The Sword  

This Austin band seems to have come out of nowhere with their 2006 debut, Age Of Winters, and have drawn several rave reviews by critics declaring this band one of those Next Big Things in metal. Stylistically, The Sword isn’t doing anything new – Black Sabbath-styled riffs are all over the place, and doom is the prime style here, albeit far removed from the 80’s-styled doom bands such as Candlemass. In general the songs are rather loose, almost a garage-y feel even though the production suggests otherwise. There are clear stoner influences on some of the more uptempo numbers, though this is not a stoner band so much as a doom band with some stonerisms, somewhat in the same ballpark as bands such as Sleep or maybe Orange Goblin. The band has taken some heat from underground fans who feel that, by quickly debuting on what is essentially a major label (Kemado is an indie, but one that is major-label-financed), they haven’t “paid their dues” (really, should this matter at all?). When all is said and done, Age Of Winters may not be the ultimate masterpiece as some say, but it’s clearly a solid 70’s-influenced doom album.

Current Members J.D. Cronise guitars/vocals Kyle Shutt guitars Bryan Richie bass Santiago Vela III drums

Former Members/Guests Trivett Wingo drums

Discography

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Age Of Winters 
2006 Kemado

Celestial Crown Barael's Blade Freya Winter's Wolves The Horned Goddess Iron Swan Lament for the Aurochs March of the Lor Ebethron

J.D. Cronise Kyle Shutt Bryan Richie Trivett Wingo

Reviews:   Blabbermouth  Sea Of Tranquility 

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Gods Of The Earth 
2008 Kemado

The Sundering The Frost-Giant's Daughter How Heavy This Axe Lords Fire Lances of the Ancient Hyperzephyrians To Take the Black Maiden, Mother & Crone Under the Boughs The Black River The White Sea

J.D. Cronise Kyle Shutt Bryan Richie Trivett Wingo

Reviews:   Blabbermouth  Metal Underground 

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(EP) iTunes Festival - London 2010 
2010 iTunes

Freya (Live) Arrows in the Dark (Live) Winter's Wolves (Live) To Take the Black (Live) The Horned Goddess (Live)

J.D. Cronise Kyle Shutt Bryan Richie Trivett Wingo

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Warp Riders 
2010 Kemado

Acheron/Unearthing the Orb Tres Brujas Arrows in the Dark The Chronomancer I: Hubris Lawless Lands Astraea's Dream The Warp Riders Night City The Chronomancer II: Nemesis (The Night the Sky Cried) Tears of Fire

Reviews:   Metal Underground 

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Apocryphon 
2012 Razor & Tie

The Veil of Isis Cloak of Feathers Arcane Montane The Hidden Masters Dying Earth Execrator Seven Sisters Hawks and Serpents Eyes of the Stormwitch Apocryphon

J.D. Cronise Kyle Shutt Bryan Richie Santiago Vela III