The SwordOnce dismissed as hipster metal The Sword have proven the doubters wrong with a series of well-received retro-metal offerings.
That said High Country is going to split their fan base. Although echoes of the Sabbath/Pentagram worship remain the band delve into areas as diverse as krautrock, Allman Brothers-styled rock and even the odd keyboard-driven Deep Purple homage. Highlights include Empty Temples and the trippy psychedelic approach of Agartha. At 14 tracks and an intro, it's just too much but overall this is a brave release from a band many considered trapped in a rut.
