As The Sword proved with 2010’s Warp Riders, they are a band who cast aside exercising prudence in order to evolve their sound—even if their last release was a bit lacking in that regard. High Country is the leap of faith in this stoner metal outfit’s story that leaves them hanging by their fingertips on the other side, almost falling into failure but somehow pulling it out when all’s said and done. From its strangely poppy opening to its twangy finale, High Country proves to be an amalgamation of oddities and standards that tries its best to push the band into unknown territory.
Having a deep foundation in classic hard rock is nothing new for the band but it seems like they’ve found a healthy equilibrium between a vintage sound and something with more modern sensibilities. There is a very distinct sonic link to Thin Lizzy in many songs and this is especially apparent in the vocal tone and phrasing of guitarist and vocalist J. D. Cronise in the track “Empty Temples.” However, the song before it, “Unicorn Farm,” is almost a polar opposite with heavy beats and up-tempo synth more aligned with Torch than Sabbath. That’s just how this album goes: for every “Unicorn Farm,” there’s a throwback like “Agartha,” and while the transitions could be improved, it somehow works. They haven’t forsaken that patented desert sound cruising straight out of Texas, but High Country feels like their first release that has no certain objective other than to be truly their own.
While the diversity and sheer craziness of material of are commendable, some of the album’s transitions are jarring and feel as though they weren’t thought out entirely. Case in point: the transition between “Agartha” and “Seriously Mysterious.” The songs work well together but lack a cohesive bridge to make the journey from one to another a smooth one. I found this especially disappointing because the songs all have a distinct flavor and a stronger bonding would have put this album well over the top.
Even still, this is a brilliant recording. It has some of the most original offerings I’ve ever heard in the realm of stoner metal, and coming off of a somewhat safe release, this is exactly what needed to happen. The Sword laid down exactly what they wanted with every track and even if it’s a mismatched patchwork of sorts, this is one of their best to date.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE_LFsFI3fA[/youtube]Score: 4.3/5
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