Sunday 14 June 2009

Sword - Metalized (1986)


What a smooth monster this is. 'Metalized' is the gargantuan effort of Montreal's Sword who with such ease ooze out this lead weight metal. It's just so big and powerful, reeking of cool, bereft of the corny, and styled on big harmonies courtesy of Rick Hughes who effortlessly belts out these doomy hymns like no other. Vastly underrated, Sword are a giant mechanical animal, 'Stuck In Rock' is a sprawling leech which saps all the concrete from the suburban jungle and cranks amps up to ten. Pretty faultless, straight forward heavy metal that will leave you salivating for more due to its monstrous nature. No real thrills, but the production and musicianship is spot on, the band combing across the power metal genre with a hint of Priest.


'Children Of Heaven' has a darkly Gothic overtone, but it's those buzzing guitars and wholesome vocal attacks which fire the band into the stratosphere. Very heavy in parts, and reeking of that sinister metal menace you'd expect from '80s metal acts. 'Evil Spell' is symbolic of that typical vibe and you'll be hard pressed to find anything more sincere or rocking. This is a slab.


8.5/10

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