Record Label: Kemado Records
Genre: Metal
Band Link: link
Buy on Amazon.com link

Wow, I haven’t gotten a metal CD in forever. I must be on Century Media’s blacklist.

You know, I took metal for granted. It’s been so long since I’ve gotten a true metal release that I hadn’t realized how much I craved for one. The Sword aren’t perfect – the vocals are weak, the musicianship not quite precision-tight – but I like it. I miss this stuff. They have a song called “How Heavy This Axe,” and another called “Fire Lances of the Ancient Hyperzephyrans” (huh?). That’s awesome!

Best of all, they use Sabbath-like distortion, vocal sound, and 70s-style bluesy doom-rock riffing. Not nearly as memorable or catchy, but they do sort of sound as if Sabbath took lyric lessons from Manowar. How cool is that? Very cool.

Bottom Line:
Notable Tracks: Under the Boughs; instrumental The Sundering; Maiden, Mother & Crone
Overall Rating: