Warp Riders

one of the foundations of the metal revival of the past ten years, austin tx's the sword have released two flawless slabs of vintage heaviness on kemado records, toured the world with metallica, and were one of the first bands to lock into a whole new legion of fans through guitar hero. this summer, the band casts its gaze to the stars for 'warp riders', their third full-length and their most ambitious effort to date. 'warp riders' is the sword's first concept album, a science fiction maelstrom put to the storming, relentless riffage and pounding rhythms upon which the band has staked its reputation. it's also their most flat-out, supercharged, adrenaline-pumping work yet, a chrome-plated war machine that lords over the blackened sky. from the street-prowling anthems 'night city' and 'lawless lands' to the two-part showdown of 'the chronomancer,' to the furious mechanics of closing track '(the night the sky cried) tears of fire,' the sword forces eminent domain ruling over heavy metal for the next decade, and welcome all challengers for an ill-fated shot at the title.