The Sword – Age of Winters

2006 Kemado Records

Dr. Chado first introduced me to this band a few months back but only here recently have I really dived into their discs and The Sword’s sound is a sound I can easily get lost in.   Make no mistake…if you’re not already on board with doomy Sabbathesque guitar soundscapes, I doubt The Sword will change your mind.   Sabbath always was a sound you either liked or didn’t like and the same holds true here.

I like.  A lot.

The Sword wears their Black Sabbath influence on their sleeve without ever sounding like rehash.  In fact, they’re the band I had always hoped St. Vitus would become, but never quite did.

Power chords, perfect fuzz distortion on the guitar and in my opinion the perfect vocals to go with it…right smack dab in between Ozzy himself and the great John Garcia of Kyuss.  In fact, in many ways The Sword bridges the gap between Sabbath and Kyuss.   Sabbath was the seminal black cloud of metal (it’s true…and Iommi is a genius) while Kyuss was what you imagined Sabbath would have sounded like had they awakened one morning, taken their happy pills and decided life is okay after all.   Only complaint is that once in a while the lead vocals could use just a tad more melodic diversity…but truth be told, they work perfectly about 95% of the time so in the immortal words of Nigel Tufnel:  “That’s nit-picking, isn’t it?”

In between the aforementioned bands is the land of The Sword – mythology to the fore but not taken too seriously, rhythms alternately plodding and chugging with hypnotic grandeur.    Once again…if you’re on board with this type of music (Fu Manchu, Kyuss, Mastadon, et al) then this disc is a veritable sonic buffet.

Freya is probably the most well known track here due to the cool video, and is one of my faves.  Truth is, though, everything here satisfies my indulgent sludgemoods.   Opening track Celestial Crown builds up just like you want it to, Freya is just massive, and I just love Winter’s Wolves with the beautifully stereo mixed real wolf howls in the middle of the song.

Extra props for Iron Swan, which opens up with a nice touch of old-school speed metal a-la-Judas Priest before sucking you into a really fine mid-paced chug.

All references to the mighty Sabbath are meant with the utmost respect, as The Sword are one of very few bands that have taken that organic sound and created something identifiable as their own.   Just put this one on and let it play…no duff tracks to be found.  Thank you again, Dr. Chado

I understand there will be a new CD in 2010.

I can’t wait.

Rating:  4.5 out of 5

CLICK HERE TO BUY AGE OF WINTERS AND OTHER MUSIC FROM THE SWORD THROUGH AMAZON.COM

Weekly Abysmal Video 11/30/09

This week’s WAV comes from Louisiana’s own Rock-N-Roll-Is-Not-A-Spectator-Sport institution…Cowboy Mouth! This is a song of theirs from the mid-90’s that shoulda been huge…it’s a definite crowd fave at their live shows. If you ever get the chance to see them live, don’t miss them…they’re one of the most fun live bands you’ll ever see!

Excellent band, cool songs and Fred Leblanc is the only drummer I’ve ever seen who can truly FRONT a band.

Just click on the Cowboy Mouth picture below and enjoy the song and video on YouTube. Here ya go…enjoy Abysmally.

Weekly Abysmal Video 11/24/09

To celebrate one of my music heroes, David Freel, becoming a fan of the Sonic Abyss on Facebook, this week’s WAV is from his band, and one of my 3 all-time favorite bands…Swell!

This is one of my 2 favorite songs of theirs and comes from Too Many Days Without Thinking, which is one of the 10 Most Truly Abysmal CD’s.  It’s called (I Know) The Trip and I hope you love it as much as I do.  Here’s to you, David!  And as always, enjoy Abysmally…

CLICK HERE TO BUY TOO MANY DAYS WITHOUT THINKING AND OTHER SWELL MUSIC THROUGH AMAZON.COM

Cavalera Conspiracy – Inflikted

2008 Roadrunner Records

Blown away.

I don’t know any other way to describe my reaction upon first hearing this disc.  After numerous listens, I only like it better.   This is exactly how I like this music to sound…cacophonous distorted noise honed down to an impossibly tight and rhythmic science.

Power grooves rule the day (which is just fine by me) starting with leadoff disgustipation and title cut Inflikted.    Hearing the Cavalera brothers reunited again just magnifies what an incredible driving force the two were behind Sepultura.  Honestly, I could see where this would have been a perfect follow-up to 1996’s groundbreaking Roots disc, bringing everything back to the basics and somehow making it better.

Which is just how I would describe this disc overall…back to the basics with even better songs and tighter grooves.  Sometimes it’s okay to just be the best at what you do and revel in your “thang.”   Cavalera Conspiracy, while whipping up some speed in places, slams down their “thang” (i.e. POWER groove) like no one else and I find myself entranced by the whole smear.

The aforementioned title track, Sanctuary, Bloodbrawl, Hex, Heart of Darkness, MustKill…honestly there’s not a weak track anywhere to be found.   There are some nice curveballs in there, as well, such as the gorgeous acoustic outro to Bloodbrawl.

The Cavalera Brothers have creativity, but beyond creativity you have to have heart for this kind of music to have any remote chance of working.   Environmental issues, unjust repression of people, the plight of Brazilian aboriginees…Max Cavalera always has substance behind his roar.

I put this one on repeat shuffle play for hours and it just doesn’t wear on me at all.   Arrangements are tidy, lead guitar work is stellar and the drums are just ridiculously tight.   Don’t look for anything groundbreaking here.   Max, Igor and Co. are stomping on the ground they broke 15 years ago, and everything I love about this kind of music is on this disc.

Which is just fine by me.   Gotta thank Dave at CD Warehouse in Lancaster, PA for introducing me to this gem.

Rating:  5 out of 5

CLICK HERE TO BUY INFLIKTED THROUGH AMAZON.COM

Weekly Abysmal Video 11/16/09

This week’s WAV comes courtesy of Britain’s Invasion.  I know absolutely nothing else about this band other than Dr. Chado posted this video on his Facebook wall Friday and I can’t get the song out of my head.  I wasn’t sure what to make of it at first, but after watching/listening to it about 20 times over the weekend I can’t deny I think it’s really cool.  A new kind of power trio…and girl knows she can sing.  Extra points for the guitarist’s Sleep t-shirt.  Rock on…and enjoy Abysmally…