The Sword - some props to a "home town" band....

The Sword - Austin "weird and proud of it" Texas, USA

Not long after I arrived in Austin (June 2008), I was browsing a local music shop and asked the guy if there were any good Austin based metal bands. He went over to the LP section and grabbed out copies of Age Of Winters & Gods Of The Earth. He said "you MUST own these". So I took his advice and picked them both up on his suggestion.

I definitely enjoyed both of the albums, but I don't think this band really "hit" me until I saw them live. They did a co-headlining show with Clutch and they literally blew me away. My neck was sore for 2 days due to all the headbanging during The Sword's set. There is some magic in that band that the recordings have only hinted at so far. Plus it was very cool to see that the singer uses the exact same model guitar that I own (1979 Gibson Explorer E2).



Ever since that concert I've enjoyed the albums much more than I initially did and they are both damn impressive albums. The drummer is the secret weapon of this band...he just beats the living HELL out of the drums and plays very freely. They are also one of the few bands that seems to have actually captured the ability to harmonize guitars in the way that Thin Lizzy did. Yet at the same time they sound like themselves. Plus, it's impossible to dislike a band whose primary musical influences are NWOBHM and Doom/Stoner.

I can't WAIT for a new album!!!!!!

I've been digging these guys for awhile now too. I don't remember how I discovered them though. Probably read a review or something. Anyway, both albums are awesome. Got to see them live too, opening for Metallica on their recent tour. Even though The Sword was an opening band on a huge stage, they knew how to work the crowd. My only complaint was that the set was too short, but that's to be expected for openers. The drummer reminded me of Bill Ward. His drums had a very tribal, booming sound to them. He wasn't real flashy, but just kept a pounding rhythm.

I don't see many live shows these days, but if these guys were headlining in a small club in my hometown, I'd go see 'em. Looking forward to their next album. Good stuff.

I sort of saw them opening for Metallica as well. I say "sort of" because by the time my friend and I made it to the arena and found our seats, they were just starting to play their last song. They sounded pretty cool but I haven't had time to investigate them any further since then.

I first heard about this band off guitar hero 2. I didnt think much of them at the time but after gaining a new respect for doom, I dig their sound more.

Some kid that knows I dig metal came up to me awhile back saying "dude, ever heard of the sword?!?! Pure black metal, man....."

I really dig these cats. They managed to get me back into the whole stoner rock thing again. I had taken an extended break from it, and am happy I have returned.

you know, it's interesting, I consider The Sword to be more of a straight-ahead old school metal band than anything else....just a very hip variation.

You know, Ive never really thought of them as "stoner" just heavy metal. Either way, it gets my rocks off of that mountain and rolls em on down the hill.

DeathCult wrote:

You know, Ive never really thought of them as "stoner" just heavy metal. Either way, it gets my rocks off of that mountain and rolls em on down the hill.

I never quite understood that stoner tag either. When I first got them, I was expecting something more like Fu Manchu. I think they're more heavy metal than stoner myself as well. More upbeat and straight-forward than the stoner metal I'm accustomed to. Eh, fine with me.

I think the "stoner" elements are more sound-related than style.

They tune down quite a bit, they use Gibson guitars and Orange amplifiers...that's fairly common for stoner bands, but I think the comparison mostly ends there.

The most "stoner sounding" thing they've recorded is the instrumental introduction to their first album (which was used in that movie Jennifer's Body recently).

The term "stoner" mostly just means that they make you want to go smoke a bowl to it, which is definitely the case with these guys.

Listening to Gods Of The Earth now and have no desire to smoke anything....

Kinda cool. The Sword are going to be the featured guest on Austin City Limits in October (need to check the broadcast date).

Their new album should be out by that point, from what I understand it's finished and in final prep stages now.

Metal on ACL??

The S wrote:

Metal on ACL??

It has been known to happen from time to time. The fact that they are a local band probably had something to do with it as well.

The Sword are playing a free "parking lot performance" at Waterloo Records in Austin on the 24th of August, to celebrate the CD release.

I'll be there!

new fucking song!

Album out today...and it quickly jumped into the top 3 best albums of 2010 for me.

UP. new video. badass

anybody know if these guys found a new drummer yet?

Bad timing to lose your drummer within 30 days of releasing an album.

That does suck, but I've never really listened to these guys...

Holy fuckkkkk...I just randomly put on age of winters this morning because its storming like fucking 2012 status in oregon right now and I thought it would be fitting...never jammed this album all the way thru...I love it! This band is incredible, I had only mildly looked into them when I posted in the thread before and only heard a couple cuts from this album but its amazing. I cant believe these dudes nail it so well.

Stender wrote:

Holy fuckkkkk...I just randomly put on age of winters this morning because its storming like fucking 2012 status in oregon right now and I thought it would be fitting...never jammed this album all the way thru...I love it! This band is incredible, I had only mildly looked into them when I posted in the thread before and only heard a couple cuts from this album but its amazing. I cant believe these dudes nail it so well.

about time Speedy Gonzalez.

Seeing them live was what really converted me to a fan. I love all the albums, but I think the latest would get the edge based solely on the maturity of the songwriting.

Detuned wrote:

anybody know if these guys found a new drummer yet?

Bad timing to lose your drummer within 30 days of releasing an album.

Yes, I've read that they've found a replacement drummer (friend of the band I think from a local band) and are going back out in 2011.

From their website...

Quote :

featuring the formidable skills of notorious intergalactic bounty drummer, Kevin Fender. A veteran of the Austin music scene, Mr. Fender is best known for his devastating work with Texas hardcore legends Employer, Employee

I still haven't heard the new one, I've been a little slow with getting The Sword's material actually.