The Sword

Top 10 Hard Rock Venues in Phoenix

We're lucky in the Valley of the Sun. There are plenty of hole-in-the-wall venues, which, in most enthusiasts' opinion, are the best places to see a great show. Especially when it comes to hard rock and metal. We're not talking Slayer gigs with $45,000 worth of pyrotechnics, or the kind of places th ... More >>

Digging Up Heavy Metal's Country Roots

I have always been one of those metal heads that claims to listen to all musical genres--except for country. But in the past year, I've realized that classic country songs, with their imagery and energy, are pretty hard to dislike. Take David Allan Coe's "If That Ain't Country Part II," for example. ... More >>

Top Metal Festivals of 2013

When the lineup for Rock on the Range was announced last week, a flurry of emails between myself and three other of my fellow chick metal journalists/enthusiasts ensued regarding flights, hotels, and tickets. We had all attended the weekend festival together in 2012, and relished the thought of a he ... More >>

The Sword, Club Red, 12/14/12

The Sword @ Club Red|12/14/12Valley metal heads got one the their last doses of heavy riffs and shredding guitar solos this year when Austin sci-fi enthusiasts The Sword played to a packed house last night at Club Red. By 9:00 -- well before the band were scheduled to perform -- a lengthy line of ... More >>

Top Five Must-See Shows This Weekend

Curious about what's going on around town this weekend? Need some suggestions where to rock, dance, or krump in the Valley of the Sun? Don't fret: These are our Five Shows to See This Weekend.

The Sword @ Club Red

The Sword's J.D. Cronise: "All Rock Is Stoner Rock"

Austin metal quartet The Sword has gone through some significant changes since the release of 2010's Warp Riders, a high-concept album taking place on the halves of a fictional planet each locked in eternal day and nighttime. They replaced their drummer, signed to a new label, and toned their earl ... More >>

Green Day, The Sword, Dethklok, and More Just Announced Shows

See also: Green Day's New Song "Epic as F*ck"? Not Even Close. See also: Throwback Thursday: Green Day's DookieWhen I was told by my editor to allow some room for a Green Day blurb, my first thought was "How awesome! It's like getting to write about how a former love stole my televison and left me ... More >>