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Reviews

THE SWORD BE BORIN ME

 Thursday, April 17th, 2008 at 3:12pm by

sword gote coverOk so I’ve given Gods of the Earth, the recently-released sophomore album by Austin’s The Sword, a few chances, and I must admit that the record has continually come up a bit stale to me. This new collection of songs mostly feels like a lukewarm-er carbon copy of their fantastic 2006 debut, Age of Winters. And since the first record, no aspect of the band’s shtick seems to have evolved: the playing hasn’t gotten any more interesting or better, the recording is identical to Age‘s, and the songs are actually way less dynamic and intelligent (save a few decent riffs sandwiched in here and there).

Clearly the dudes in The Sword subscribe heavily to the notion “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, and while I can most certainly respect that, I ain’t gonna listen to no straight-up sub-par rehash of a band’s own bit. Sorry y’all — the truth wants to be free, and it needed to be said.

If you want a serious metal band that is pushing the boundaries of brutality/melody/songwriting, you know where to look.

MS hornzMS hornz

(two out of five hornz)

-KW

  • http://www.myspace.com/deadspout deadspout

    Are you kidding me? Two?

    **knock knock** they are touring with Metallica and Down in Europe…they are obviously doing something right…maybe not by your standards…but they are doing something right to be this successful

    I find it funny how you people bitch whine and moan about a band changing their sound “Selling Out” and when a band is true to their sound…it gets boring…

    Hypocrites.

  • http://hookssobig.blogspot.com Wayne

    This is surprising to me, Kip. I was positive you were going to like this one. There’s a lot of “meh” sentiment from different corners on this record, but it revs me up every time, especially that stretch in the middle with “Fire Lances While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood”, “To Take the Black”, and “Mother, Maiden & Crone”.

    Oh well.

  • http://www.thedirtiestofallthesanchezes.gov Kip muthafuckin WINGERSCHMIDT

    Actually mate, I wanted to give the album one and a half stars but I kept it at two *because* of their impressive success….I just felt like it was way more warranted based off the first album. Not such a big fan of Metallica and/or Down these days either, but I like The Sword as openers for either/both of those bands — good match, no question.

    I don’t feel like The Sword “sold out” — I just expect and appreciate the evolution of artists, and there’s nothing in that realm happening here. Moreover, there are barely any hooks to get me goin on GOTE….believe me, I had super-high hopes for this one, and it saddens me in the pants.

    I’m not the only cat who feels this way:
    http://www.avclub.com/content/music/the_sword

  • Nick

    i usually disagree with most the writers’ picks of bands on here…but in a weird sphere of double negativity, i have to agree that the new Sword album isn’t as good as the first one. It has definitely gotten better after several listens, but i think lacks the “awe” that a band like Bathory would do on each new record they put out (if we’re going along with metalesque viking type bands), or like Sword themsevles did on the debut. Gods of the Earth is a 6 or 7 out of 10 if Age of Winters was a 10 out of 10 (which it was…no argument there).

    Of course, speaking of Metallica, Ride the Lightning was kinda boring imo vs Kill Em All and Master of Puppets…so …just maybe that will rub off on the band…

  • jaime

    the hero worship of “textures” from the guys on this blog is getting sick… this band might be the least damn original metal band i have ever heard… they go from sounding EXACTLY like meshuggah to sounding just like mike patton and faith no more… this album is incredibly boring and these guys are somewhat of rip off artists… i’ve listened to the album twice and all it made me want to do is listen to Obzen….

  • http://lennui-melodieux.blogspot.com Randal Graves

    I’d probably give it a three, but I cannot help but think of another band that kept to the tried-and-true Motorhead/AC/DC “we’re never gonna change” shtick, Amon Amarth, who kept putting out solid, heavy, aggressive, if not mindblowing records. The reason, IMO, that With Oden On Our Side was such an improvement from the previous few albums (okay, Fate of Norns was pretty goddamn good, too) was a tweak in the dynamics. No big changes, but the songs felt more organic and have more staying power than Vs. the World or The Crusher, for example. The Sword can riff and that’s all I really want them to do. I just hope they don’t become boring. You don’t need a new template every album to maintain that energy.

  • http://www.myspace.com/deadspout deadspout

    I have a feeling they’ll learn from their surroundings in the pressence of Pepper the southern riff master, all are major Sabbath fans.

  • Sammy

    Hehe, they’re playing at a Unitarian Church in Philadelphia in May.

    And since when did metal have to be “brutal” to be good? I like their Metallica meets COC/Down sludge influence. I think two albums in it’s really unfair to make the AC/DC comparison.

  • Princess

    how is it possible that i always agree with your reviews???
    spot on.

  • http://www.thedirtiestofallthesanchezes.gov Kip muthafuckin WINGERSCHMIDT

    Oh Princess….perhaps you and I are truly meant to be

  • Colin

    I think it’s trendy to not like the Sword now. It’s like buyer’s remorse by “troo” metalheads. I call BS. This album blasts. So they didn’t make any great leaps from Age of Winters to this. Metallica did that once and it was called St. Anger. or Load. Or ReLoad.

    I’ll give MetalSucks a pass because of the recent Only Living Witness referral. But you have been warned….

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  • don’t panic

    the mighty sword owns you and yo mama. and why the fuck would you compare the sword with textures. they don’t even remotely resemble each other. is it because you thought “why don’t i show off my street cred by referencing some obscure proggy band which i heard of recently to justify my pretentious bashing of one of the greatest bands to emerge in the past couple of years” yeah, i’m quite pissed that you gave 2/5.

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  • Friends of Swords

    Just because some of you like this album, doesn’t mean Kip is an idiot for not liking it. It’s also sort of silly to get angry about someone else’s opinions about music. Seriously. I happen to agree with him about Gods of the Earth. It’s boring. I’ve listened to it 10 times and it continues to be both boring and, more importantly, completely unmemorable. This is coming from someone who LOVED Age of Winters and felt it was re-invigorating metal.

    Oh, and I don’t like Textures, either. But I can’t wait for the new YOB record!!!!!!!

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  • http://sebmany Sebastian Thomas

    The Sword granted, variety isnt necesarily high. and yes gods of the earth seemed recycled a bit. but the sundering best song ever on the new album and even how heavy this axe, lords, and maidan mother and crone, still have those gnarly riffs that i think is what the swords about in the first place. but age of winters was still better. the Sword best band ever