The Sword & Royal Thunder 12/2015 Clifton Park, NY

Since their first tour support for their first album, The Sword have made upstate NY a stop on several occasions. Their latest show was held at Upstate Concert Hall, to unfortunately, a noticeably less than full club. 
Royal Thunder is the touring opener, and both bands are on tour in support of new albums, respectively. 
 Royal Thunder is a slow chugger of a band, with the trademark jumping guitar player, hyping up what never really seems to come, or well, maybe it kinda did? It's a dual guitar attack, the other dude a bit more reserve and old school-ish.

The band's songs consisted of a lot of epic building crescendos that tear down and rebuild, and is very vocal driven, powered by a strong voiced woman, Mlny Parsons. 

At times, I'll admit, it felt like I was at a 4 Non Blondes solo show,

1 Non Blonde if you will hahaha. A few songs led into what  sounded like Faith No More influenced rocking weirdness, but for the most part, they were lacking any hooks, and the songs/band just comes off as a showcase for her vocals. They were good for what they are doing, I just needed more umph from the 2 guitars. 

The Sword 

The Sword started right off with Tres Brujas, rocking at full tilt, sounding incredibly good, and looking quite mystical, I should add, with a whole new light show in tow.

They laced the night with a bit of every album, and a few off the new one, which, still held everyone's attention. They produce stoner rock to the point where they practically epitomize the genre. 
 Vocalist John D. Cronise's voice is so distinct, his talking style singing, with that slight reverb, sounded perfect, just like he sounds on the albums.

They are out in support of their new album High Country, which is a little different than their other records, yet, just as good. There is a synth type little jam on the album, and I thought, this must be the  "tune up song," and sure enough, I was right. 

There is another song on the new record, that has a drum loop with a dancy sorta "I wrote this for my girlfriend" song or a Portishead/Phantogram sorta feel to it, and to me, it's one of the best songs on the album. I thought, that's the "show's over, turn the lights on song." 

Sure enough, after the last song, the lights turn on, everyone looks on the ground for picks, and as we head toward the mens room for a final piss, dudes were singing along to it, which also proved me right, that song rules….. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcpKyx21yx4

 The whole new album rules, check it out, well, check out all their albums. 

All photos by Full Metal Racket Please ask for permission, or give credit due, don't steal!!!!!