Since discovering these guys through Guitar Hero, as so many others did, I’ve really come to dig The Sword. Freya was only a glimpse at the talent that this band possess. Although not as many songs on Age Of Winters are as memorable as Freya or some of the songs on Gods Of The Earth, they still rock it out in an old-school fashion and absolutely kill it live. Check out the video below for How Heavy This Axe from Gods Of The Earth and if you ever have a chance to see them live, do it. Close your eyes …read more

Some pretty cool videos this week. It’s repetitive as usual but still a couple of older and classic videos in there like 5 Minutes Alone and To Sirius. Could be worse. Avenged Sevenfold could be in there with their new live DVD coming out. Something to not look forward to. Yes that’s really me, but no the hair is not real. I stole it from Nikki Sixx when he wasn’t looking.

The Human Abstract – Procession Of The Fates
Hatebreed – Destroy Everything (Live)
Architects – Always
The Sword – Fire lances Of The Great Hyperzephyrians
Pantera – 5 Minutes Alone
In Flames – Alias
Children …read more

Heaven And Hell will be on Headbangers Ball tonight. I don’t have much more detail than that.

UNDEROATH – DESPERATE TIMES, DESPERATE MEASURES (Premiere)
LAMB OF GOD – WALK WITH ME IN HELL (live)
DRAGONFORCE – HEROES OF OUR TIME
CARNIFEX – ANSWERS IN MOURNING (Premiere)
WHITE CHAPEL – THIS IS EXILE
OZZY OSBOURNE – BARK AT THE MOON
THE SWORD – FIRE LANCES OF THE ANCIENT HYPERZEPHYRIANS (Debut)
SHADOWS FALL – FOREVERMORE
HATEBREED – I WILL BE HEARD (live) (Premiere)
HEAVEN AND HELL – THE MOB RULES
MESHUGGAH – BLEED

Click ‘Read More’ to watch the four videos that are premiering or debuting tonight, if you …read more

Looks as if Lamb Of God either thought it would be a cool opportunity to have a great time with Metallica and/or rake in some cash (Can’t blame them really), or the source that told us all that they turned down the tour was full of shit. Either way, it doesn’t really matter. Things can change in the Metal world as we all know. A band can release a new album and the same week break up (Byzantine…wtf? Dudes?). Looks as if Machine Head and The Sword (who are an amazing live show..SEE THEM!) got another opportunity to jump on …read more

The Music Industry (Warner Music Group in particular)wants yet more money from music based video games such as Guitar Hero or Rock Band. I can understand if they were looking out for the bands, but in all honesty we know that they are just trying to line their pockets.
How many bands like The Sword were never really even heard of until Guitar Hero 2 came out. DragonForce sales soared after Guitar Hero 3 and the band even admits that Guitar Hero 3 is probably what made them bigger. Even some of the older bands have gained new fans from …read more

The last day or so I’ve been thinking about all the great stuff that has come out this year so far and what’s left to come. It’s overwhelming how much great metal 2008 has brought so far, and it’s only bringing more! Here are some of my picks this far into the year and some anticipated stuff.
Favorite 5 Albums of 2008 so far

Cavalera Conspiracy
Firewind – The premonition
Testament – The Formation Of Damnation
Children Of Bodom – Blooddrunk
The Sword – Gods Of The Earth

Black Tide Light From Above get’s an honorable mention
Most Anticipated Albums …read more

Torche played at The Sword show the other night and while they didn’t sound all that great on stage due to what I’d like to blame on a bad sound tech and perhaps faulting equipment, I am really diggin the EP I bought.
In Return features 7 songs. None of them over 4 minutes long but every song is a heavy blow to the ear drums. You can check out Torche on the embedded widget below. Some of the tracks on the playlist are off of the In Return EP. Check them out.
Track Listing For In Return …read more

You may have noticed that not a whole lot was going on here at Metal Martyr yesterday. There was good reason. I went to see The Sword last night in Raleigh, NC. Let me tell you, if your a fan of The Sword and you have not went to a live show yet, GET THERE!

Want to win tickets to Bonaroo Festival and have a chance to see Metallica and/or The Sword? Here is your chance. Enter at the link below and you could be on your way to see Metallica, The Sword and many other talented acts on the festival. You can also win an XBox 360, Metallica: ‘So What! The Good The Mad And The Ugly‘ book, Metallica: The Videos ‘89-’04, albums from bands playing the festival and more!
Win Banaroo Fest Prize Pack. Enter here

 
The Sword is headed out on the second leg of the Gods Of The Earth tour, this time taking out Torche and Stinking Lizaveta. The tour will make it’s way down the east coast, ending up in Houston, TX. After that, they’ll be playing this year’s Bonnaroo Festival followed by a short European tour with Metallica.