The Sword

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This article is about the American heavy metal band. For other uses, see The Sword (disambiguation).
The Sword

The Sword in February 2006. From left to right: Kyle Shutt, Bryan Richie, Trivett Wingo and J. D. Cronise.
Background information
Origin Austin, Texas, USA
Genre(s) Heavy metal, doom metal, stoner metal
Years active 2003–present
Label(s) Kemado (Worldwide)
Toy's Factory (Japan)
Impedance (Australia)
Associated acts Ultimate Dragons
Those Peabodys
Website www.swordofdoom.com
Members
J. D. Cronise
Kyle Shutt
Bryan Richie
Trivett Wingo

The Sword is an American heavy metal band that formed in Austin, Texas in 2003. Since its inception, the band has comprised vocalist, guitarist, songwriter and producer John "J. D." Cronise, guitarist Kyle Shutt, bassist and engineer Bryan Richie and drummer Trivett Wingo. Signed to New York-based label Kemado Records, The Sword has released two full-length studio albums: Age of Winters in 2006 and Gods of the Earth in 2008.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Early years and debut album (2003–2007)

After writing and recording music on his own for "a few years,"[1] singer-songwriter and guitarist J. D. Cronise enlisted the help of guitarist Kyle Shutt and drummer Trivett Wingo to form The Sword in 2003;[2][3][4] bassist Bryan Richie joined later in 2004.[5] The band released an eponymous demo, The Sword, in 2004,[4] which was followed the next year by an extended play (EP) entitled Freya.[4] After performing at the 2005 South by Southwest festival, the band was signed by New York-based record label Kemado Records.[2]

The Sword released their debut full-length album, Age of Winters, in February 2006; much of the album had been written by Cronise before the band's formation.[1] In support of the album, the band toured in 2006 and 2007 with such support acts as Early Man, Priestess, Lacuna Coil and Trivium in the United States; Nebula and Clutch in Europe; and Lamb of God in Japan.[6][7] In June they contributed a new song, "Under the Boughs" (which was later featured on their second album), to the Kemado compilation Invaders,[8] and in November the song "Freya", from Age of Winters, was covered and featured as a playable track on the video game Guitar Hero II.[9] "Freya" was later released as a single in September 2007.[10]

[edit] Gods of the Earth and touring with Metallica (2007–present)

In November 2007, the metal outfit released a split extended play with Swedish doom metal band Witchcraft; The Sword's contribution included a new track, "Sea of Spears", as well as a cover of English hard rock band Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song".[3] Gods of the Earth was the band's second album, released on April 1, 2008.[3] The album, much more of a collaborative writing effort than its predecessor,[1] provided the band with their first chart success when it reached number 102 on the American Billboard 200 albums chart.[11] In support of the album, the band completed the Gods of the Earth tour, supported by bands including Machine Head, Lamb of God and Clutch.[12] The quartet also supported heavy metal veterans Metallica on their 2008 European Vacation Tour in July,[12] and returned as opening acts on a number of legs on their World Magnetic Tour, which continued through the opening months of 2009 until May.[13] A two-disc box set containing Age of Winters and Gods of the Earth was released on November 25,[3][14] and the song "The Black River", from Gods of the Earth, was included on the video game Guitar Hero: Metallica, released in North America on March 29, 2009.[15]

[edit] Style, songwriting and influence

The Sword is commonly classified as doom metal,[2][4][16] alternative metal[2] and stoner metal.[16] Eduardo Rivadavia of allmusic describes the band as being "at the forefront of ... the 'heritage' or 'retro metal' movement",[17] comparing it to heavy metal veterans Black Sabbath and vocalist Cronise to Ozzy Osbourne.[17][18] Rolling Stone also likens the band to Sabbath,[19] as does AbsolutePunk.net in its review of Gods of the Earth, claiming that "It's impossible not to compare [the album] to the works of Black Sabbath."[20] The Sword has also been dubbed as 'hipster metal', though Cronise and the band object to such a label.[1]

While every member of the band contributes to the musical compositions, Cronise is the primary writer of the band's lyrics.[18] He often uses Norse mythology as a topic in his lyrics,[4] notably in the song "Freya";[21] but cites literature as his main influence, naming such authors as George R. R. Martin, Robert E. Howard, H. P. Lovecraft and Arthur C. Clarke.[1]

