RECOMMENDED Austin, Texas’ The Sword delivers a heavy blow of sludge and straight-up, ass-tearing doom metal, the kind that inspired visions of warlocks and Vikings and wizards and beasts. The riff-heavy and completely fucking awesome “Age of Winters” was released last year via Kemado Records, a fireball of a record that breathes mightily with vivacious solos and drumming patterns, with song titles like “Celestial Crown,” “Winter’s Wolves” and “The Horned Goddess.” The obvious love these musicians have for this music makes the voyage even more enjoyable, note for note. The band released a split EP with Swedish doom metal antagonists Witchcraft just last month, featuring a Sword cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song,” which, as one might imagine, is a bit nutty (the Witchcraft contribution makes it all worthwhile). But live, The Sword will tear your face off, bleed you dry and make you want to go back and play DnD with your friends. Not that I ever did. I swear. (Tom Lynch) Thursday, December 13 at Reggies
Related Stories
Cooling It: A Preview of Colleen Green at Cole’s Bar When Green strums power chords or chiming notes on top of her backing track, you might think you’re at Ramones karaoke night and Madonna is taking her turn.
Brutal Finesse: A Preview of King Crimson at Ravinia There have been few new compositions from King Crimson these past two decades, but the live arrangements of songs from its catalog are often strikingly different than the recorded versions.
