson Valley - stalwarts It's not night : It's Space. A combination of eerie psychedelia and monolithic-sabbathian stomp, INNIS built a beast from just their fans. A kickstarter construct- and a personal favorite- these guys kicked everyone's ass with something homegrown but unique in its exploration of intrepid spiritual (or psuedo-spiritual) heaviness. The opening track, The Gathering,  is a testament to all that is right with dark psychedelia!

 8. Five Horse Johnson - Taking of the Black heart

5HJ killed us with Taking of the Black Heart. A truly awesome release, they played some straight up gritty, swampy, downright bluesy riffs. The key to all of this music inherently lies in the blues, it's great to see a band stick to those roots and lay down some curvy woman-thick blues.

7. In the Company of Serpents - S/T

A demonic duo, In the Company of Serpents hit hard with their self-titled, some indigenous and vicious sludge. The best part is how precise these guy sound, they are tight musically, hence why their duo format works the way it does. A dose of powerful, low-end filled sludge that towers above a lot of the other Kylesa ripoffs these days.

6. High on Fire - De Vermis Mysteriis 

High on Fire never seem to disappoint us with their battle axe-sharp riffs. Matt Pike takes us back with this record, one more reminiscent of Blessed Black wings. Bludgeoning sludge with relentless force, this was a terrifying album. My all time favorite track is of course King of Days, the heaviest freaking tone of the year quite possibly. 

5. Neurosis - Honor Found in Decay

The Godfathers of Post-metal, Neurosis struck hard with Honor Found in Decay. Full of enveloping textures and whirring, grind that could incur heart palpitations, this was a definite favorite. This record evoked tones previously heard on their seminal Through Silver in Blood.  We Rage in Gold! The group never fails to produce terrifyingly heavy truths and vicious riffs with their music. Thought-provoking, and disintegratingly brutal.

4. Radar Men from the Moon - Echo Forever

A well-produced, swirling, grooving, pulsing foray into european psych. Reminiscent of both Spacemen 3, and Hawkwind, this one does not fall into the cliches of repetitive bVII-I grooves that many other bands do. A swirling long-form exploration of the self, complete with ominous delayed guitar and disgustingly awesome high-hat work. The best part is they are MASTERS of contrast, their creation of different feels enables them to soar above the pack. Go listen to "Dance of Black and White Paint." 'Nuff said.

3. Colour Haze - She Said

The cream of the crop of the psychedelic rock. Prog, Doom, Stoner, and psych all meet and coalesce beautifully on this record. The tones are organic, full, and impressive, their command of long-form is breathtaking. Both technically blissful as well as emotionally and musically intense, this record is a beautiful example of all the right things with psych, namely the fact that they do not stick to the tried and true formula of simple echos and repetitive riffs, their music evokes the past as well as pushing towards the future. A great rock album. Period. "Breath" 

2.  Pallbearer- Sorrow and Extinction

This record caught me by surprise. A record with great melodic content, informed content. A truly epic and emotionally moving record, this band took time to crafted a mountain trail, rather than just staying on the rails. A great debut record and a phenomenal display of both musicianship and a new take on older sounds. A demonic combination of old-school doom, and modern post-metal. 

1.Om - Advaitic Songs 

Al Cisneros knows how to make droning, middle-eastern music burn through gargantuan amplifiers. Om's first record as more than a duo, the subtle and calm guitar tones melded with the visceral and vicious bass-tones, the utter mastery of relentless ancient sounding music. Only a record like this could make a Cello haunt my dreams. With an unabashed fear of evoking North Indian viciousness and creating visceral meditative music that blinds your senses, Om created a towering record that makes drone doom-bands wish they knew what they were doing. Without fear of experimentation and with beautiful instrumentation, Om built my favorite record of 2012, because they did something that still relegated itself to the doom realm, but in many ways reaches far across the aisle to the universe of World Music. A brilliant and moving record.

CD Review: The Sword - Warp Riders

As seen on The Klepto's Guide:

I don't know why I put this one off for so long, I loved the past two albums by The Sword, and I was ecstatic to finally get my copy... but for some reason it just never happened. I started to write a Retrospective for the group, going back to Age of Winters, then onto Gods of The Earth, then finally to Warp Riders, but that got stalled after just the first album. I will finish the article that I have half written, but that's for a later date and I want to listen to this album NOW!!

