Flytjendur

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  Paleface Swiss
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  Clutch

  It’s been two years since the Austin, TX heavy rockers decided to take a break, but The Sword are unsheathed once more. In 2020, two career-spanning collections were released simultaneously, both showcasing the technically dazzling, riff-heavy and far-reaching metal that the band has been known for since forming 15 years ago. Conquest of Kingdoms is a three-disc vinyl collection of rarities and oddities (also available digitally), while Chronology 2006–2018 is a three-CD set, which —in addition to the rarities —also includes tracks hand-selected by The Sword from each of the band’s studio albums. Singer and guitarist John D. Cronise describes the differences between the two formats and the methodology for compiling these:“The CD package will be more of a career retrospective with selections from each of our albums as well as the rarities and B-sides and things. Sort of a mini box set, you could say. The set will include a booklet with essays and photos, to make it special and extra. Whereas the LP release [Conquest of Kingdoms] is more streamlined, with just the B-side and rarities material. Personally for me, that’s what’s exciting about the releases. A lot of that stuff I never thought would see the light of day but I always thought was really cool and was proud of. That’s what I think is exciting about it.”Bassist Bryan Richie says that it was simply the right time to put these albums out, and to revisit what has been a stellar career thus far. Assembling Chronology 2006–2018was a no-brainer; the band has an abundance of fan favorite tunes from which to cherry-pick.“We’ve got all these exclusive 7”s and a split record or two, that were pressed in 1,000 quantities —maybe people heard those tracks on a YouTube stream in not really the greatest quality,” he says. “As the band had gone on hiatus, we had this wealth of material to share including live sets —things that were sitting on my hard drive for years, things that were given to me at shows. It seemed like the right time.”Some of the oddities included on both Chronology and Conquest include various covers, such as The Sword’s take on the KISS classic “She” and Pentagram’s “Forever My Queen,” previously only heard live. “Nobody was asking us to contribute tracks for tribute albums, and we didn’t want to put cover songs on our studio albums —it didn’t seem natural for us to do that,” says Cronise. “But at the same time, we’ve always covered a lot of stuff live because it’s fun and the audience likes it. I think our fans will dig that they can now hear those versions.”The process of putting the two collections together offered the band members (completed by guitarist Kyle Shutt and drummer Santiago “Jimmy” Vela III —Trivett Wingo was the original drummer) the chance to evaluate their work up to this point, and assess their organic evolution.“We were conscious of that when it happened,” says Cronise. “Especially getting into the middle portion of our catalog. We were very aware at the time when we were doing something that sounded different from what we had done before. But listening to it all together, the thing that a lot of people don’t mention is what a drastic difference changing drummers made. It’sreally such a huge thing. They’re both awesome drummers but very different and it had a huge effect on our overall sound.”Richie believes that the band became more focused as they progressed, allowing the songs to breathe: “Later, we explored the idea of the song to its fullest within the song, rather than a bunch of different versions of the same song within the song. You work through a time where you do that. You jam everything in, trying to make it as visceral as you can. It’s only natural that at some point you scale that back. Have a more omnipresent, reflective view of what you’ve done and what you’re hoping to do.”The Sword recently announced that they will be hitting the road to tour North America with Primus on their A Tribute to Kings tour performing Rush material. The band will also be playing a number of headline shows.“I’m always ready to play riffs with my dudes, so we’ll see where it goes from here,” says Richie. “Maybe The Sword will come out of hibernation every once in a while to playsome shows or tour —whatever it is, I’m here for it. Hopefully, it’ll become a thing. Virus permitting.”“We still are all friends, we still enjoy playing music together, we’re still proud of what we’ve done,” adds Cronise. “And this is what we do, so if anybody wants to pay us we will come and play the show. I’m still proud of it, I still love it, I still love that people are still into it, and I’m more than happy to talk about it and play the songs for people.”

• Rat Salad
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  Alpha Wolf

  ALPHA WOLF CVLT

  Greyscale Records

  SharpTone Records

  'Half Living Things'

  Available worldwide April 05

  We endorse:

  ESP Guitars, Ibanez Guitars, Neural DSP, Ernie Ball Strings, Fishman Pickups, Pearl Drums and Meinl Cymbals

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  Counterparts

  HEAVEN LET THEM DIE

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  28 Days

  28 Days held the potentially dubious title of being Australia's premier rap-metal band, which they nevertheless parlayed into a lucrative ten-year career that included two gold albums, one of which entered the charts at number one. The band was formed in Frankston in 1997 by a group of skaters who met at the local skate park.

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  Fox Lake

  If you know, you know.

  If you don't, you will.

  foxlakeband.com

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  Corrosion of Conformity

  Big badda boom.
  
  Founded in 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia, the trio has established themselves as one of the most successful and motivated bands in the genre today. Elements of Helmet, Melvins, and the Amphetamine Reptile roster can be heard throughout their catalog, but Whores are no regurgitated throwback act. Through intense, cathartic live performances and the perfected aggressive tenacity present on their recordings, the band has gained a fervent following sure to do nothing but grow in the years to come.
  
  October 28, 2016 saw the band's first full-length album and their debut on eOne records, "GOLD."
  
  The album was widely praised, garnering spots in the top ten on album of the year lists through publications such as Rolling Stone, MetalSucks, Heavy Planet, Invisible Oranges, Shiny Grey Monotone, and more. The band is currently recording the follow-up to "GOLD."
  
  Prior to their signing with eOne, Whores' output included two now-classic EPs. "RUINER." released December 20, 2011, put the band on the noise rock map and is now on its fourth pressing. They followed this up with the even-more popular "CLEAN." released October 29, 2013 and now on its sixth pressing.
  
  Between these and "GOLD." the band released a split of covers by The Cure with Rabbits and contributed the song "Bloody Like the Day You Were Born" to Amphetamine Reptile's "Dope-Guns-'N-Fucking in The Streets, Volume 13". Whores also just contributed the track "Flag Day" to Amphetamine Reptile's "Bash '17" alongside acts such as The Melvins, Mudhoney, Lydia Lunch, and Cherubs.
  
  In their short career, Whores have received much critical praise. Some highlights include:
  
  • "Ten Artists You Need To Know" - Rolling Stone
  • "11 Metal Choruses That Will Get Stuck In Your Head All Day" - Alternative Press
  • "Best of 2016: Metal" - Apple Music
  • "Top 20 Best Noise/Post-Punk & Goth Albums of 2016" - Music & Riots Magazine
  
  Whores have shared the stage with acts such as Red Fang, Torche, Big Business, Melvins, Mudhoney, Retox, Deafheaven, Iron Reagan, Metallica, Slayer, Kylesa, Black Tusk, Royal Thunder, Floor, Lamb of God, Tombs, The Sword, Baroness, Dillinger Escape Plan, Chelsea Wolf, Youth Code, Cult of Luna and many more.