The Sword
Biography
Not to be confused with the Canadian heavy metal band from the late '80s, named simply Sword, the Sword is a retro-metal four-piece hailing from -- of all places -- the singer/songwriter oasis of Austin, TX. First conceived in 2003, the Sword really hit their stride about a year later, when founding vocalist and guitarist J.D. Cronise joined forces with guitarist Kyle Shutt, bassist Bryan Richie, and drummer Trivett Wingo, and made a much raved-over appearance at Austin's famed SXSW festival. National touring stints with everyone from Clutch to indie rock darlings ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead followed, and by mid-2005 the Sword had been picked up by New York-based indie label Kemado Records, with their much-anticipated debut album, Age of Winters, appearing early the next year. Before completing their second album, they contributed two songs (one original and one Led Zeppelin cover) to a split 12" EP with Swedish heavy rockers Witchcraft in November 2007. Gods of the Earth arrived in spring 2008. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide
Selected Discography

Gods Of The Earth
2008

Age Of Winters
2006
Nah, this band isn't genuine. Anyone who thinks that these guys have a legitimate passion for music haven't done their own research.
Boring, uninspired garbage. They're so lucky to have ever had a split with a band like Witchcraft. Sure, there a few decent riffs here and there, but they are blatantly ripped off. This is anti-creativ i t y . Have fun, tools. |
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Age Of Winters is one of those albums where you like it the first time, love it the second and worship it the third. After that you play it about a thousand times, and wait for their next. Wicked, wicked, wicked !
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Mike Hawk - that makes you dumb.
These guys are kick you in the nutz good. Yes the singer has an odd sound, and he really doesnt have a great commanding voice but....the music and overall sweet blend of classic and modern metal fury more than make up for it I think..... THE SWORD WILL CUT YOUR HEART OUT. |
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The driving riffs, the crash on the drums, and the ranting vocals. GOD DAMN YOU
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THE SWORD is the best god-damn band i heard in a long time! up there along with MASTODON!!!! ! KICKASS RIFFS!!!!! also check out DOWN and HIGH ON FIRE!!!!!
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so many good riffs! and did anybody see the movie with lindsay lohan stripping to "freya"?
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So "commander" you better see the light brother - yes "true metal" are those bands you listed and many, many more old and new (how on earth did you not list SLAYER in there??) But THE SWORD is very much true, genuine pure HEAVY METAL. And dude....ther e not really "DOOM" as it is known today....yes they have alot of Sabbath in them, but there not just a "decent slab of doom metal", much more than that.PS anyone who likes the sword NEEDS to check out SAVIOURS AND HIGH ON FIRE, hof is amazing...
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Oh lord....I just cant let this one rest. "True Metal" is a matter of opinion, but MOST self respecting true metal heads will agree THE SWORD IS TRUE METAL. They blend the classic's (Maiden, Priest & Sabbath) with early thrash (EARLY Metallica, Exodus, Megadeath, Anthrax) It doesnt get much more TRUE than that....thie r sound is not anything really new, or progressive per se (like Mastodon, or Baroness) but oddly enough thier re invention of metal's classic sounds, melded together come off as new
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True metal is Anthrax, early Metallica, Megadeth, Overkill, Sepultura, Death, Obituary, Immortal, etc. This is not TRUE metal.
I'm starting to think perhaps you guys are the posers around here. |
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While The Sword do offer a pretty decent slab of doom metal, the vocalist is absolutely terrible. J.D. Cronise's voice is just so bland and generic.
Don't get me wrong. Their music is pretty good, but the "true metal" label they're being given is beginning to make me cringe. |
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Saw them with Clutch and they sounded great live!! Goes to show Clutch has got good taste.
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Finally Pandora gets some legit metal. Nothin like the sword to thrash to
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These guys are great. Thanks Pandora for introducing some real metal.
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I Love the Sword. They remind me of my favorite older bands while still being new and fresh.
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word.
In my humble opinion....t h i s band will truly weed out a true Metal Head.....and poser's who think Disturbed and Godsmack are the "best fuckingg band ever...omg" OMG is right. The Sword rocks, period. |
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I saw The sword, Down and Metallica. The first thing I must say is Down F_ing sucks bad, really bad, how many times in 1 show can you tell me your bass player is "Rex formerly of Pantera" who F_ing cares. Secondly Metallica was okay, kind of what you'd expect. And finally...Th e Sword was killer. The Baron is correct, either you get it or you don't. I get it, I hope you all do too. Old school mystical metal...Ghos t s of metal bands past is a great statement...
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SEE this band live.......T h e albums are really good........ T h e i r live show is just down right amazing
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half the reason I'm going to see Metallica this fall is to see these dudes. I hope there still on the 2nd leg of the American tour.
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All you yayhoos who dont like this band need to refresh you metal heritage, these guys bring back the roots of metal.
They dont sound like, Godsmack, Slipknot or Disturbed, not like Lamb of God, or Mastodon. They are from the past, from the ghosts of metal bands past..... You either get it or you dont! |
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JOHN!!!! That is the dumest thing I have ever heard! The Sword sounds NOTHING like COC OR DOWN. Similiar in that they are a heavy metal band but coc and down are very different styles. Thats like saying Disturbed sounds like Slayer????
The Sword is a total, RETRO METAL band.....the y mix the classic sounds of NWOBHM bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest...and throw in a bit of bay area thrash like early Metallica, Exodus etc.... Dude.....com e on. The Sword rules, great band! |
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They are refreshing cause Down and COC havent done much in the past 10 years.
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