On October 20th 2022, frontman John D. Cronise announced the breakup of the Band via social media.
Originally signed to Kemado Records, the group released its debut album Age of Winters in 2006, the material for which had been largely written by Cronise (who also produced the album) prior to the band's formation. Gods of the Earth (which was also produced by the band's frontman) was released two years later, giving the group its first entry on the US Billboard 200 chart when it reached number 102.
In 2010 the band released Warp Riders, a concept album centered on an original science fiction narrative written primarily by Cronise, which marked the first time the group had enlisted an external producer in Matt Bayles. Original drummer Trivett Wingo left the group later in the year and was replaced briefly by Kevin Fender, before Vela joined in late 2011. After signing with Razor & Tie in early 2012, the group released its fourth album Apocryphon later in the year, which was promoted worldwide on the Apocryphon Tour. The band's fifth studio album High Country was released in August 2015, followed by their sixth Used Future in March 2018.
During its early career, The Sword was categorized primarily as a doom metal band, with the group's members citing bands including Black Sabbath and Sleep as influences. In recent years, the group's style has generally been classified as hard rock or stoner rock. The Sword has toured with a wide range of fellow rock and metal artists since its formation, including Metallica, Lamb of God and Clutch, and in recent years has also headlined its own tours. The band's debut Age of Winters failed to chart, but subsequent releases have all gained increasing commercial success in the US and the UK, with High Country also charting in other regions.
For the Canadian heavy metal rockers Sword consisting of Rick Hughes on lead vocals, Mike Plant on guitar, Mike Larock on bass and Dan Hughes on drums, see: Sword.
Winter's Wolves
The Sword Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bloody battles will be fought here
May the mountains rise against you
May the forests block your path
May your axes chip and shatter
And know it is my wrath
I would mount your head on bloody spears
And watch as crows peck out your eyes
And your cities are laid to waste
Can't you see what you have wrought here?
A curse on you and all your kin
Bloody battles will be fought here
Await your doom at empire's end
May the rivers rush to drown you
May the earth swallow your hosts
May the winter's wolves surround you
And rip the live from your throat
The Sword's song Winter's Wolves is full of fury and a warning of impending doom. The lyrics are directed at an adversary, and they describe the cursed fate that will befall him and his kin. The verses are intense and portray a chaotic and violent image of revenge. The singer warns his enemy of the bloody battles that are about to be fought and the mountains that will rise against him. The forests will block his path and his axes will chip and shatter. The singer lets his adversary know that it is his wrath that will bring about his downfall.
The chorus is especially ominous, promising not just a curse but also a vindictive retribution. The singer paints a vivid and macabre picture of his enemy's head being mounted on bloody spears outside his palace gates as crows peck out his eyes. The cities of his enemy will be laid to waste. The singer then repeats the first verse, emphasizing the curse on his enemy and all his kin, and that bloody battles await at empire's end. The rivers are rushing to drown him, the earth will swallow his hosts, and the winter's wolves will surround him and rip the live from his throat.
Winter's Wolves is a song about revenge and its terrible consequences. The lyrics describe a world where violence begets violence, and where every action carries a curse. The singer underscores the importance of not underestimating the power of wrath and vengeance. Winter's Wolves is a cautionary tale of how one's own actions can lead to their downfall.
Line by Line Meaning
Can't you see what you have wrought here?
Do you not realize the consequences of your actions?
Bloody battles will be fought here
There will be a fierce war in this place full of bloodshed.
May the mountains rise against you
Let the mountains become your enemy.
May the forests block your path
Let the forests obstruct your way and hinder your journey.
May your axes chip and shatter
Let your axes break and fail you.
And know it is my wrath
Realize and understand that this is my anger.
I would mount your head on bloody spears
I would display your decapitated head on sharp, bloodied spears.
Outside your palace gates
In front of your grand palace.
And watch as crows peck out your eyes
And witness the birds pecking out your eyes.
And your cities are laid to waste
And your once-thriving cities are destroyed and ruined.
A curse on you and all your kin
An utterance of an evil supernatural power on you and your entire family.
Await your doom at empire's end
Anticipate your demise at the end of your reign.
May the rivers rush to drown you
Let the rivers sweep and submerge you.
May the earth swallow your hosts
Let the ground devour and consume your army.
May the winter's wolves surround you
Let the chilling wolves encircle and attack you.
And rip the live from your throat
And tear the flesh from your throat, taking your life away.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Stoned
The sword is like a time machine,with every song;they take me to the foggy battle plains at medieval times.
MetallicaPanda0045
Thats what i thought. When I explain 'The Sword' to people, i say that they sound as though 'Black Sabbath'(vocals) and 'Mastodon'(chuggy riffs) had a beautiful love-child
Swade Best
With a little Dio thrown in for a good time.
djbandulu
His voice does sound like a young ozzy, but the whole Band Sounds Like SABBATH, and that is a very BEAUTIFUL thing! Sabbath is, and always will be, one of my all time favorite bands. The Sword Kicks ASS!
Arthur Name
Yep, I'm definitely in love with The Sword. It's confirmed now.
redwulf1943
this song is awesome!
igunzOsick
I FUCKING LOVE HIS LYRICS MAN!
Gregory Allcock
"I would mount your heads on the bloody spears
Outside your palace gates
And watch as crows peck out your eyes
And your cities are laid to waste"
Southbound Eightyone
Some of the best lines ever!!
Aether of the North
@Spencer Kramer You mean metal