I saw The Sword live about two years ago, opening for Clutch (my favorite band), and it was a surprise - mostly because I didn't think to look at who was opening the show - but also because I hadn't expected the group to jam as hard as they did. It was just as hard to understand they lyrics live as it is on their album (at the time having just released Gods of The Earth), but the band was amazing. I jumped with the crowd, I sang along to the two songs I knew the words to ("Freya" and "Barael's Blade"), and I moshed with the numerous fans of The Sword and Clutch. Good times. I have high hopes for this album.

Warp Riders begins with a wall of sound, like a sonic sledgehammer splitting your skull. "Acheron/Unleashing the Orb" is an amazing instrumental song - instrumental done right - that spells out the rest of the album superbly: this is an album to rock-out to. The whole album is one to rock out to; track after track of trudging guitars, great drums (shitty he quit the band) and epic lyrical content.

One thing I did notice is that Warp Riders is a lot more rockin' then the previous releases, with mixed sucess. It's not so solidly in the stoner/doom metal genre, instead opting for being a more straight-forward stoner album. Another key point to make, you can actually understand the singer! Instead of his never-ending wail of a voice (which is not a complaint), on this release the notes that he sings are shorter, lending to this understandability. There are songs and parts that he takes up his wail-mantle like the days of old, but this new development adds to the layers of the album.

Oddly, even with this new added level of variance, the songs I really enjoy are the ones that more uphold the older style of The Sword ("The Warp Riders"), or on the complete flip-side, the songs that have an almost thrash quality to them ("Astraea's Dream"). The songs in the middle of the styles (most of the record) just don't do it for me, they rock, but not in a stand-out kind of way.

Warp Riders is a solid release by a solid band, but I expected more. They attempt to evolve their style, from their traditions of doom, into rock-hard stoner. For some songs it works - and it's great to see a band trying new things - and for others it doesn't. While a lot of people will probably have The Sword on their 'Best of 2010' lists, I cannot do that with a clear conscience. I like the evolution, but now I want to more, take the good qualities and head in that direction. Make my 2011 or 2012 lists! I am waiting...

Official/MySpace/Facebook

The Sword Announces Metallica Off-Dates

Metallic rock titans The Sword have announced U.S. headlining dates in support of its critically-acclaimed new album, Gods of the Earth. The band will headline a slew of off-dates while on tour supporting Metallica, who hand-picked the celebrated Austin, TX quartet as support on its upcoming North American tour, set to launch October 21 in Glendale, AZ.

Teaser clips for the Metallica/The Sword run have surfaced and can be viewed online at these locations (clip #1/clip #2). In addition to headlining off-dates during the Metallica tour, The Sword will team up with Lamb of God for a string of shows this December.


The Sword’s brand new music video – for the towering single “How Heavy this Axe” – will make its world premiere this Tuesday, October 21 on MTV2. The kaleidoscopic clip, which pays homage to the classic Black Sabbath videos “Paranoid” and “Iron Man,” will also air as part of the network’s “Headbangers Ball: 20th Anniversary” programming. The week-long celebration, which will feature noteworthy interviews, archive footage from the program’s past 20 years, a roundtable discussion with ex-Headbangers Ball VJ’s and more will include the “How Heavy this Axe” video as part of the Saturday, October 25 edition of “Headbangers Ball”.


The Sword has taken the music world by storm in the three years since its Kemado Records debut, Age of Winters, gaining widespread acclaim for its aggressive sound, mountaintop-friendly hooks and lyrical themes rife with myth and mythology. The band’s sophomore album, Gods of the Earth, was released this past April.


Check out The Sword’s “Maiden, Mother & Crone” video now at this location.


