THE SWORD is a colossal, high-energy powerhouse. Wielding a potent combination of intense songwriting chemistry, eye-opening creativity and talent and a distinctly unique vision, THE SWORD is, without question, one of heavy music’s most electrifying and looked-to new bands.
With its soon-to-be unleashed sophomore album, Gods of the Earth freshly laid to tape, THE SWORD prepares to build upon the foundation it laid with its critically acclaimed debut Age of Winters and continues to lead modern day metal’s forward charge with its earth-shaking ability to rock.
...THE SWORD is the soul of the warrior. Therefore, when the warrior is the subject, the sword inevitably comes with him.
Conceived in Austin, TX, THE SWORD took the form of a cohesive quartet in early 2004 when guitarist / singer J.D. Cronise, guitarist Kyle Shutt, bassist Bryan Richie, and drummer Trivett Wingo joined forces. Inspired by such legendary names as SLEEP, SLAYER and THE MELVINS, the four-piece immediately began to construct the songs that would soon comprise their initial demo recording.
THE SWORD’s live shows quickly became the hottest ticket in Austin, as their punishing, yet melodious compositions, mythical imagery and conscious effort to slowly immobilize audiences left music fans astonished while word about the band continued to flourish and grow. Less than a year after their formation, THE SWORD became known as “Austin's most dangerous band”. Soon, an increased number of regional live dates had gained the band an army of followers.
...THE SWORD has a double office to perform: to destroy anything that opposes the will of its user and to sacrifice all the impulses that arise from the instinct of self-preservation.
In the fall of 2005, THE SWORD found a home with NYC label Kemado Records. A number of new songs already in hand, songwriting for the band’s debut full-length instantaneously resumed.
Released in February, 2006, Age of Winters delivered a mind-blowing, nine-song journey inside the mysterious, yet concrete world THE SWORD call their own. Recorded by the band at Austin’s Folkvang Studios and mastered by Rick Essig at Master Cutting Room (The New York Dolls, Chic Corea), the band’s debut sent shockwaves throughout the metal and hard rock communities at large.
...very frequently THE SWORD may simply mean pure destruction, and then it is the symbol of force, sometimes devilish force.
Age of Winters’ exhilarating songs such as the powerfully monolithic “Celestial Crown”, the heavy-handed “Freya”, the graceful then rampaging “Iron Swan” and the catchy, colossal closer “Ebethron” served up a rock hard, unorthodox form of modern metal cloaked in strange mythology. The quartet's style was unique, distinct, and absolutely crushing. Immediately upon the unveiling of the album’s unforgettable lead single “Winter’s Wolves”, the heavy music world was abuzz with excitement at what the band was bringing to metal’s altar.
In January, 2006, THE SWORD was named as one of Billboard Magazine's "Artists to Watch", joining the magazine’s hot list of artists "expected to explode at any moment." As advance copies of Age of Winters continued to circulate, the album was named one of Decibel’s “Most Anticipated Albums of 2006” and the band one of Alternative Press’ “Bands You Need to Know.”
...As something of divinity enters into the making of THE SWORD, its owner and wielder should also respond to the inspiration. His mind should be at one with the soul which animates the cold steel.
In late January, the band launched a pre-release U.S. headlining tour (with Priestess and Early Man in tow) in support of the impending album. THE SWORD blew the doors off every venue along the tour trail, leaving a whole new contingent of music fans awestruck and hungry for more.
Age of Winters exploded upon its February, 2006 release. Media accolades poured in the world over, praising the band for its unique reinvention of vintage proto-metal and hard rock.
THE SWORD’s electric style struck a resounding chord with music fans across genres and broke down “listening barriers” by finding appeal with metal, hard rock and indie rockers alike, a credit previously thought unobtainable for a band with a sound as punishing as THE SWORD’s. THE SWORD doesn’t subscribe to any “scene elitism” and hope no one brings that kind of psychic baggage to their gigs. Meanwhile, Age of Winters was hailed as "the new classic-Black Sabbath platter you have been waiting forever for the old Sabs to make" by Rolling Stone.
