Conquest of Kingdoms

by The Sword

Overview

One of two career-spanning compilations to be released by the stalwart Texas metallers in 2020 -- the other is the even larger Chronology 2006-2018 -- Conquest of Kingdoms delivers a well-curated, fan-centric set of concert recordings and non-album/previously unreleased songs. The 30-track collection commences with four live cuts, "The Horned Goddess," "Barael's Blade," Lament for the Aurochs," and "Iron Swan," recorded in 2005 at Austin's legendary Emo's. Not too far removed from the studio versions that would appear on the acclaimed Age of Winters the following year, it's cool to hear Kyle Shutt's and John "J.D." Cronise's dovetailing guitar work in a live setting at the peak of their most Sabbath-leaning period. The live recordings roll out sequentially, with a 2007 performance at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC showcasing material from the thrashy, NWOBHM-influenced Gods of the Earth, and a 2011 Stubbs BBQ gig leans hard into the metaphysical space rock emissions of 2012's Apocryphon. The remaining B-sides and rarities feature some choice covers, including takes on Pentagram's "Forever My Queen," fellow Texans ZZ Top's "Cheap Sunglasses," Thin Lizzy's "Cold Sweat," and Kiss' "She," the latter of which apparently needed more cowbell. Outtakes from later efforts High Country ("Hexenringe") and Used Future ("Serpent Weather") reflect the Sword's pivot from straight-up doom-casters to bluesy hard rockers, and a colossal 2008 version of fan-favorite "Freya" adds the sonic heft that the original 2006 recording implied but couldn't yet reach. All 26 of these tracks also appear on Chronology 2006-2018, which adds 26 hand-picked studio cuts to the mix, making it a better option for newcomers looking to take in a widescreen view of the band's output over the years, but for hardcore Sword enthusiasts, Conquest of Kingdoms inarguably satisfies. ~ James Christopher Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	06/19/2020
Label:	Craft Records
UPC:	0888072099630
Rank:	67572

Tracks

Disc 1

1. The Horned Goddess
2. Barael¿¿¿s Blade
3. Lament for the Aurochs
4. Iron Swan
5. The Sundering
6. Fire Lances of the Ancient Hyperzephyrians
7. The Black River
8. The White Sea

Disc 2

9. Sea of Spears
10. Freya
11. Night City
12. The Chronomancer II: Nemesis
13. He¿¿¿s Waiting [C Average Version]
14. Sea of Spears
15. Immigrant Song
16. Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings
17. Codex Corvidae
18. Freya' 08

Disc 3

19. Forever My Queen
20. She
21. Daughter of Dawn
22. Farstar
23. Cold Sweat
24. Cheap Sunglasses
25. Hammer of Heaven
26. Hexenringe
27. Seriously Mysterious [Level One Remix]
28. John the Revelator
29. Turnt to Dust
30. Serpent Weather

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Sword   Primary Artist
Santiago Vela III   Drums,Percussion
Matt Bayles   Keyboards,Synthesizer
Kyle Shutt   Guitar
Trivett Wingo   Drums,Percussion
Bryan Richie   Guitar (Bass)
John "J.D." Cronise   Guitar,Vocals
Jason Shutt   Guitar

Technical Credits

Traditional   Composer
Billy Gibbons   Composer
Bobby Liebling   Composer
Jimmy Page   Composer
J. Robbins   Mixing,Engineer
Dusty Hill   Composer
Frank Beard   Composer
John Sykes   Composer
Gene Simmons   Composer
Tucker Martine   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Recording Producer
Phil Lynott   Composer
Andrew Hernandez   Engineer
Tom Clapp   Engineer
Gerry Roslie   Composer
Robert Plant   Composer
Matt Bayles   Mixing,Engineer
The Sword   Composer
Stuart Sikes   Engineer
Adrian Quesada   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Recording Producer
Jimmy Vela   Composer
Kyle Shutt   Composer
Trivett Wingo   Composer
Bryan Richie   Mixing,Composer,Engineer
John "J.D." Cronise   Composer,Producer,Recording Producer
Joel Hume   Engineer
Brett Orrison   Mixing
Stephen Coronel   Composer
Jason Shutt   Composer