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THE SWORD Apocryphon hails from 2022 and is a SEALED limited edition 180 gram LP issued on Cosmic Yellow Swirl Vinyl.  Not long after forming in the early aughts, The Sword found themselves at the forefront of the retro-metal movement, merging the classic doom metal of the ’70s with psychedelia and stoner rock. Over the next few years, the Austin, TX four-piece continued that trajectory, gaining flocks of fans around the globe (not to mention plenty of critical acclaim) with releases such as 2008’s Gods of the Earth and the 2010 concept album, Warp Riders. By 2012, however, members of The Sword were about to enter a fresh phase in their career.

An album of firsts, Apocryphon was the group’s debut on the label Razor & Tie, as well as their first recording with drummer Santiago “Jimmy” Vela III. It also marked The Sword’s first album without any instrumental tracks. Produced with J. Robbins (Against Me! Jawbreaker, The Promise Ring), Apocryphon found the band delving further into stoner rock and embracing an arena-sized sound—offering a throwback to the classic riffs of Black Sabbath and Thin Lizzy. Lyrically, the record was also a stylistic shift, with the band moving farther away from the fantasy worlds of their earlier albums. Instead, they ruminated on metaphysical ideas, focusing on such themes as the apocalypse and the mysterious cycle of life, death, and rebirth. 

Featuring such favorites as “Arcane Montane,” “The Hidden Masters,” “The Veil of Isis,” and “Cloak of Feathers,” Apocryphon was a critical and commercial success. In addition to debuting at No.17 on the Billboard 200, the album drew rave reviews from the likes of the BBC, Magnet, AllMusic, Loudwire, and Consequence of Sound, which hailed Apocryphon as “heavy metal distilled to its purest form.” Lacquers for this 10th anniversary edition were cut by Daniel Krieger at SST, using Greg Calibri’s (Sterling Sound) original high-resolution master. Limited to 5,000 copies, the LP is pressed on 180-gram cosmic yellow swirl vinyl and housed in a gatefold jacket featuring artwork by the award-winning comic book artist and penciller, J.H. Williams III.

Side A

The Veil Of Isis

Cloak Of Feathers

Arcane Montane

The Hidden Masters

Side B

Dying Earth

Execrator

Seven Sisters

Hawks & Serpents

Eyes Of The Stormwitch

Apocryphon