Rating:

(Kemado, 2006) Based in Austin, TX, The Sword sound like they came from an experimental mental hopital where they were treated exclusively with psychedelic drugs, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and Black Sabbath. The band is one of several this year to hit the scene sporting a vintage retro-metal style, but The Sword draws as much or more influence from Sabbath than any band in a while. Guitarist Kyle Shutt’s riffs and solos have more than a touch of Tommy Iommi to them, and while JD Cronise’s vocals aren’t a dead ringer for Ozzy, they share a similar sense of melody and phrasing. Where the band separates itself from the pack is its occasional forays into 80s-style thrash and the ability to continually reinvent riffs throughout the course of Age of Winters‘ 43-minute running time. From the very beginning of “Celestial Crown” to the end of “Ebethron,” the band doesn’t let up its aural assault, pounding riff after riff out on listeners’ eardrums. Especially impressive is “March of the Lor,” an “instrumental in eight movements,” one of which gives the album its name. Age of Winters, with William Butler Yeats poetry in the liner notes, fantasy artwork, and catchily pummeling riffs, is the rare metal album that can appeal to non-metalheads while at the same time impressing even the most seasoned headbanger. Metal may never reach the heights of popularity that it did in the late 80s with hair-metal, but if The Sword and its ilk were to spur a slight resurgence, it wouldn’t be a shame.

1. Celestial Crown
2. Barael's Blade
3. Freya
4. Winter's Wolves
5. The Horned Goddess
6. Iron Swan
7. Lament for the Aurochs
8. March of the Lor
9. Ebethron

Buy album

– Kevin

This 4-beetsreview was posted on April 27th, 2006. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.