The Sword Tour Dates
(As part of Metallica’s fall/winter North American headlining tour)

October 21: Glendale, AZ - Jobing Arena
October 23: Albuquerque, NM - Tingley Coliseum
October 25: Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center
October 26: Des Moines, IA - Wells Fargo Arena
October 27: Minneapolis MN - Triple Rock Social Club (The Sword headline date)
October 28: Sioux Falls, SD - Nuttys (The Sword headline date)
October 30: Missoula, MT - The Palace (The Sword headline date)
November 1: Portland, OR - Rose Quarter
November 2: Boise ID - Neurolux (The Sword headline date)
November 3: Salt Lake City, UT - Energy Solutions Arena
November 4: Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
November 5: Wichita, KS - Barleycorns (The Sword headline date)
November 6: Omaha, NE - Qwest Center
November 7: Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge (The Sword headline date)
November 8: Moline, IL - iWireless Center
November 9: Columbus, - OH Schottenstein Center
November 10: Nashville, TN - Exit / In (The Sword headline date)
November 11: Asheville, NC - Stella Blue (The Sword headline date)
November 12: Raleigh, NC - Lincoln Theater (The Sword headline date)
November 14: Hiltonhead, SC - Shoreline Ballroom (The Sword headline date)
November 15: Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade (The Sword headline date)
November 16: Covington, KY - Madhatter (The Sword headline date)
November 17: St. Louis, MO - Scottrade Center
November 18: Tulsa, OK - BOK Center
November 19: Ft. Worth, TX - Lola`s (The Sword headline date)
November 20: Houston, TX - Toyota Center
November 21: New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks (The Sword headline date)
November 22: Little Rock, AR - Alltel Arena
November 23: New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Arena
December 1: Seattle, WA - Key Arena
December 2: Vancouver, BC - GM Place
December 4: Calgary, AB - Pengrowth Saddledome
December 6: Saskatoon, SK - Prairieland Exhibition Hall, with Lamb of God
December 7: Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place
December 9: Spokane, SK - Knitting Factory Concert House, with Lamb of God
December 10: Portland, OR - Roseland Theatre, with Lamb of God
December 11: Chico, CA - Senator Theatre, with Lamb of God
December 12: Ontario, CA - Citizens Bank Arena
December 13: Fresno, CA - Save Mart Center
December 15: San Diego, CA - Cox Arena
December 17: Los Angeles, CA - The Forum
December 19: Ventura, CA - Majestic Ventura Theatre, with Lamb of God
December 20: Oakland, CA - Oracle Arena
January 12: Milwaukee, WI - Bradley Center
January 13: Detroit, MI - Joe Louis Arena
January 14: Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel (The Sword headline date)
January 15: Washington, DC - Verizon Center
January 16: Westchester, PA - The Note (The Sword headline date)
January 17: Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center
January 18: Boston, MA - TD Banknorth Center
January 20: Albany, NY - Revolution (The Sword headline date)
January 21: Burlington, VT - Higher Ground (The Sword headline date)
January 22: Buffalo, NY - The Tralf (The Sword headline date)
January 23: Pittsburgh, PA - Mr. Smalls (The Sword headline date)
January 24: Cleveland, OH - The Grog Shop (The Sword headline date)
January 25: Columbus, OH - Ravari Room (The Sword headline date)
January 26: Chicago, IL - Allstate Arena
January 29: Uniondale, NY - Nassau Coliseum
January 31: Newark, NJ - Prudential Center

THE SWORD Cancels BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR Appearance

According to Metal Hammer, Austin, Texas-based quartet THE SWORD has cancelled its appearance at this year's Bloodstock Open Air festival (set to take place August 15-17, 2008 at Catton Hall in Derbyshire, England) due to "unforseen scheduling issues."

THE SWORD Confirmed For UK's BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR Festival

According to Metal Hammer, Austin, Texas-based quartet THE SWORD has been confirmed for this year's Bloodstock Open Air festival, set to take place August 15-17, 2008 at Catton Hall in Derbyshire, England.

