One of the premier metal bands of the 21st century, the Sword, return with their third album, 'Warp Riders.' Eschewing the fantasy, sword and sorcery themes of their first two albums, 'Warp Riders' is a science fiction concept album. It tells the tale of Ereth, an excommunicated archer from the environmentally-devastated planet Acheron. His world has been "tidal locked," which causes one side to be scorched by the solar system's three suns, while the other side experiences perpetual night. Ereth, in his wanderings, discovers a mysterious orb and then encounters an alien entity known as the Chronomancer, who claims to know how to restore the planet's ecosystem. Ereth joins the Chronomancer and has an epic adventure, encountering witches, robots, space pirates and an armada of military spaceships.
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As one might guess from the dense storyline of 'Warp Riders,' these are not singalong songs in the vein of AC/DC or Van Halen. But the Sword infuses the album with their trademark retro-metal, Black Sabbath meets latter day Corrosion of Conformity hard rock groove, so that metal heads who can't tell the difference between Arthur C. Clarke and Ray Bradbury can still enjoy this album. Indeed, musically speaking, 'Warp Riders' is more accessible and mainstream than thier previous albums. The first single, "Tres Brujas," should have no problem getting plenty of radio airplay. Ditto cuts like "Night City" and even the sci-fi geeky-titled "The Chronomancer I: Hubris." Producer Matt Bayles, known for his work with fellow thinking man's metal band Mastodon, has helped the Sword expand their sound somewhat, even incorporating organs, synthesizers and psychedelic guitar into some songs.
But while not as colossally heavy as their previous albums, 'Warp Riders' still packs a lot of punch. "The Chronomancer II: Nemesis" and "Acheron/Unearthing the Orb" are just as fast and powerful as anything the band from Austin, Texas, has ever done. And Trivett Wingo's drumming is just as thumping and in your face as it was before.
'Warp Riders' is the sound of a band inching slowly closer to the mainstream, despite the heady sci-fi plot and their retro sound, influenced by 1970's era stoner rock (namely, Black Sabbath, Budgie and Lucifer's Friend). And they have done so without selling out or sacrificing one bit of integrity. This album should expand the Sword's fanbase to include fans of both hard rock and science fiction, in addition to headbangers.
One final note: the album cover for 'Warp Riders' is fantastic and completely fits the album and the Sword's style of music. Depicting a spaceship zooming past an asteroid, it looks exactly like the cover of a vintage science fiction paperback published in the 1970s.
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