If someone who had, mysteriously, never heard any heavy metal asked me what it was all about, I might be inclined to point them in the direction of this album as a prime exponent of archetypal classic metal. Opener 'Acheron / Unearthing the Orb' is exemplary in almost every way, from its quasi-mystical title to its stomping balls-out riffmongering that can only serve the purpose of inducing the shaking of long hair in a primitive fashion, via the ostentatious display of guitar-playing virtuosity in the epic solo. And that's just an instrumental by way of an intro. Suffice to say it encapsulates the spirit of this unashamedly old-school, legs-apart, axe-wielding rock behemoth of an album.
Ostensibly a 'concept' album (a magnificently retro prog / rock notion) built around a sci-fi narrative, it's as much steeped in ancient mythology, fantasy fable and comic-book lore as anything their obvious influences have committed to tape. Really, 'The Chronomancer I: Hubris' doesn't so much give a nod to Led Zep and Black Sabbath as bang its head slowly to their tune. It's a monolithic epic worthy of its title, and ties in with 'The Chronomancer II: Nemesis' which appears five tracks later and is a weighty, grinding doom trudge at the start, before stepping up to a galloping slab of riffology.
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In between, 'Lawless Lands' is a ZZ Top-style blues-metal boogie stomp, and is followed by the pounding speed thrash of 'Astraea's Dream,' dominated by a screaming solo and crunching riff. The title track sees The Sword seeking 'freedom from the planetoids / and the gravity that chains us,' and I can't help but suspect they've got some Hawkwind on the tour-bus.
'(The Night the Sky Cried) Tears of Fire' brings things to a triumphant finale, drawing all of the familiar themes and touchstones of chugging guitars, powerhouse percussion and lengthy solos. It's hardly surprising that these guys have had songs featured on Guitar Hero. 'Warp Riders' hardly ground-breaking, but it's well executed and a fine example of proper vintage style metal. As such, it is what it is, and for that, I can't knock it.
http://www.myspace.com/thesword
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