THE SWORD STRIVES FOR ONGOING SONIC EVOLUTION
For guitarist Kyle Shutt of The Sword, musical evolution is a very necessary thing.
The Austin, Texas-based outfit has moved a certain distance on from the almost traditional metal crunch of their 2006 debut, Age of Winter, adding new elements, dabbling in different textures, restlessly rethinking their sound over their six-album career. Now, with their latest effort, Used Future, they’ve upped the quotient of sonic elements like synthesizers to their usual gnarly, guitar-pummeling, riff rocking intensity, even touching on classic rock.
Tell Shutt that it’s an interesting leap away from the classic Sword sound and he’ll need to think about it for a moment, however.
“Well, I guess it doesn’t feel like a change to me because I’ve been in it for the entire time,” he finally says after a moment’s consideration. “We’ve grown so much; we’re not the same kids that made our first record in our bass player’s house for free. But I guess that if you put an old track up against something from Used Future or (2015’s) High Country then yeah, we’ve definitely moved on. That’s kind of necessary, though, right?” Absolutely.
Not all listeners might agree, but keeping a band at a certain musical point in their creative lives causes stagnation, and we don’t want that, do we?
“No, we don’t,” says Shutt. “Look at a band like Rush. What if they had made the same album 10 times over? We’d never have Moving Pictures!”
Used Future might not yet be The Sword’s Moving Pictures, but there’s little doubt they’re getting there. I spoke with Shutt about staying true to artistic impulses, what it’s like to listen to the The Sword in the van, and the recent, unexpected death of a band friend.
Q: It’s a little strange to talk to you right now, because we’re both still reeling a little about the death of Anthony Bourdain yesterday. The Sword appeared on his television show No Reservations back in 2012, and it seemed like you had a connection.
A: Oh, God, yeah, that was horrible, heartbreaking news. He was irreplaceable. I had taken him to what was then my neighbourhood bar, which I haven’t been to in some time, and all today I’ve been getting texts from people there saying “remember that day?”
Q: Was he really as approachable as he seemed?
A: Yeah, dude, he was exactly how you’d think he’d be. You get the idea that he talks a lot because he narrates the show, but actually he didn’t; he’d ask questions and really listen to what you had to say.
Q: On a less sombre tangent, you’re coming to Edmonton with your sixth and latest album, Used Future.
A: It’s a high point for me. If we ended it all tomorrow I can say that Used Future is our best album. I mean, I love it, and we really make music for ourselves, not other people.
Q: How does it sit with your other material, which is more classically metal?
A: When you hear these songs amongst our older stuff it sounds really dynamic and powerful. I mean, we’re also a much better live band now. It’s out of control. We don’t have pyro or anything, we’ve just developed as players. I’ll see old videos of ourselves and think “damn,” like I’m looking at a bunch of kids.
Q: You’ve got quite liberal tastes in the band, from Michael Jackson to ZZ Top. Do you find this creeping in at times?
A: Yeah, though not in a deliberate way. It creeps in and you’re like “oops.” I listen to a lot of ’80s and ’90s dance pop and ’60s soul. I also like the rock ’n’ roll that came out before the Beatles. Pre-British invasion. That stuff is fascinating to me. It kind of worms its way into my guitar playing.
Q : How so?
A: I don’t go for flashy, I try to make a lot of cool sounds instead of just playing fast. Once you learn how to do a double tap you think “well, I did that once, maybe twice, maybe I should move on.” I don’t want a bag of tricks, I like to keep learning. It takes a lot for me to get sick of something but when I do I like to turn it upside down.
Q: This doesn’t bode well for fans who like their headbanging to be uncomplicated.
A: I can’t be responsible for what people enjoy or don’t enjoy.
Q: Does the band’s developing style ever cause problems with fans?
A: No, because they wouldn’t actually be fans, right? In any event, I couldn’t be in a band that cranked out the hits time and time again. Look at Queens of the Stone Age. They don’t play anything off of their first album, and they’re the biggest band in the world. You can’t worry about what people think, you just have to put one foot in front of the other, and if people want to get off the train they can get off. That just makes room for other people.