Crustcake Reviews: The Sword - Gods of the Earth

by crustcake gerf (NYC)

I don't want to beat a dead horse to death, so I'll try to keep this brief. The Sword released their sophomore LP, Gods of the Earth, three months ago today via Kemado Records. Kemado and all their hired guns (as in, outsourced PR-- we've received press releases from at least three different PR firms) certainly know how to whip up a PR storm, and we've been playing along posting about The Sword left and right in recent months.

The release of their first LP, Age of Winters, was also surrounded by such hype, and I give credit where credit is due-- Kemado knew what they had on their hands when they signed The Sword, and they capitalized on the opportunity. But, for all the hype, The Sword is but one of many good 'stoner rock' or 'revival metal' bands to hit recording studios and the club circuit in recent years.

It just so happened that The Sword became the movement's reluctant (or perhaps not so reluctant) standard bearers, the poster boys for this retro metal movement. And with that perch came more critical praise and critical lambasting than the band was ever due. The Sword was built up to be something they were not, and now the same publications who hyped them up in the first place during the Age of Winters days are now railing against the band because Gods of the Earth isn't, like, the best metal record ever and stuff. Overhype creates a vacuum.

Anyway, I got my hands on a copy of the limited edition (run of 1,000) gatefold LP version of Gods of the Earth for this review. Musically, Gods isn't much of a step forward from Age of Winters. In fact, the songs are a bit less focused and the production isn't quite as full. After "The Sundering," a brief instrumental intro which utilizes acoustic guitar, the album stumbles out of the gate with "The Frost-Giant's Daughter," by far the weakest cut on the album. The rest of the record is better, capped by the epic duo of "The Black River" and closer "The White Sea." Overall, Gods is more of the same retro metal we heard on Age of Winters-- it will satiate your desire for that brand of metal but it won't blow your mind.

Physically, the record isn't exceptional. The only element remotely interesting is the embossed cover-- the pillars and sword are raised against the background-- but even this makes the record seem a bit 'cheap.'



The inside spread is occupied in whole by lyrics, and the back cover is a continuation of the image on the front, which looks like a two-dimensional rendition of a diorama, or a still from South Park's evil twin. The record itself is black vinyl, and the labels are a simple image of several swords arranged in a circle, each one pointing to the circle's center.

Kemado got at least one thing right with this vinyl release-- each LP comes with a unique code to download the album at no additional charge. I do have two minor complaints about this, though: the MP3's are only available to download once you have physically opened the LP (they ought to be available upon placing the order for the LP) and the MP3's are 192kbps (they should be at least 320kbps). Just minor gripes, like I said-- at least they're giving you the tracks. That being said, vinyl is the best way to enjoy this album.

7.0/10 [Audible]
6.5/10 [Physical]

Download: The Sword - "Fire Lances of the Ancient Hyperzephyrians" [MP3]
Buy: The Sword - Gods of the Earth [Amazon]