The Sword And The Stoner Metal

By Lizz Kannenberg in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 7, 2008 5:55PM

When the inevitable chill finally hits the air each fall, some people relish the process of pulling sweaters out of mothball storage, mulling some spiced cider to enjoy in front of a roaring fire.

Other people get down to Texas-bred doom metal steeped in Norse mythology.

Austin's The Sword have been crafting a brand of dark, heavy rock since 2003 and are widely considered to be among the leaders of the retro- (or stoner) metal movement. Their 2006 LP Age of Winters and the inclusion of its track "Freya" on Guitar Hero II helped bring metal out of the basement and into the headphones of tastemakers for the first time since the early 90s.

This year's Gods of Earth continues the trend with all the requisite trappings of the genre: gongs, growls, rip-riffing and dark, orchestrated interludes. The Sword may be widely considered "metal for non-metalheads" by connoisseurs of the genre (calling indie-heavy Kemado Records home doesn't do anything to dispel the notion), but we'd support a Kuma's burger named for 'em.

The Sword plays tonight with Year Long Disaster and Zebulon Pike at Bottom Lounge, 1375 W Lake, 8:00 p.m., $18, 18+