...Its edge is made of metal so hard that it holds razor sharpness even after repeated use in battle. Here is the true warrior.
In February of 2006, the band shot its first music video. The clip, for the track "Winter's Wolves", would see its world network premiere(s) shortly thereafter and quickly became one of the most requested metal videos in the country as music fans who had not yet experienced THE SWORD live clamored for a taste of the band’s power and intensity.
A second, sold-out headlining tour – with support from Torche – lit up the U.S. in April, 2006 and THE SWORD followed the jaunt with its first European tour (alongside Nebula). Hot off the highly successful European trek, the critically acclaimed quartet launched yet another U.S. tour, this time with support provided by heavy-handed Bay Area quartet Saviours. In June, THE SWORD played a special U.S. show as part of the Vice Intonation Music Festival. During its performance at the tastemaker fest, which took place at Chicago, IL's Union Park, THE SWORD laid waste to curious onlookers alongside a diverse array of heralded acts including Blue Cheer, High on Fire, Ghostface Killah, The Streets and Boredoms. The band would wrap up what was an unbelievable year for a new artist – regardless of genre – by supporting Swedish metal titans In Flames and respected hard rockers Clutch on two high-profile U.S. tours and landing atop a host of “Best of” year-end polls.
"Atop the tallest of earth's peaks dwell the gods of earth, and suffer no man to tell that he hath looked upon them." - H.P. Lovecraft, "The Other Gods"
In October, 2007 after a long, intense writing process, THE SWORD again entered Folkvang Studios in Austin to record their long-awaited new full-length, Gods of the Earth.
Gods of the Earth is, quite literally, THE SWORD 2.0. From the moment the album’s lead track “Lords” 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 taking down all in the band’s path. The ominous vocals of 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 instantly conveys what words can only try to describe: THE SWORD is not to be taken lightly.
Event Robot
THE SWORD is a colossal, high-energy powerhouse. Wielding a potent combination of intense songwriting chemistry, eye-opening creativity and talent and a distinctly unique vision, THE SWORD is, without question, one of heavy music’s most electrifying and looked-to new bands.
With its soon-to-be unleashed sophomore album, Gods of the Earth freshly laid to tape,
THE SWORD prepares to build upon the foundation it laid with its critically acclaimed debut Age of Winters and continues to lead modern day metal’s forward charge with its earth-shaking ability to rock.
...THE SWORD is the soul of the warrior. Therefore, when the warrior is the subject, the sword inevitably comes with him.
Conceived in Austin, TX, THE SWORD took the form of a cohesive quartet in early 2004 when guitarist / singer J.D. Cronise, guitarist Kyle Shutt, bassist Bryan Richie, and drummer Trivett Wingo joined forces. Inspired by such legendary names as SLEEP, SLAYER and THE MELVINS, the four-piece immediately began to construct the songs that would soon comprise their initial demo recording.
THE SWORD’s live shows quickly became the hottest ticket in Austin, as their punishing, yet melodious compositions, mythical imagery and conscious effort to slowly immobilize audiences left music fans astonished while word about the band continued to flourish and grow. Less than a year after their formation, THE SWORD became known as “Austin's most dangerous band”. Soon, an increased number of regional live dates had gained the band an army of followers.
...THE SWORD has a double office to perform: to destroy anything that opposes the will of its user and to sacrifice all the impulses that arise from the instinct of self-preservation.
In the fall of 2005, THE SWORD found a home with NYC label Kemado Records. A number of new songs already in hand, songwriting for the band’s debut full-length instantaneously resumed.
Released in February, 2006, Age of Winters delivered a mind-blowing, nine-song journey inside the mysterious, yet concrete world THE SWORD call their own. Recorded by the band at Austin’s Folkvang Studios and mastered by Rick Essig at Master Cutting Room (The New York Dolls, Chic Corea), the band’s debut sent shockwaves throughout the metal and hard rock communities at large.