The festival billing is now shaping up as follows:

ALESTORM
AS I LAY DYING
AT THE GATES
CLOUDSCAPE
COMMUNIC
CROWNING GLORY
DIMMU BORGIR
ELUVEITIE
EVILE
GRAND MAGUS
HELLOWEEN
ICED EARTH
KATAKLYSM
KELTIC JIHAD
MOB RULES
MOONSORROW
NIGHTWISH
OPETH
OVERKILL
PRIMAL FEAR
PRO-JEKT
SAINT DEAMON
SOILWORK
SWALLOW THE SUN
THE SWORD
TYR

THE SWORD will open for METALLICA on the following European shows:

Jul. 16 - Bergen, Norway - Koengen
Jul. 18 - St. Petersburg, Russia - SKK Hall
Jul. 20 - Riga, Latvia - Skonto Stadium
Jul. 22 - Bologna, Italy - Parco Nord
Jul. 23 - Bucharest, Romania - Cotroceni
Jul. 25 - Sofia, Bulgaria - Vassil Levski Stadium
Jul. 27 - Istanbul, Turkey - Inonu Stadium

Stinking Lizaveta To Tour with The Sword and Torche

Stinking Lizaveta will be heading out on the road with The Sword and Torche this May. The dates are as follows:

05/05/08: Norfolk, VA - The Taphouse
05/06/08: Knoxville, TN - The Pilot Light
05/07/08: Little Rock, AR - Downtown Music, with Torche
05/08/08: Austin, TX - Emo`s, with Torche, Canyon of the Skull
05/09/08: Ft. Worth, TX - Lola`s, with The Sword, Torche
05/10/08: Memphis, TN - Hi Tone, with The Sword, Torche
05/11/08: Nashville, TN - Exit/In, with The Sword, Torche
05/12/08: Covington, KY - The Mad Hatter, with The Sword, Torche
05/13/08: Detroit, MI - The Magic Stick, with The Sword, Torche
05/14/08: Columbus, OH - Ravari Room, with The Sword, Torche
05/15/08: Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel, with The Sword, Torche
05/16/08: Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church, with The Sword, Torche
05/17/08: Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg, with The Sword, Torche
05/18/08: Cambridge, MA - Middle East Downstairs, with The Sword, Torche
05/20/08: Raleigh, NC - Lincoln Theater, with The Sword, Torche
05/21/08: Savannah, GA - The Jinx, with The Sword, Torche
05/22/08: Tallahassee, FL - The Beta Bar, with The Sword, Torche
05/23/08: Gainesville, FL - Common Grounds, with The Sword, Torche
05/24/08: Orlando, FL - The Social, with The Sword, Torche
05/25/08: St. Petersburg, FL - State Theatre, with The Sword, Torche
05/26/08: Atlanta, GA - Lenny`s, with The Sword, Torche
05/27/08: Birmingham, AL - The Bottletree, with The Sword, Torche
05/28/08: Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon, with The Sword, Torche
05/29/08: Houston, TX - Rudyards, with The Sword, Torche
05/30/08: New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks, with Torche
05/31/08: Athens, GA - Caledonia Lounge
06/01/08: Charlotte, NC - The Milestone, with Poontanglers
06/02/08: Richmond, VA - Alley Katz
06/03/08: Baltimore, MD - Talking Head

The Sword’s Sophomore Album Debuts on Billboard Chart

The Sword’s brand new album, Gods of the Earth, debuts at #102 on the Billboard Top 200 chart in its first week of release.

Gods of the Earth also debuted at #1 on Billboard’s “Heatseekers” chart, #1 on Billboard’s “New Artist” chart, and at #5 on Billboard’s “Tastemakers” chart. The follow up to the Austin, TX-based band`s 2006 debut, Age of Winters, Gods of the Earth was released via Kemado Records and has met to scads of critical acclaim in the weeks leading up to its April 1 release.


On the heels of the band’s Billboard debut, The Sword has announced summer, 2008 tour dates with the legendary Metallica. The influential metal band has called The Sword, “one of our favorite bands of the last few years,” (source: Metallica.com) and hand-picked the explosive quartet to open for it on a slew of European live dates, beginning July 16 in Bergen, Norway. Joining Metallica and The Sword on the tour will be New Orleans’ Down.


The Sword’s brand new music video – for the powerhouse track “Maiden, Mother & Crone” – also makes its world premiere today via MTV2’s “Headbangers Blog”. The magnetic clip was directed by Artificial Army (The Mars Volta, Coheed and Cambria) and can be viewed now at this location. The “Maiden, Mother & Crone” video will see its world television premiere this Saturday, April 12 as part of the network’s long-running “Headbangers Ball” program.


