Hacked and Slashed by The Sword

words by Dave Knoch
photos by Randy Cremean

As band names go, particularly in this decade, The Sword is about as simple and understated as they come. While the name of this Austin-based foursome contradicts the band’s monumental sound, a closer examination of the origins and philosophies of the band members sheds some light on how appropriate their chosen moniker actually is. Heavily influenced by legendary heavy rock acts like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple, The Sword’s music is comparable to recent retro rockers Priestess, Graveyard, and Wolfmother. The Sword edges ahead of the pack, however, with their formidable lyrics and unique inspiration. Song titles like “Freya”, “March of the Lor”, and “Winters Wolves” hint at their fantasy and mythological influences. Frontman J.D. Cronise, the creative force behind The Sword, pens the vast majority of the music and lyrics, but each of the band members (Kyle Shutt on guitar, Bryan Richie on bass, and Trivett Wingo on drums) brings their own eccentric style to the mix. “We’re all into kinda similar stuff,” explains Wingo. “All of us kinda like Lovecraft and stuff like that. Kyle is kind of a comic book nerd, J.D.’s into Dungeons and Dragons, Bryan’s more of like a computer nerd, and I’m just a general, like, classics nerd.” Classics nerd? “I used to teach high school Latin,” says Wingo with a laugh.