SWORD - Metalized

\r\nThe first album disk of Canadian SWORD was loved by the Greeks metalheads as few, and the explanation for this is very simple: overflowed from force and guts. Add also their intense influences from worshipped JUDAS PRIEST and SAVATAGE and you have the recipe of success. Metalized is an awesome album, with 10 tracks real "dynamites", ready to cause chain explosions in your stereo woofers. Real dynamite is also the guitarist Mike Plant, with his "heavy" riffs and his marvellous, ultra heavy sound. It is not accidental that great Dave Mustaine, as guest in the television show, Much Loud on 11 November 2006, prologised the video Stoned Again and spoke with the best words for Plant and the group in general, regarding that the specific video in among his 5 most loved!!So, after they appeal so much to Dave, is it possible that they don’t like to you?\r\n

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\r\nWith him Plant had also Rick Hughes, who impresses with his dynamics and "alike" John Oliva voice and Mike Larock and Dan Hughes in bass guitar and drums, that compose a "bulky" and well-tied rhythm section. All together, as a metal machine, begin also to throw fires from their exhausts from the very beginning of the album, the amazing F.T.W (Follow The Wheels), which is dedicated to all of their easy rider friends, as they report accordingly in the layout. Same good also, is the favorite Children Of Heaven that follows, while consequently the rhythm reduces speed with Stoned Again, which is very heavy but also is made to approach a wider audience and for this reason their company chose it to become a video clip. With the very aggressive Dare To Spit the album returns to its… natural ultra heavy levels, while the very fast Outta Control perhaps exceeds them!!! \r\n

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\r\nThe second side of vinyl begins with one from my beloved tracks, The End Of The Night, with its splendid refrain, being continuously "stuck" in the brain, and with ultra heavy riffs of Runaway and Where To Hide that comes afterwards you believe that Plant tries to smash your face in the wall. This person is a real enjoyment and you cannot stop from listening to him. If you and your speakers manage… to survive from this guitar "whirlwind" then you will be able to hear the very good ones, Stuck In Rock and Evil Spell that closes this fantastic album, that will impress you with its inhexaustible force and authentic, metal aggressiveness. \r\n

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\r\nTwo years later, in 1988, SWORD released the anticipated second (and last one unfortunately) album titled Sweet Dreams and the truth is that they disappointed their overcrowded fans. Not because the album is bad, but the opposite in deed, Sweet Dreams is very good, with very well-cared production and some very good tracks, like as the homonym, Land Of The Brave or Caught In The Act.The problem was that the group attempted a more moderate approach in their music, which resulted in their loss of a big part of their fans, while also the splendid, ultra heavy sound of Metalized that so much we loved had gone disappeared. In any case, if you are fanatic worshipper of good guitar Sweet Dreams is a release that you must hear, as well as here the fantastic Mike Plant gives his solo performance. If however you should choose from the two albums, then Metalized is your only choice. Increase the volume and be sure that you will make reality the recent forecasts… of earthquake scientists for vibration of many Richter!!! \r\n

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\r\nAntonis Alexandropoulos \r\n

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\r\nTranslated by: Manos Maragos   \r\n

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