Additionally, The Sword will perform as one of the featured artists of the 2008 Bonnaroo Music Festival, set to take place June 12 -15 in Manchester, TN. Known for showcasing “some of the best performers in rock and roll, along with dozens of artists in complementary styles,” Bonnaroo 2008 will see The Sword perform alongside Metallica, Sigur Ros, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, The Raconteurs, M.I.A., Willie Nelson, and more. A full listing of upcoming The Sword live dates follows this message.


The Sword features guitarist/vocalist J.D. Cronise, guitarist Kyle Shutt, bassist Bryan Richie, and drummer Trivett Wingo.


For a list of previously announced The Sword dates, click here.


Metallica/Down/The Sword Dates

July 16: Bergen, Norway – Koengen
July 18: St. Petersburg -Russia - SKK Hall
July 20: Riga, Latvia - Skonto Stadium
July 22: Bologna, Italy -Parco Nord
July 23: Bucharest, Romania Cotroceni (no Down)
July 25: Sofia, Bulgaria -Vasil Levski Stadium

THE SWORD To Support METALLICA In Europe

According to a posting on THE SWORD's MySpace page, the Austin, TX-based quartet will open for METALLICA on the following European shows:

Jul. 16 - Bergen, Norway - Koengen
Jul. 18 - St. Petersburg, Russia - SKK Hall
Jul. 20 - Riga, Latvia - Skonto Stadium
Jul. 22 - Bologna, Italy - Parco Nord
Jul. 23 - Bucharest, Romania - Cotroceni
Jul. 25 - Sofia, Bulgaria - Vassil Levski Stadium
Jul. 27 - Istanbul, Turkey - Inonu Stadium

The Sword-"Gods Of The Earth" Availailable For Streaming

"Gods of the Earth", the brand new album from the Austin, TX-based quartet THE SWORD, is available for streaming in its entirety on the band's MySpace page.

In addition to the recently announced West Coast tour dates, The Sword will be touring the East Coast this May. Support comes from Torche and Stinking Lizaveta.

US “Gods of the Earth” East Coast Tour with support from Torche and Stinking Lizaveta

May 9: Ft Worth, TX - Lola`s
May 10: Memphis, TN - Hi Tone
May 11: Nashville, TN - Exit / In
May 12: Covington, KY The Mad Hatter
May 13: Detroit, MI - The Magic Stick
May 14: Columbus, OH Ravari Room
May 15: Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel
May 16: Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
May 17: Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
May 18: Cambridge, MA - Middle East Downstairs
May 20: Raleigh, NC - Lincoln Theater
May 21: Savannah, GA The Jinx
May 22: Tallahassee, FL The Beta Bar
May 23: St. Petersburg, FL - State Theatre
May 24: Orlando, FL - The Social
May 25: Gainesville, FL Common Grounds
May 26: Atlanta, GA - Lenny`s
May 27: Birmingham, AL - Bottle Tree
May 28: Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon
May 29: Houston, TX - Rudyard`s

THE SWORD's 'Fire Lances Of The Ancient Hyperzephyrians' Video Premiere Posted Online

THE SWORD's brand new music video — for the song "Fire Lances of the Ancient Hyperzephyrians" — sees its world online premiere today via Stereogum. Check out the eye-catching clip for THE SWORD's new single now at this location.

The Sword Announces US and UK Headlining Tours

Austin, TX’s The Sword has announced both U.S. and United Kingdom headlining tours in support of its eagerly anticipated new album, "Gods of the Earth".

The Sword will launch a UK headlining trek on March 25 in Nottingham. The tour will hit London’s Underworld venue on April 3. Support on The Sword tour will be provided by Oakland, CA quartet Saviours and San Francisco’s Black Cobra.

On April 14, The Sword will kick off a west coast U.S. headlining run. The 13 city jaunt will feature support from Slough Feg and Brooklyn progressive thrash trio Children. Additional The Sword U.S. headlining dates are expected to be announced in the immediate future.

