RESURRECTIONS
Unearthing the latest metal reissues
Austin sideburn-farmers THE SWORD went on a welldeserved hiatus two years back and were all set to re-emerge when COVID-19 nixed their comeback plans. But no virus can stop Craft Recordings’ massive celebration of the band via two career-spanning retrospectives. Chronology: 2006-2018 [8] is a three-cd set comprised of their more popular and recognisable odes to stoner metal, psychedelic doom and space rock jams alongside unreleased live tracks, covers and rarities highlighting the quartet’s aptitude at kneading sizzlin’ guitars and high-kickin’ flash into hazy riffs that can still tear up blacktop. Additionally, the Texans’ impact across musical generations is demonstrated via liner note essays by members of Metallica, Lamb Of God and Clutch. Conquest Of Kingdoms [6] comes in a three-lp gatefold package, but its contents are mostly cherrypicked from the back end of Chronology’s absurdly lengthy runtime. As such, it’s only essential to wax-collecting completists. Speaking of absurd, 2019 marked the 15th anniversary of German power metal aristocrats, POWERWOLF, a band equally at home onstage at massive festivals as in stone castle corridors. Best Of The Blessed [7]
corrals 16 majestic moments from their celebrated discography (half of which have been re-recorded) to illustrate epic chorus strength and questionable tact – i.e. the ridiculously beloved Resurrection By Erection.
Originally self-released last year, WILDERUN’S Veil Of Imagination [7] has since been nabbed by Century Media, who are keen on further exposing the Boston band’s ponderous collision of early Yes, melodic Scandinavian death and euphonic Opeth. Here are eight songs that’ll have heads scratching (obscenely loud vocal mix, random acoustic passages, meandering melodrama) and jaws unhinging (immense orchestration, stunning solos, collective musical intricacy). VOICES’ 2014 second album, London [8], (Candlelight) was a transitional work, but then so are they all. The four-piece that rose from the then-ashes of Akercocke expanded their pallette of sprawling wanderlust, hallucinogenic urban paranoia and id-unleashing bursts of psycho-sexual torment, all mapped on to the nervous system of their home city. Now on green double vinyl with all new artwork by drummer David Gray, it remains a ravaging assault on the senses. CONNIE GORDON/JONATHAN SELZER