Hailing from Quebec, Canada, Sword were only originally around for two albums, of which this was the first, released back in ’96. They reunited last year and released a third album. This pressing is a nice looking and sounding reissue from Aquarius.
Follow The Wheel kicks things off in fine style with a nice riff and pounding groove. Children Of Heaven is more of the same, but with a slight Maiden feel. Stoned Again starts with huge sounding guitars, a pounding drum groove, and a wild guitar break. Great track! Dare To Spit On My Grave has a fat huge chugga main riff, then the killer main song kicks in with superb riff and groove, with a killer instrumental section. Outta Control ends Side 1 and leads you into false sense of security with the strings lullaby intro then it’s pure thrash a go go!
Epic pounding drum intro to Side 2 opener The End Of The Night. This baby pounds along at a killer pace. Runaway is up next, and boy what an opening. A superb guitar and drums piece then BOOM… the main heaviness assaults your ears. This is definitely my favourite track. Where To Hide pounds on in with a great fill and then it’s rock night special all the way. Stuck In Rock kicks in with a huge Metallica riff and groove. The guitar sound is massive on this track. Evil Spell closes out the album and after the eerie evil intro, the main riff is something straight out of the Sabbath handbook.
So, what happened, Sword? After a killer album like this you should have had a decent career at least. Shame!
9/10 from The Grooveman.