The Sword has also been announced as one of the featured artists of the 2008 Bonnaroo Music Festival, set to take place June 12 - 15 in Manchester, TN. Known for showcasing “some of the best performers in rock and roll, along with dozens of artists in complementary styles,” Bonnaroo 2008 will see The Sword perform alongside such acts as Metallica, Sigur Ros, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, The Raconteurs, M.I.A., and Willie Nelson. A full listing of upcoming The Sword live dates follows this message.

"Gods of the Earth" is set to drop on April 1, 2008 via Kemado Records. The follow up to the band`s critically acclaimed debut Age of Winters, Gods of the Earth was recorded at Folkvang Studios in Austin, TX, and is said to be “more ambitious, more accomplished and simply bigger.”

The final track listing for "Gods of the Earth" is as follows:

1.) The Sundering
2.) The Frost Giant’s Daughter
3.) How Heavy This Axe
4.) Lords
5.) Fire Lances of the Ancient Hyperzephyrians (MP3)
6.) To Take the Black
7.) Maiden, Mother & Crone
8.) Under the Boughs
9.) The Black River
10.) The White Sea

The first single from Gods of the Earth will be the track "Fire Lances Of The Ancient Hyperzephyrians”, which will be released as a limited edition 10" picture disc on March 18 The vinyl-only release will also include the unreleased b-side, "Codex Corvidae."

To check out the Gods of the Earth E-card, featuring "Fire Lances Of The Ancient Hyperzephyrians," as well as a sneak peak of the song’s music video, visit this location.

The Sword delivers explosive songs, gripping live performances and a unique vision that combines metal`s beloved past with the forward-thinking enthusiasm of today’s hard music elite. Wielding a potent combination of intense songwriting chemistry and eye-opening creativity and talent, The Sword is one of heavy music’s most electrifying and looked-to new bands.

The Sword features guitarist/vocalist J.D. Cronise, guitarist Kyle Shutt, bassist Bryan Richie and drummer Trivett Wingo.

The Sword tour dates:

UK “Gods of the Earth” tour (with support from Saviours and Black Cobra)

March 25: Nottingham, UK - Rock City
March 26: Oxford, UK - Academy
March 27: Birmingham, UK - Academy
March 28: Manchester, UK - Academy
March 29: Glasgow, UK - King Tut’s
March 30: Stoke-On-Trent, UK - Sugar Mill
April 1: Newport, UK - TJ’s
April 2: Portsmouth, UK - Wedgewood Rooms
April 3: London, UK - Underworld
April 4: Colchester, UK - Arts Center



U.S. “Gods of the Earth” West Coast tour (with support from Slough Feg and Children)

April 14: Lubbock, Texas - Jake’s Sports Center
April 15: Albuquerque, New Mexico - Launchpad
April 16: Phoenix, Arizona - The Brickhouse
April 17: San Diego, California - The Casbah
April 18: Los Angeles, California - El Rey Theatre
April 19: San Francisco, California - Slim’s
April 21: Pan Portland, Oregon - Berbati’s
April 22: Seattle, Washington - Neumo’s
April 24: Boise, Idaho - Neurolux
April 25: Salt Lake City, Utah - Club Vegas
April 26: Denver, Colorado - Bluebird Theatre
April 28: Wichita, Kansas - BarleyCorns
April 29: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - Conservatory

THE SWORD: 'Gods Of The Earth' E-Card Available

An e-card for THE SWORD's upcoming album, "Gods Of The Earth", can be accessed at this location. The e-card features the CD's first single, "Fire Lances Of The Ancient Hyperzephyrians", as well as a sneak peek at the video for the track.

Due on April 1 via Kemado Records, "Gods Of The Earth" is the follow-up to "Age Of Winters", which was released in 2006.

THE SWORD will also release a 10-inch picture disc on March 18 containing the song "Fire Lances Of The Ancient Hyperzephyrians" as well as the b-side "Codex Corvidae".

