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Sword Tests Mettle On Metallica Tour

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By CURTIS ROSS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 25, 2008

Updated:

A young band about to embark on its first U.S. tour of arenas and stadiums, opening for Metallica, would have every right to be apprehensive.

The Sword waives those rights.

"It's right. It's what's supposed to happening," says Sword drummer Trivett Wingo, a man so matter-of-factly self-assured that descriptions such as "cocky" hardly begin to describe him.

"Even if I weren't in The Sword, I would tell you that," Wingo insists.

Like the man said, it ain't bragging if it's true. On the basis of two albums and the reaction of fans, Wingo and Co. have the goods to back up his strong words.

The band's 2006 debut, "Age of Winters," featured Sabbath-style riffing and singer-guitarist J.D. Cronise's sword-and-sorcery style lyrics, honed into tight song form for metal that moved instead of just bludgeoned.

"I think that's what separates The Sword from other metal bands - we actually rock," Wingo says. "A lot of people forget to rock. It makes for a very flat cake."

Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich became a fan, and The Sword spent much of the summer opening for Metallica in Europe.

"We went to some pretty far-flung places, especially in Eastern Europe," Wingo says.

The Continental audiences "ate it up," Wingo says. "We're not as developed over there as we are in the states, but Europe is coming along."

The Sword came together when Cronise and Wingo relocated from Richmond, Va., to Austin, Texas, where they hooked up with bassist Bryan Richie and guitarist Kyle Shutt.

Austin is known for music, especially blues, country and Americana. Metal bands from the Lone Star State's capital, though, are rare.

"I wouldn't say there's any kind of metal scene there. Not that I'm aware of," Wingo says. "There's only one or two other metal bands in Austin.

It wasn't hard for The Sword to stand out. Or find gigs.

"There are so many venues in Austin and so many bands and such a heap of mediocrity, it's pretty much not hard to get shows there," Wingo says.

If many of the Austin bands "half ass their way through," as Wingo puts it, The Sword instead put the hammer down.

"We smoked it really hard," Wingo says. "It wasn't hard to establish ourselves there."

Not that establishing themselves in Austin was a long-term goal.

"Rehearsing is cool and all, but it's not the same as making records and playing shows," Wingo says. "What was decisive for us was getting out of town. We've been playing shows for four years. We go on lots of tours. We put months in on the road. It's the work that's important."

Somewhere in all that road work, The Sword found time to record its second album, this year's "Gods of the Earth."

Wingo calls it "probably a little more complex and textured" than "Age of Winters" but adds, "At its core it's not a departure. It's consistent. It's a logical consequence."

ON TOUR

The Sword

OPENING FOR: Clutch

WITH: Graveyard and Never Got Caught

WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: State Theatre, 687 Central Ave., St. Petersburg; (727) 895-3045

COST: $20

Curtis Ross can be reached at (813) 259-7568 or cross@tampatrib.com.

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