{"product_id":"840526504879","title":"The Sword - Age of Winters (20th Anniversary) - Import Colored Vinyl LP Recurd","description":"\u003cp\u003eCredits:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Sword\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDescription:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eComingtogripswiththeSword'sunlikelygenesisinthealternativemusicMeccaofAustin,TX,leadsonetowonderwhetherheavymetalhasfinallybecomehipagain.Dependingonyourgeneration,nothingwillseemassimultaneouslypreposterous(Gen-X'erswhocameofageduringpop-metal'sheydayanddon'trecognizeitasanunrepresentativeanomaly)orobvious(everyoneelse)whendiscussingagenrethat'sspentthebulkofits35-yearhistoryontheabsolutefringeofrockculture.Ifthatisn't\"alternative,\"well,whatis?Inanycase,glorifyingheavymetal'sprototypicalqualitiesisexactlywhattheSwordisallabout,andtheir2006debut,AgeofWinters,seesthemjoiningCalifornia'sHighonFire,Sweden'sWitchcraft,andAustralia'sWolfmother(tonamebutafew)attheforefrontofwhat'sgraduallybecomeknowninthemid-'00sasthe\"heritage\"or\"retro-metal\"movement.No,notstonerrock--that'ssoootenyearsearlier!TheonlythingtheSwordandtheirilkhaveincommonwithmost'90sstonerrockersisrecognizingthatallheavymetalempiresaresprungfromtheBlackSabbathcornerstone,andthetokensignscanbereadilyheardinthesesongs'ominousdoomchords(justlistentoopener\"CelestialCrown\"and\"LamentfortheAurochs\"),pummeling,down-pickedstaccatoriff-runs(\"Barael'sBlade,\"\"Ebethron\"),lyricsaboutfantasyandlegend(\"Freya,\"\"TheHornedGoddess,\"etc.),and,finally,thoseborderline-inadequate,zombievocalsfirstmadeacceptablebyOzzyhimself.TheSword'ssinger,JDCronise,iscertainlyguiltyofthelatter,butthenthatonlyhelpstofocusone'sattentionuponthealbum'smainattraction:itsmegalithicguitarwork.Fortherecord,theSwordspinstheevolutionaryclockasfarforwardas'80sthrash,onoccasion,resultingincolossal,gallopingonslaughtssuchas\"Winter'sWolves\"(completewithhowlingwolves,naturally)and\"IronSwan\"(prefacedbydelicatemelodiesofamedievalfeel).Yes,you'llprobablyhavetobeacertified,stainlesssteelmetalheadtoreallyappreciatetheskyscrapingriffconstructionsof\"MarchoftheLor\"(aninstrumentalineightmovements!),butthevastmajorityofwhat'son-handprovesremarkablywell-balancedandalmostsuspiciouslyimmediatetotheears.Assuch,AgeofWintersprovidesneophyte(errr--alternative?)listenerswithasgoodanentrywayasanyintothe\"retro-metal\"universe,whilealsomanagingtosoundrefreshingeventocallousedheavymetalears--thisisnosmallachievement.~EduardoRivadavia\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTracklisting:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1.Celestial Crown\u003cbr\u003e2.Barael's Blade\u003cbr\u003e3.Freya\u003cbr\u003e4.Winter's Wolves\u003cbr\u003e5.The Horned Goddess\u003cbr\u003e6.Iron Swan\u003cbr\u003e7.Lament for the Aurochs\u003cbr\u003e8.March of the Lor\u003cbr\u003e9.Ebethron\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kemado","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52631276912929,"sku":"840526504879","price":64.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0568\/8482\/2076\/files\/840526504879.jpg?v=1777818828","url":"https:\/\/cdsvinyljapan.com\/en-au\/products\/840526504879","provider":"CDs Vinyl Japan Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}