"Gods Of The Earth" was recorded at Folkvang Studios in Austin, TX, and features the following track listing:

01. The Sundering
02. How Heavy This Axe
03. Lords
04. Fire Lances Of The Ancient Hyperzephyrians
05. To Take The Black
06. Maiden, Mother & Crone
07. Under the Boughs
08. The Black River
09. The White Sea

Pre-Order

MySpace

100% On Guitar Hero II-The Sword-"Freya" (Expert), Also Guitar Hero Aerosmith Confirmed

I'm sure many of you may have played or at least have heard about the game Guitar Hero by now. If you haven't, then you are either living under a rock or living in a cave. Anyways, when I first heard about the game I couldn't wait to play the Black Sabbath songs. I never learned to play a real guitar but I could play a mean air guitar, so I thought Guitar Hero would be right up my alley. Well, I got through all the songs rather easily, although on "easy" my fingers wanted to go faster than what was transpiring on the screen so I couldn't wait to get to the "medium" level. I managed to get through all of the songs on "medium" also. Then I tried the "hard" level and it simply blew my mind. I am still trying to get through the "hard" level to this day. It is beyond me how someone can get 100% on every song on the "expert" level. I think I do pretty decent for not being an avid gamer or knowing how to play an actual guitar. What helped me was simply knowing the songs. I could hit most of the lead guitar parts better than the chord changes. One thing that is truly cool about Guitar Hero is that it is introducing the younger generation to some of the greatest music ever made. Next up for Guitar Hero is an all Aerosmith version of the game. I have provided a few cool items for you to check out. One is an article confirming the Aerosmith version of the game and the other is this dude that achieved a 100% on the "expert" level of "Freya" by The Sword. I think they should release an all metal version of the game. Let me know what you think.



Go here to read more about the Aerosmith version.

Pre-order Guitar Hero Aerosmith here

100% On Guitar Hero II-The Sword-"Freya" (Expert)



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THE SWORD SLAY EUROPE, COME BACK TO U.S. IN SUPPORT OF "GODS OF THE EARTH"

Aside from SXSW and a lone date February 28th at the Clearchannel Metroplex Event Center in Little Rock, AR, the U.S shores won't see The Sword until early April, back from their whirlwind tour with Saviours and Black Cobra in the UK. U.S. April dates, with Children and Slough Feg also on the bill, are below!

Monday, April 14- Jake’s Sports Center Lubbock, TX
Tuesday, April 15- Launchpad Albuquerque, NM
Wednesday, April 16- The Brick House Phoenix, AZ
Thursday, April 17- The Casbah San Diego, CA
Friday, April 18- El Rey Theatre Los Angeles CA
Saturday, April 19- Slim’s San Francisco, CA
Monday, April 21- Berbatis Portland, OR
Tuesday, April 22- Neumo’s Seattle, WA
Thursday, April 24- Neurolux Boise, ID
Friday, April 25- Club Vegas Salt Lake City, UT
Saturday, April 26- Bluebird Theater Denver, CO
Monday, April 28- BarleyCorns Wichita, KS
Tuesday, April 29- Conservatory Oklahoma City, OK

Oh, and they're capping it off with a little festival in Manchester, Tennessee you may have heard of called Bonnaroo. Tickets go on sale this Saturday for the June 12 - 25 event.

THE SWORD Completes Work On New Album

Austin, TX-based quartet THE SWORD has completed work on its sophomore album, entitled "Gods of the Earth". The follow-up to the band's critically acclaimed debut, "Age of Winters", is set for an April 1, 2008 release via Kemado Records.

Recorded at Folkvang Studios in Austin, TX, "Gods of the Earth" instantly conveys what words can only try to describe: THE SWORD is not to be taken lightly. From the moment the album’s lead track "The Sundering" explodes, it is immediately apparent that THE SWORD has upped the ante on a sound all its own. More ambitious, more accomplished and simply bigger, "Gods of the Earth"'s huge, mountaintop-friendly hooks, thunderous drumming and oceanic bass lines cut through the air like a scythe, while the ominous vocals of frontman J.D. Cronise weave fantastical tales rife with myth and mythology. Waves of powerful riffs and low-end thunder dominate songs such as the immediate "Maiden, Mother & Crone", "Fire Lances of the Ancient Hyperzephyrians", "Under the Boughs" and the paralyzing "The Black River".

"Gods of the Earth" track listing:

01. The Sundering
02. How Heavy This Axe
03. Lords
04. Fire Lances of the Ancient Hyperzephyrians
05. To Take the Black
06. Maiden, Mother & Crone
07. Under the Boughs
08. The Black River
09. The White Sea