Today, we’re revisiting our friends in The Sword with their latest release Low Country (Razor & Tie), the acoustic counterpart to 2015’s High Country. Continue reading
Tag Archives: High Country
The Sword – High Country
Three years following the release of their last album, Apocryphon (Razor & Tie), The Sword return with High Country (Razor & Tie). I always go into things wondering if we’re going to get another Warp Riders (Kemado) record as that was how I was first exposed to the band. So, no, this isn’t Warp Riders II, but it’s pretty rad.
‘Seriously Mysterious’ is my favorite song off of the new album and I lost count of just how many times I played it while working on this review. It stands out from the rest of the album, with the intro ‘Unicorn Farm’ being the only other thing that somewhat matches it. Although not as complex as some of the other songs on High Country, ‘Seriously Mysterious’ is extremely catchy and will make you move. It and its more sinister sounding counterpart, ‘Ghost Eye’, are likely to make an appearance alongside songs like Steve Miller Band’s ‘Abracadabra’ and Stevie Wonder’s ‘Superstitious’ on a few Halloween party play lists this year. If your play list looks like that, I better be invited.
Fuzz-filled and riff laden, ‘Buzzards’ is another favorite selection from the second half of High Country. It is just simply a great song with a hypnotic chorus that draws you right in. I might even argue that this would have made a great choice for a song to close out the record on a more energetic note. I’d also recommend it for any upcoming road trips you may have.
High Country is a solid record overall but, as you can see, the second half of the album is where it really comes alive for me. Songs are a little meatier, a little groovier, and really help round things out, even if they tip the scales a bit more in one direction.
7.5/10
ALEIDA LA LLAVE
Video: The Sword Stream New Single – Mist and Shadow
The Sword have released a new video today for the track ‘Mist and Shadow’, off of their upcoming new album High County (Razor & Tie). You can watch the video at this link .
Audio: The Sword Stream New Single Empty Temples, Pre-Orders Start Tomorrow
The Sword are streaming a new single, ‘Empty Temples’, from their forthcoming album High Country (Razor & Tie) due out on August 21st. You can hear the track at this link:
Pre-Order sales for High Country begin tomorrow on iTunes. with ‘Empty Temples’ being the free grat track with purchase. Physical versions of the album are available from High Country is also available for physical pre-order at http://www.theswordofficial.com.
The Sword is preparing to perform at a slew of dates in Europe to promote the release.
The Sword tour dates:
Aug 21: Pstereo Festival- Trondheim, NO
Aug 22: Parkteatret- Oslo, NO
Aug 23: Sticky Fingers- Goteborg, SE
Aug 25: Tavastia – Helsinki, FI
Aug 27: Debaser Strand- Stockholm, SE
Aug 28: KB- Malmo, SE
Aug 29: Lille Vega- Copenhagen, DK
Aug 30: Rock Café St Pauli- Hamburg, DE
Aug 31: Magnet – Berlin, DE
Sept 2: Arena – Wien, Austria
Sept 3: Magnet- Munich, DE
Sept 4: Legend- Milan, Italy
Sept 5: Rockhouse- Salzburg, AT
Sept 6: Salzhaus- Winterthur, CH
Sept 7: Universum- Stuttgart, DE
Sept 9: Trix Club- Antwerp, BE
Sept 10: Extase- Tilburg, NE
Sept 11: Luxor- Cologne, DE
Sept 12: La Boule Noire- Paris, FR
Sept 14: Basement- Nottingham, UK
Sept 15: King Tuts- Glasgow, UK
Sept 16: Academy 3- Manchester, UK
Sept 17: Slade Rooms- Wolverhampton, UK
Sept 18: Underworld- London, UK
Sept 19: The Thekla- Bristol, UK
The Sword Confirm New Album Details, European Tour
The Sword, Austin, Texas’ doom/stoner/metal/blues/desert combo have confirmed details of their fifth album, High Country, their second release on Razor & Tie and a European tour to promote it over the late Summer.
Following on the heels of the critically and commercially successful Apocryphon, the follow-up will be released on 21st August in all territories except France, where it will be released on September 4.
Produced by Adrian Quesada, the album will consist of 15 new anthems and will be released simultaneously on CD, digital and double vinyl. Track-listing is yet to be announced.
In conjunction with this, the classic metal quartet hit the road in Europe with a full, comprehensive tour starting at Pstereo Festival in Norway on 21 August.
Full European tour dates:
Aug 21 – Pstereo Festival, Trondheim (NOR)
Aug 22 – Parkteatret, Oslo (NOR)
Aug 23 – Sticky Fingers, Gothenburg (SWE)
Aug 25 – Tavastia, Helsinki (FIN)
Aug 27 – Debaser Strand, Stockholm (SWE)
Aug 28 – KB, Malmo (SWE)
Aug 29 – Lille Vega, Copenhagen (DEN)
Aug 30 – Rock Café St Pauli, Hamburg (GER)
Aug 31 – Magnet, Berlin (GER)
Sep 02 – Arena, Wien (AUS)
Sep 03 – Backstage, Munich (GER)
Sep 04 – Legend, Milan (ITA)
Sep 05 – Rockhouse, Salzburg (AUS)
Sep 06 – Sazhaus, Winterthur (SUI)
Sep 07 – Universum, Stuttgart (GER)
Sep 09 – Trix, Antwerp (BEL)
Sep 10 – Extase, Tilburg (NED)
Sep 11 – Luxor, Cologne (GER)
Sep 12 – La Boule Noire, Paris (FRA)
Sep 14 – Basement, Nottingham (UK)
Sep 15 – King Tuts, Glasgow (UK)
Sep 16 – Academy 3, Manchester (UK)
Sep 17 – Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton (UK)
Sep 18 – Underworld, Camden, London (UK)
Sep 19 – Thekla, Bristol (UK)