Released: 24th August 2010
Label: Kermado Records
Since their debut album Age Of Winters was released in 2003 The Sword have moulded three albums of fist pumping heavy metal. While their second album Gods of the Earth was flawed, new album Warp Riders is a stomping return to form. Crammed full of head banging riffs and primal drumming it is an album which takes the listener on an intergalactic journey into the ethos.
It is important to mention that Warp Riders is a concept album and a cracking one at that. The album tells the story of Ereth, an archer banished from his home planet Acheron. Ereth embarks on an epic journey to restore balance to his planet and along the way battles space pirates, encounters mystic warriors and enchanting witches all set against a backdrop of stampeding guitars and mythic lyrics.
Album opener 'Acheron/Unearthing the Orb’ is a perfect opening track that keeps to the bands tradition of each album opening with a giant instrumental. We are offered rumbling bass lines until the dual guitars wallop the listener and the carnage ensues. Like many of their instrumental tracks this establishes the pace and sound of the album; a break-neck celebration of all things mystical.
As the track fades out the sledgehammer riff of ‘Tres Brujas’ kicks in and elevates the listener to the planet Acheron, where with the help of certain herbs our hero is shown his prophecy. It is a song seeped in Lovecraftian horror and one of the albums many highlights.
‘The Chronomancer I: Hubris’ opens with one of the best riffs in the bands short history. The riff paves the way for a mid section jam while front man and lead guitarist John Cronise tells a thrilling yarn adventure. One thing that is clear is how tight the band has become; while their previous albums felt loose and improvised, Warp Riders is tightly constructed while at the same time feeling loose. Furthermore Cronise’s lyrics hear are clearer in the mix, so one doesn’t have to slave over the lyric sleeve.
While each song enhances the narrative they also work as stand alone tracks, where the listener can jump to their favourite chapter or listen to the album as whole. As much as the music adds to the story, the real strength of the album is in its lyrics as they transport the listener to another place in time. It is apparent from the lyrics that Cronise is an admirer of Fantasy and Science Fiction literature; his lyrics bring to mind epic worlds reminiscent of Tolkien and Edgar Rice Burroughs.
Other stand out tracks include ‘Arrows In The Dark’ and ‘Astraea’s Dream’; a blood pumping instrumental of thrashing guitars. Yet the strongest song on the album is ‘The Chronomancer II:Nemesis’ which opens with a Cyclopean riff and soaring vocals. The track has dramatic time changes and cinematic lyrics that add depth to the story.
Warp Riders is an album of boundless energy, The Sword have not only moulded a quintessential Stoner Metal album they have produced one of the best albums of 2010. If you're new to The Sword step onboard your spaceship, turn your speakers up to 11 and prepare to be taken on interstellar journey into the cosmos.
Posted In Album Reviews, Aug 27 2010.
Words - Saul Crowley