The Sword, Corrosion of Conformity, and Hippie Death Cult

Prior to forming the Sword in 2003, vocalist and guitarist J.D. Cronise had written and recorded as a solo artist, before enlisting the help guitarist Kyle Shutt and drummer Trivett Wingo. With the later addition of bassist Bryan Richie in early 2004, the band made their performing debut at Austin’s Sound in March that year and recorded the EP entitled “Freya”. Following a well-received appearance at the South by Southwest in 2005, the Sword signed with Kemado Records, who issued the band’s debut album “Age of Winters” in February 2006. Comprised of mainly Cronise’s early material , the album earned the group a significant fan base and led to touring with Lacina Coil, Trivium, Nebula and Lamb of God.

The Sword subsequently released a split EP with the Swedish doom metal band Witchcraft, which included a Led Zeppelin cover, and released their sophomore album “Gods of the Earth” in April 2008. Like its predecessor, the album was well-received by critics and fans, and was their first charting album reaching No. 102 on the Billboard 200. In support of the album The Sword embarked on their ‘Gods of the Earth Tour’ with support provided by Machine Head, Lamb of God and Clutch.

Taking their musical inspiration from a more science fiction base, the Sword’s third full-length album “Warp Rider” was a concept album with a hard rock focus. The album debuted at No. 47 on the Billboard 200 and the band supported Metallica, for the third time, on a number of their Australian and Asian tour dates. In 2010 drummer Trivett Wingo departed the group and was replaced by Kevin Fender on tour and later by Santiago “Jimmy” Vela III. The band combined fantasy and metaphysics on their fourth studio album “Apocryphon” in 2012, which peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard 200.

In the early days of COC, the band honed their craft taking the shape of a hardcore punk style, with a 20-track debut, “Eye for an Eye” which was released in 1984 on Candlelight Records. They also released an album called “Animosity” in October 1985, but on Metal Blade Records. Their first album that struck the charts in a big way was an album called “Blind” released one November 5th 1991. It placed on the Heatseekers chart at number 24. They released “Dance of the Dead” and “Vote with a Bullet” as singles, both of which earning the band some valuable airplay on Los Angeles’ KNAC.

COC signed a deal with Columbia Records, and entered the studio in 1993. They emerged on September 27th 1994 with an album called “Deliverance”. Kerrang! described the album as a “True 90s classic”. Their song “Albatross” taken from the record has made it onto the video game Guitar Hero: Metallica. The album made it to number 5 on the Heatseekers Chart, and entered the Billboard 200 chart at number 155, and has since it’s release sold upwards of 379,000 copies. This record was followed with the ever-popular “Wiseblood” released on October 12th 1996 still on Columbia records. It made it to an even higher chart position of number two in the Heatseekers Chart, and this time, number 43 on the UK Albums Chart.

After a brief hiatus, which included the release of a live album entitled “Live Volume”, in 2005 on April 5th, the band released their album “In the Arms of God”. It was this album that managed to hit the top spot of the Heatseekers Chart and even number 41 in Sweden.

Their two following studio albums, the eponymous release on February 28th 2012, and IX on June 24th 2014, have both made it to number 5 on the Heatseekers Chart.