Age of Winters
Age of Winters is the debut album by American heavy metal band The Sword, released in the United States on February 14, 2006.[1][2] The Japanese edition, released by record label Toy's Factory, contains three bonus tracks recorded live at the CBGB club in New York City[3] on April 9, 2006.[4] The single released from the album was "Freya",[5] which did not chart. Age of Winters was later reissued as part of a two-disc box set with Gods of the Earth on November 25, 2008.[1][6]
Reception
The Sword's debut album received a widely positive critical reaction. Reviewing for music website allmusic, critic Eduardo Rivadavia awarded Age of Winters 4.5 out of 5 rating stars, qualifying it as an "AMG Album Pick".[10] In the review, Rivadavia claims that the band's debut record "sees them joining California's High on Fire, Sweden's Witchcraft, and Australia's Wolfmother (to name but a few) at the forefront of what's gradually become known in the mid-'00s as the "heritage" or "retro-metal" movement."[10] He goes on to suggest that "the album's main attraction [is] its megalithic guitar work," concluding that "Age of Winters provides [...] listeners with as good an entryway as any into the "retro-metal" universe, while also managing to sound refreshing even to calloused heavy metal ears," which, he suggests, "is no small achievement."[10]
Other reviews of Age of Winters were similarly positive – webzine PopMatters, awarded the album a favorable rating of seven out of ten, describing it as "one fine, headbang-inducing beast of a debut record,"[11] while The Austin Chronicle summarised the album as "literate" and "visceral".[12]
Cultural references
"Freya" appears as a playable song on Guitar Hero II and again in Guitar Hero Smash Hits on the soundtrack of Burnout Dominator video games. "Barael's Blade" was used in the season five American Dad! episode "Rapture's Delight". "Celestial Crown" is featured on Jennifer's Body soundtrack. "Iron Swan" appears on the 2006 video game Tony Hawk's Project 8
Track listing
All lyrics written by J. D. Cronise, all music composed by The Sword.
1. |
"Celestial Crown" (instrumental) |
1:57 |
2. |
"Barael's Blade" |
2:48 |
3. |
"Freya" |
4:34 |
4. |
"Winter's Wolves" |
4:36 |
5. |
"The Horned Goddess" |
5:01 |
6. |
"Iron Swan" |
5:46 |
7. |
"Lament for the Aurochs" |
7:59 |
8. |
"March of the Lor" (instrumental in eight movements) |
4:41 |
9. |
"Ebethron" |
5:35 |
Total length:
|
42:57 |
10. |
"Barael's Blade" (live at the CBGB) |
3:02 |
11. |
"Iron Swan" (live at the CBGB) |
5:48 |
12. |
"March of the Lor" (live at the CBGB) |
5:06 |
Total length:
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56:53 |
Personnel
- The Sword
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- Additional personnel
|
Release history
Region |
Date |
Label |
Format |
Catalog[13] |
United States |
February 14, 2006 |
Kemado |
CD album |
KEM 027[1] |
Europe |
March 27, 2006 |
Kemado |
CD album |
KEM 032[14] |
United States |
July 18, 2006 |
Kemado |
LP album |
KEM 029[1] |
Europe |
January 29, 2007 |
Kemado |
LP album |
KEM 048[15] |
Japan |
May 2, 2007 |
Toy's Factory |
CD album |
TFCK-87417[16] |
References
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John "J. D." Cronise · Kyle Shutt · Bryan Richie · Santiago "Jimmy" Vela
Trivett Wingo · Kevin Fender
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Studio albums |
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Extended plays |
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Singles |
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Concert tours |
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Related articles |
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