The Sword – Warp Riders

The Sword play that blend of metal and rock ‘n roll that has faded out (for the most part) since the 80′s. There are, of course, several other bands doing this formula still, but it’s a minimal number compared to the type of metal we’ve had coming out for years now. That being said, The Sword will probably appeal to the older audiences as a result. Fans of Metallica or Bullet For My Valentine will probably find something to like about the band’s third album from Kemado Records.

Warp Riders is largely instrumental; their first track, for example, features no vocals whatsoever. “Tres Brujas” follows, keeping a steady rock beat throughout. It’s nothing adventurous, but it does have that classic feel. There’s probably plenty of people out there that have been missing this kind of metal, so The Sword will gain further audience there. Some of these song structures could be compared to Gaza or maybe Baroness, but slightly more produced in sound. When listening through Warp Riders, it become obvious that The Sword do favor their instrumentals more than vocal melodies or breakdowns. In fact, their breakdowns aren’t the kind you could expect from the genre these days. Modern metal is much larger, brutal, and chaotic in style, whereas the breakdowns here are more like solos than anything. Nonetheless, they are entertaining and provide great beats. When all is said and done, this is an album for fans of the more classic approach. If that’s your thing, then chances are good you’ll dig this disc. Others will probably pop it in from time to time as background rock. There aren’t too many “memorable” moments you’ll have stuck in your head, but it’s still an enjoyable collection to play.

Rating: 7/10
Label: Kemado Records
Website: myspace.com/thesword