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Prior to forming the Sword in 2003, vocalist and guitarist J.D. Cronise had written and recorded as a solo artist, before enlisting the help guitarist Kyle Shutt and drummer Trivett Wingo. With the later addition of bassist Bryan Richie in early 2004, the band made their performing debut at Austin’s Sound in March that year and recorded the EP entitled “Freya”. Following a well-received appearance at the South by Southwest in 2005, the Sword signed with Kemado Records, who issued the band’s debut album “Age of Winters” in February 2006. Comprised of mainly Cronise’s early material , the album earned the group a significant fan base and led to touring with Lacina Coil, Trivium, Nebula and Lamb of God.
The Sword subsequently released a split EP with the Swedish doom metal band Witchcraft, which included a Led Zeppelin cover, and released their sophomore album “Gods of the Earth” in April 2008. Like its predecessor, the album was well-received by critics and fans, and was their first charting album reaching No. 102 on the Billboard 200. In support of the album The Sword embarked on their ‘Gods of the Earth Tour’ with support provided by Machine Head, Lamb of God and Clutch.
Taking their musical inspiration from a more science fiction base, the Sword’s third full-length album “Warp Rider” was a concept album with a hard rock focus. The album debuted at No. 47 on the Billboard 200 and the band supported Metallica, for the third time, on a number of their Australian and Asian tour dates. In 2010 drummer Trivett Wingo departed the group and was replaced by Kevin Fender on tour and later by Santiago “Jimmy” Vela III. The band combined fantasy and metaphysics on their fourth studio album “Apocryphon” in 2012, which peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard 200.
Comprised of lead vocalist and bassist Aaron Beam, vocalist and guitarist Bryan Giles, guitarist David Sullivan and drummer John Sherman, Red Fang set out to produce records abiding by the spirit of classic rock, denouncing the proclivities for the progressive and placing the importance of riff-heavy driven rock and roll. Red Fang made their debut in 2007 with the EP “Tour E.P. 2”, followed-up by the split EP “Malverde/Favorite Son” with Tweak Bird in 2008.
Red Fang’s album debut came with their eponymously-titled released by Sargent House in 2009 and has subsequently been succeeded by the band’s 2011 release entitled “Murder the Mountains” released through Relapse Records. The album was produced by fellow-Portlandian Chris Funk, the producer and multi-instrumentalist for the Decemberists to rewarding results.
The release led to an impressive tour schedule across the U.S. with shows including 2011’s Metalliance tour alongside Crowbar and Helmet, at Mayhem Festival with the likes of Megadeth, Godsmack and Disturbed and Mastodon’s 2011 and 2012 tours.
In 2013 Red Fang releases the split EP “Red Fang/ASG split” and their third full-length debut album “Whales and Leeches”. The album peaked at No. 66 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and subsequently led the band to play on the Late Show with David Letterman as the show’s musical director was a big fan of the band.
The flow of highly charged energy at a concert by The Sword is nearly unstoppable. Loud distorted guitar riffs are blared through stacks of massive guitar amps and the drums are beating with a brashness that resonates through your skull. The Sword is fierce when they take the stage. The dueling Guitarists, John Cronise and Kyle Shutt, perform in a way reminiscent of Judas Priest’s fast paced guitar solos and duets. The band is also known to play in slower tempos, and retain a sludgy sound of deep distorted guitars, and low, bellowing drumming, somewhat in the stoner metal style of Black Sabbath and Sleep. The Sword’s lyrics are also very interesting drawing inspiration from Norse mythology. John Cronise’s vocals are also presented in a yearning way, which is very similar to Ozzy Osbourne.
The Sword’s stage theatrics usually consist of fog covering every inch of the stage and dim lights of dark colors shining down upon them. The band is enthusiastic during their performance, head banging to each song. Their audience seems to be loving it as well, riotously rocking out to each song, crowd surfing, and signaling the devil horns with their hands as a rock and roll salute.
The Sword keeps things interesting with their retro sound of the golden age of metal, but still manages to keep their music fresh and youthful. The Sword is sure to meet high expectations of blasting their audience away with their heavy brand of doom metal.
wjmcc
Red Fang is the perfect band for sneaking a blunt past security and lighting it up in front row. I mean, no, no one should ever do that. But the crowd does it anyway, because I’m right. This band knows how to tear it up! You’re guaranteed a good time in their hands.
Bryan Giles and David Sullivan play guitar together like they were born to do it, musical soulmates with destinies entwined as they rock out on the stage. The drums are always perfectly timed with them. I’m really impressed by how well this band works together as a unit onstage, it’s really something to behold. I’m sure they practice insanely to get that down just right. We appreciate it, we fans!
They are at their coolest in a smaller, intimate setting where the energy flows in and around everyone with the same emotion. It feels like we’re all hooked up to the same power generator. This band is going places and you have got to get out and see them before everyone else wants to as well and ticket prices jump up, you hear me? Just trust me. My ears don’t lie. This band is powerful as a live act and I trust they will only continue to get better.
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