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Album Review: The Sword - High Country

Mark Hebblewhite
StarStarStar

"A brave release from a band many considered trapped in a rut."

More The Sword The Sword

Once 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.