...very frequently THE SWORD may simply mean pure destruction, and then it is the symbol of force, sometimes devilish force.
Age of Winters’ exhilarating songs such as the powerfully monolithic “Celestial Crown”, the heavy-handed “Freya”, the graceful then rampaging “Iron Swan” and the catchy, colossal closer “Ebethron” served up a rock hard, unorthodox form of modern metal cloaked in strange mythology. The quartet's style was unique, distinct, and absolutely crushing. Immediately upon the unveiling of the album’s unforgettable lead single “Winter’s Wolves”, the heavy music world was abuzz with excitement at what the band was bringing to metal’s altar.
In January, 2006, THE SWORD was named as one of Billboard Magazine's "Artists to Watch", joining the magazine’s hot list of artists "expected to explode at any moment." As advance copies of Age of Winters continued to circulate, the album was named one of Decibel’s “Most Anticipated Albums of 2006” and the band one of Alternative Press’ “Bands You Need to Know.”
...As something of divinity enters into the making of THE SWORD, its owner and wielder should also respond to the inspiration. His mind should be at one with the soul which animates the cold steel.
In late January, the band launched a pre-release U.S. headlining tour (with Priestess and Early Man in tow) in support of the impending album. THE SWORD blew the doors off every venue along the tour trail, leaving a whole new contingent of music fans awestruck and hungry for more.
Age of Winters exploded upon its February, 2006 release. Media accolades poured in the world over, praising the band for its unique reinvention of vintage proto-metal and hard rock.
THE SWORD’s electric style struck a resounding chord with music fans across genres and broke down “listening barriers” by finding appeal with metal, hard rock and indie rockers alike, a credit previously thought unobtainable for a band with a sound as punishing as THE SWORD’s. THE SWORD doesn’t subscribe to any “scene elitism” and hope no one brings that kind of psychic baggage to their gigs. Meanwhile, Age of Winters was hailed as "the new classic-Black Sabbath platter you have been waiting forever for the old Sabs to make" by Rolling Stone.
...Its edge is made of metal so hard that it holds razor sharpness even after repeated use in battle. Here is the true warrior.
In February of 2006, the band shot its first music video. The clip, for the track "Winter's Wolves", would see its world network premiere(s) shortly thereafter and quickly became one of the most requested metal videos in the country as music fans who had not yet experienced THE SWORD live clamored for a taste of the band’s power and intensity.
A second, sold-out headlining tour – with support from Torche – lit up the U.S. in April, 2006 and THE SWORD followed the jaunt with its first European tour (alongside Nebula). Hot off the highly successful European trek, the critically acclaimed quartet launched yet another U.S. tour, this time with support provided by heavy-handed Bay Area quartet Saviours. In June, THE SWORD played a special U.S. show as part of the Vice Intonation Music Festival. During its performance at the tastemaker fest, which took place at Chicago, IL's Union Park, THE SWORD laid waste to curious onlookers alongside a diverse array of heralded acts including Blue Cheer, High on Fire, Ghostface Killah, The Streets and Boredoms. The band would wrap up what was an unbelievable year for a new artist – regardless of genre – by supporting
Swedish metal titans In Flames and respected hard rockers Clutch on two high-profile U.S. tours and landing atop a host of “Best of” year-end polls.
"Atop the tallest of earth's peaks dwell the gods of earth, and suffer no man to tell that he hath looked upon them." - H.P. Lovecraft, "The Other Gods"
In October, 2007 after a long, intense writing process, THE SWORD again entered Folkvang Studios in Austin to record their long-awaited new full-length, Gods of the Earth.
Gods of the Earth is, quite literally, THE SWORD 2.0. From the moment the album’s lead track “Lords” 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 taking down all in the band’s path. The ominous vocals of 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 instantly conveys what words can only try to describe: THE SWORD is not to be taken lightly.