2024 saw The Sword reunite for their first live performances since previously having broken up back in 2022. The Texan stoner/doom band are planning to keep that momentum going this year, having just announced a pair of headlining shows for April, while also pushing ahead with new music and more. The newly announced shows include:
04/10 Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
04/11 San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger
Tickets for both dates will be up this Friday, February 07th at 10:00am local time. Further shows are being mapped out for the summer. In a newly-published interview with Revolver, the band’s vocalist/guitarist John D. Cronise discussed their past breakup and what led to their eventual return.
When that group did originally call it quits, Cronise seemed resolute in his decision, stating, “Everything I ever wanted to say and do with The Sword creatively has been said and done.” Asked now by Revolver about where he currently stands on that sentiment, he replied:
“…That statement was very true when I made it, and even now. Like, going forward I’m not sure what new Sword material is going to sound like. But it’s not going to sound like old Sword material — sorry to disappoint all the diehards. [Laughs] And it’s not necessarily going to sound like the last couple records, either.
I always have to try something different and new. When I said that at the time, it was kind of like: With the sort of genre we were perceived as — you know, stoner rock, doom metal, whatever — as far as that milieu is concerned, I was done. That was sort of me saying, ‘I can’t write any more of these stoner rock songs like I’ve written. I squeezed the last one out and I got no more.’
But, you know, that’s not to say I can’t. We’re still gonna write heavy material. But as far as traditional stoner rock like our first few albums…when I listen to them, they sound kind of weird to me. As an artist, I always have to move forward and try different things. So, that’s what I’m looking forward to — to seeing what we come up with. Because I’m not capable of writing Age of Winters II or Warp Riders II. I couldn’t do it if I wanted to.”
As for any progress with new material, Cronise relayed:
“We have a couple demos laying around, but we have yet to really get together and concentrate on it. I’ve been in such a transitional state with moving. I was sort of semi-displaced by Hurricane Helene. I lived in Black Mountain, [North Carolina], and I couldn’t really go back to my house after that.
I was actually not in town when the hurricane happened [in September 2024], luckily. But I had to move out right after that. So I’ve been in a holding pattern here for the last couple months, and I’m finally moving to Austin in the next couple days. Then we’ll be able to get into the nitty gritty of working on new material.”
With 2025 also marking the 15th anniversary of the band’s third studio album “Warp Riders“, plans are also being laid for some celebratory touring and a special Record Store Day pressing.
