Atop the tallest of earth's peaks dwell the gods of earth, and suffer no man to tell that he hath looked upon them.- H.P. Lovecraft, The Other Gods With it's soon-to-be unleashed sophomore album, Gods of the Earth freshly laid to tape, THE Sword prepares to build upon the foundation it laid with it's critically acclaimed debut Age of Winters and continues to lead modern day metal's forward charge. Conceived in Austin, TX, THE Sword took the form of a cohesive quartet in early 2004 when guitarist / singer J.D. Cronise, guitarist Kyle Shutt, bassist Bryan Richie, and drummer Trivett Wingo joined forces. THE Sword's live shows quickly became the hottest ticket in Austin, as their punishing, yet melodious compositions, mythical imagery and conscious effort to slowly immobilize audiences left music fans astonished while word about the band continued to flourish and grow. In the fall of 2005, THE Sword found a home at Kemado Records, and their critically acclaimed debut Age of Winters was released in February 2006. From the moment Gods of the Earth's lead track The Sundering explodes, it is immediately apparent that THE Sword has upped the ante on a sound all it's own. More ambitious, more accomplished and simply bigger, Gods of the Earth's huge, mountaintop-friendly hooks, thunderous drumming and oceanic bass lines cut through the air like a scythe taking down all in the band's path. The ominous vocals of Cronise weave fantastical tales rife with myth and mythology. Waves of powerful riffs and low-end thunder dominate songs such as the immediate Maiden, Mother & Crone, Fire Lances of the Ancient Hyperzephyrians, Under the Boughs and the paralyzing The Black River. Gods of the Earth instantly conveys what words can only try to describe: THE Sword is not to be taken lightly.