This past spring I was in Minneapolis at the house my brother used to live in when he went to college there. I was talking to one of his friends about metal and another chimed in saying, “I could get into metal if it weren’t for the heavy vocals.” In one of my previous articles I used this element as one that makes it difficult for people to get into metal; the other two were grotesque imagery and satanic references. A good metal band that evades these characteristics is The Sword. By using compelling story, gripping compositions and creative rhythmic riffs, The Sword makes metal music the majority of the populace can enjoy.
The masses can enjoy a good story and The Sword grants them this in many of their songs. In their song “Tres Brujas” off of their album Warp Riders they paint a legend of a man on a road to fame who has been prophesized by an orb to meet three witches which is what “Tres Brujas” means in Spanish (Cronise 2010). The mysterious and vague lyrics of this song bestow on listeners the possibilities of what their imaginations have to offer. Where did this man come from? Why is he to achieve this fame? These types of questions come to the mind of the listener and make them enjoy the song even more. The Sword incorporates grand fables like the one in “Tres Brujas” to gain appreciation from their listeners and makes their music enjoyable for the populace in this way.
To me, each song by The Sword has its own unique parts that make the piece its own; each composition grips the listener into The Sword’s exceptional melodies. The first song on their album Gods of the Earth called “The Sundering”, which is purely an instrumental piece, begins with an acoustic guitar utilizing a finger picking pattern while an electric guitar may be heard accenting the acoustic with each chord change. Thirty seconds into the song a cymbal may be heard coming into the mix and is cut off at its crescendo by a chugging guitar playing a galloping rhythm. A drum and another guitar enter these rhythmic vibrations. For the remainder of the song, these three instruments change in tempo and rhythm to supplement the superb arrangement (Cronise 2008). A piece of music with such diverse parts makes this song a fantastic composition. Varying elements culminating in this song and many others The Sword has written illustrates how the masses could enjoy The Sword’s music.
I have mentioned the guitar in “The Sundering” in the previous paragraph and most of the songs The Sword plays are stunning in their guitar playing. My favorite song for these creative, rhythmic riffs is called “Lament for the Aurochs” off of their 2006 album Age of Winters. For the first thirty seconds of this song one guitar is doing descending riffs along with the drums while the other guitar throws some riffs over the first guitar. After this, the song picks up with my favorite riff by The Sword which consists of a unique rhythm and rests for both the drum and guitar leaving the listener appreciating the instruments synchronization. The rest of the song has vocals over these instruments and lasts for seven minutes with varying tempos and tasty guitar riffs (Cronise 2006). Such variety of playing can spark the attraction for a diverse amount of listeners. Such playing allows The Sword to possibly be more so enjoyed by the masses.
With alluring tales, innovative guitar playing, and captivating song designs, The Sword can be appealing to the populace. The music itself may sound heavy at times and if that is not your thing then any metal should be avoided. Give these songs a listen and see if you like The Sword for yourself.
Work Cited
Cronise, J.D. (2010). Tres Brujas. Warp Riders [CD]. Brooklyn, NYC, Kenado.
Cronise, J.D. (2008). The Sundering. Gods of the Earth [CD]. Brooklyn, NYC, Kemado.
Cronise, J.D. (2006). Lament for the Aurochs. Age of Winters [CD]. Brooklyn, NYC, Kemado.
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