The Fire Lances of the Ancient Hyperzephyrians

[mr.rpg king]

That's right, The Sword just released their newest single (On myspace anyway). I'm sure you all are already aware of how much ass they kick, so how's about a discussion on their new upcoming album "Gods of the Earth". After hearing TFLOTAH and "Lords" I'd have to say I'm pumped as hell, and getting it as soon as it ships.

[mr.rpg king]

Really? No one cares?... I figured at least Clutch would comment as we talked about Freya a year ago. Man this is disappointing. Ok guys lets instead just talk about Iron Maiden and Dream Theater and Muse and Radiohead. I'm sure that will get someones attention .

[Clutch]

Yeah, I didn't post my opinion on The Sword because it is much, much different than it was two years ago when I first heard them, but I guess since you asked, ye shall receive.

I liked them a lot when I first heard them, but still had a lot of problems. The vocals for one thing. I listen to all kinds of crazy vocals done by black metal/whatever metal bands and that stuff doesn't bother me at all, at least it fits the genre of music you know? But The Sword's singer is just god awful. See their utterly dreadful butchering of "Immigrant Song" for evidence of this. At least they had a lot of decent riffs on Age of Winters. I've heard the new album, and it's so-so. They've always been a second rate High On Fire to me.

The thing is, every time I hear these guys I get the feeling like they just discovered metal 3 or 4 years ago, and decided to take every metal lyrical cliche and execute them horribly. The vocals/lyrics are the worst part about this band. All this plus they put on the most disappointing live show I've ever seen. It really was a sad display. No energy, missed notes, and the singer...GOD he was off, like Hetfield on St. Anger off. Luckily, Torche played after them and blew them out of the water.

In spite of all this, I'd probably rate them a 6/10. They're an ok intro stoner metal band and only that. I'd rather listen to Sleep (Dopesmoker), Solace (Definitely check out The Black Black EP, also one of the greatest singers in the genre), or Yob (All 4 albums are 10/10)

I've heard a lot of people call them hipsters trying to play metal, and I don't agree with that. But they definitely are derivitive and quite unoriginal in a sea of bands that have done the same thing, 10x better, for the last 15 years. I guess that's what happens when your worst song is featured as an even worse cover in Guitar Hero.

[mr.rpg king]

It matters not because I respect Clutchs the most. But I still love The Sword anyway.

Edit: Opinion.

[WTF d00ds?]

Clutch usually has some really good opinions on music related stuff, and I've never met anyone on here who has more musical knowledge than him. The only song by The Sword I've heard was Freya, and it was decent. Not great, but I still liked it.