It brings me great joy to announce the release of "High Country," THE SWORD's critically acclaimed 2015 album. This is a band from Austin, Texas, the same city I was born in, so I have long identified with them and just as well since I happen to find a lot of pleasure in listening to their music. Though the band is largely known for being a pioneering hybrid Stoner/Doom Metal ensemble, this album is a bit of a departure from the style for which they are so highly regarded. That being said, there is no mistaking that this is THE SWORD's music, stamped with their signature songwriting and musicianship throughout.

The previously mentioned "departure" starts right from the get-go. Some heavy synth work in "Unicorn Farm" tells the listener that this is something different and there is more to follow. It is quite the unique album intro, bordering on electronica with a rather upbeat tempo and funky melody. "Empty Temples" follows closely behind, with the guitars taking the helm and providing the prominent riff after a brief crescendo at the beginning. This song has Psychedelic Southern Rock written all over it and the structure is a return to the Blues influences from which all of Rock and Metal evolved. The song gets really heavy near the end of the song and the dueling harmonizing lead guitar progressions add a nice touch to finish it off.

"High Country" is a fairly funky tune, starting off with a chanting guitar riff over a synth/bass track then moves into a series of perfunctory bar chords. For a title track, it is fairly short but does give off that epic feel at times with those reliable crash cymbals. And hell, why not throw in a little gratuitous cowbell while they're at it!

"Tears Like Diamonds" is a much more noticeably psychedelic tune with the echoing staccato guitar in the background. It has a solid groove to it and the lyrics tell of a woman who, while crying, sheds the song title's namesake, which lets on to a more whimsical aspect.

"Mist & Shadow" commences with a heft dose of bends on the guitar strings that builds into a massive, more Doom-y sounding progression. That is pretty much the structure of the entire song, but it carries with it a distinction on this album as one of the more recognizable songs by THE SWORD. The video for this song is absolutely trippy and matches up thematically with the lyrics and the direction of the song, so it is definitely worth checking out!

"Agartha" is reminiscent of a 1970's low-budget sci-fi film score. It is heavily reliant on Bryan's synths and the percussion and guitar backing have an almost PINK FLOYD feel to the whole thing. Recommended for intense hallucinatory experiences! "Seriously Mysterious" is mostly a funky synth/drum beat that sounds like it came right out of the late 1980's! This is a song unlike anything I have ever heard from this band, but still has John's signature vocals bringing everything together.

"Suffer No Fools" ...now there is a mantra I can agree with. The tune I can also agree with, since it is a lot more on the Southern Rock side of the spectrum. This song is comparable in style to a few bands, but I will let you guess which ones. Even as an instrumental, it has plenty of energy to go around! "Early Snow" has more of the Stoner Rock drone and style. The band even threw in some sounds of a horn section near the end! But I loved the lyrics for this track, particularly how it seems to be a warning of a cold and snowy weather event that could take your life.

"The Dreamthieves" has that entire Classic Rock feel in the intro, with the "oooohs" of THE EAGLES' "Witchy Woman" and the funk of a THIN LIZZY track crossed with a FOREIGNER riff structure. And it even had a KYUSS/QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE feel to it at times. This one is in my top five of "High Country!"

"Buzzards" is a storytelling song set to another pounding Hard Rock tune, while "Silver Petals" is a quaint, soft acoustic track similar in style to some acoustic work by the band KANSAS, which is noteworthy to me.

"Ghost Eye" leads off with a serious Rock 'N Roll riff and keeps the intensity throughout. The phrase "the ghost eye watches" is somewhat haunting, whether referencing a specter or the eye of a person whose gaze seems to peer "right to your soul."

"Turned To Dust" is a piece about the end of life that we all will meet, no matter rich nor poor. Its slow tempo and gentle cymbal slides set a very somber mood with the recessed clean vocals echoing the stillness of death. It is a stark contrast to "The Bees of Spring" who is encouraged to gather their nectar but spare their stings. It is a fairly bass-y song but it is easy to hear that traditional Blues song structure and serves as a unique and suitable end to the album, with a hell of a solo to boot!

This is textbook work by this band, though this album has a few weaker tracks and the more progressive sound may leave a few fans anxious for more traditional work. Regardless, the songwriting and musicianship I mentioned at the top of my review are spot-on and tell die-hard fans that nothing has changed at the core of the band. So put on your hiking boots and get ready to head to "High Country"!<