The band has cited Black Sabbath (the band they are most commonly compared to) as a major influence, in addition to doom trio Sleep, sludge band the Melvins, thrash veterans Slayer, and heavy metal icons Iron Maiden and Deep Purple, among others.[21] The band's guitarists, in discussions of their musical influences, have identified 'classic' metal guitar players such as James Hetfield, Dimebag Darrell and Tony Iommi, and Cronise has also described Billy Gibbons (of ZZ Top fame) as a "huge influence".[22]

[edit] Band members

[edit] Discography

Main article: The Sword discography

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e Ziemke, Mark (March 4, 2008). "The Sword are Gods of the Earth". Ground Control. http://groundcontrolmag.com/detail/1/925/. Retrieved on October 11, 2008. 
  2. ^ a b c d Rivadavia, Eduardo. "The Sword > Biography". allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:dcftxq9sldse~T1. Retrieved on September 22, 2008. 
  3. ^ a b c d "The Sword". Kemado Records. http://www.kemado.com/artists.php?req=show&artist=8. Retrieved on September 27, 2008. 
  4. ^ a b c d e "The Sword". Encyclopaedia Metallum. http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=57071. Retrieved on September 14, 2008. 
  5. ^ McLennan, Scott (October 5, 2006). "The Sword takes a slice at vintage heavy metal". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. 
  6. ^ "Tour dates 2006". The Sword. http://www.swordofdoom.com/live2006.html. Retrieved on December 4, 2008. 
  7. ^ "Tour dates 2007". The Sword. http://www.swordofdoom.com/live2007.html. Retrieved on December 4, 2008. 
  8. ^ "Compilations". Kemado Records. http://www.kemado.com/artists.php?req=show&artist=14. Retrieved on September 27, 2008. 
  9. ^ Roper, Chris (October 9, 2006). "Guitar Hero II Final Tracklist Revealed". IGN. http://uk.ps2.ign.com/articles/737/737921p1.html. Retrieved on October 11, 2008. 
  10. ^ "Freya/Iron Swan > Overview". allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:aiftxzyhldae. Retrieved on October 11, 2008. 
  11. ^ "Artist Chart History - The Sword". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Albums&model.vnuArtistId=705627&model.vnuAlbumId=1110628. Retrieved on September 27, 2008. 
  12. ^ a b "Tour dates 2008". The Sword. http://www.swordofdoom.com/live2008.html. Retrieved on December 4, 2008. 
  13. ^ "Tour dates 2009". The Sword. http://www.swordofdoom.com/live2009.html. Retrieved on May 22, 2009. 
  14. ^ "The Sword Release Limited Box Set, 2008 Winter Tour with Metallica". Ground Control. November 19, 2008. http://groundcontrolmag.com/index.php?m=article&article_id=1302&type_id=2&npage=1. Retrieved on 2008-12-08. 
  15. ^ "'Guitar Hero: Metallica': Complete Track Listing Revealed". Roadrunner Records (blabbermouth.net). January 23, 2009. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=113091. Retrieved on April 11, 2009. 
  16. ^ a b "The Sword's Biography". Last.fm. http://www.last.fm/music/The+Sword/+wiki. Retrieved on October 1, 2008. 
  17. ^ a b Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Age of Winters > Overview". allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:2v8n1v76zzua. Retrieved on October 10, 2008. 
  18. ^ a b Owen, Rhonda (November 21, 2008). "Crediting forebears, The Sword plays old-school `hipster metal'". The Arkansas Democrat Gazette. 
  19. ^ "Gods Of The Earth : The Sword". Rolling Stone. May 15, 2008. http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/19781231/review/20533040/gods_of_the_earth. Retrieved on October 10, 2008. 
  20. ^ "Sword, The - Gods of the Earth - Album Review". AbsolutePunk.net. April 18, 2008. http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=312739. Retrieved on October 10, 2008. 
  21. ^ a b DeRogatis, Jim (October 15, 2006). "A 'Winters' tale: How a bunch of metalheads got together and cranked out some buzz". The Chicago Sun-Times. 
  22. ^ DeMasi, Vincent (March 1, 2006). "The Sword". Guitar Player. 

[edit] External links

v • d • e
The Sword
J. D. Cronise · Kyle Shutt · Bryan Richie · Trivett Wingo
Studio albums
EPs/demos
Singles
Concert tours
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