The Sword have just announced US headlining dates in support of its critically-acclaimed new album ‘Gods of the Earth’.

The band will headline a slew of off-dates while on tour supporting Metallica, who hand-picked the celebrated Austin, TX quartet on its upcoming North American tour, set to launch October 21, 2008 in Glendale, AZ.

Teaser clips for the Metallica/The Sword run can be viewed online at the locations below. In addition to headlining off-dates during the Metallica tour, The Sword will team up with Lamb of God for a string of shows this December.

Download MP3: “Fire Lances Of The Ancient Hyperzephyrians” from ‘Gods Of the Earth’

The Sword’s brand new music video for the towering single “How Heavy this Axe” will make its world premiere Tuesday, October 21 on MTV2. The kaleidoscopic clip, which pays homage to the classic Black Sabbath videos “Paranoid” and “Iron Man”, will also air as part of the network’s “Headbangers Ball: 20th Anniversary” programming. The week-long celebration, which will feature noteworthy interviews, archive footage from the program’s past 20 years, a roundtable discussion with ex-Headbangers Ball VJ’s and more will include the “How Heavy this Axe” video as part of the Saturday, October 25 edition of “Headbangers Ball”.

The Sword’s sophomore album ‘Gods of the Earth’ was released this past April on Kemado Records.

METALLICA/THE SWORD TEASER CLIPS

Clip 1 Watch video

Clip 2 Watch video

The Sword 2008/2009 tour dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

October 21 – Glendale, AZ @ Jobing Arena *
October 23 – Albuquerque, NM @ Tingley Coliseum *
October 25 – Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center *
October 26 – Des Moines, IA @ Wells Fargo Arena *
October 27 – Minneapolis MN @ Triple Rock Social Club #
October 28 – Sioux Falls, SD @ Nuttys #
October 30 – Missoula, MT @ The Palace #
November 1 – Portland, OR @ Rose Quarter *
November 2 – Boise ID @ Neurolux #
November 3 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Energy Solutions Arena *
November 4 – Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center *
November 5 – Wichita, KS @ Barleycorns #
November 6 – Omaha, NE @ Qwest Center *
November 7 – Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge #
November 8 – Moline, IL @ iWireless Center *
November 9 – Columbus, @ OH Schottenstein Center *
November 10 – Nashville, TN @ Exit / In #
November 11 – Asheville, NC @ Stella Blue #
November 12 – Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theater #
November 14 – Hiltonhead, SC @ Shoreline Ballroom #
November 15 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade #
November 16 – Covington, KY @ Madhatter #
November 17 – St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center *
November 18 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center *
November 19 – Ft. Worth, TX @ Lola’s #
November 20 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center *
November 21 – New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks #
November 22 – Little Rock, AR @ Alltel Arena *
November 23 – New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Arena *
December 1 – Seattle, WA @ Key Arena *
December 2 – Vancouver, BC @ GM Place *
December 4 – Calgary, AB @ Pengrowth Saddledome *
December 6 – Saskatoon, SK @ Prairieland Exhibition Hall (w/ Lamb of God)
December 7 – Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place *
December 9 – Spokane, SK @ Knitting Factory Concert House (w/ Lamb of God)
December 10 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theatre (w/ Lamb of God)
December 11 – Chico, CA @ Senator Theatre (w/ Lamb of God)
December 12 – Ontario, CA @ Citizens Bank Arena *
December 13 – Fresno, CA @ Save Mart Center *
December 15 – San Diego, CA @ Cox Arena *
December 17 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum *
December 19 – Ventura, CA @ Majestic Ventura Theatre (w/ Lamb of God)
December 20 – Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena *
January 12 – Milwaukee, WI @ Bradley Center *
January 13 – Detroit, MI @ Joe Louis Arena *
January 14 – Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel #
January 15 – Washington, DC @ Verizon Center *
January 16 – Westchester, PA @ The Note #
January 17 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wachovia Center *
January 18 – Boston, MA @ TD Banknorth Center *
January 20 – Albany, NY @ Revolution #
January 21 – Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground #
January 22 – Buffalo, NY @ The Tralf #
January 23 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls #
January 24 – Cleveland, OH @ The Grog Shop #
January 25 – Columbus, OH @ Ravari Room #
January 26 – Chicago, IL @ Allstate Arena *
January 29 – Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Coliseum *
January 31 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center *

* supporting Metallica
# headlining date

“The Sword believe in loud the way it used to be” – ROLLING STONE

“Purveyors of Shred…The Sword doesn’t simply rock, they battle.” – METRO NEW YORK

The Sword Official Website

MySpace

The Sword has a new video out for their single, “Fire Lances Of The Ancient Hyperzephyrians”.

The video is set in a post-apocalyptic world, thousands of years after the end of human civilization. A new race is born – one that has no idea that man had once ruled.

The directors, Mike Colao and Josh Litwhiler, used a technique called “rotoscoping”, where they traced over live-action film movement, frame by frame. The result is a visually captivating look into what could be the future of the human race as we know it.

Watch The Sword – “Fire Lances Of The Ancient Hyperzephyrians” video on Stereogum.

The Sword just released their two-song, 10″ picture disc. Although already sold out through Kemado, you can purchase the songs on iTunes.

Download “Fire Lances Of The Ancient Hyperzephyrians” MP3 from ‘Gods Of the Earth’

The Sword – Gods of the Earth 2008 tour dates:

Dates could be added or changed! Go to The Sword’s Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

March 25, 2008 – Nottingham, UK – Rock City *
March 26, 2008 – Oxford, UK – Academy *
March 27, 2008 – Birmingham, UK – Academy *
March 28, 2008 – Manchester, UK – Academy *
March 29, 2008 – Glasgow, UK – King Tut’s *
March 30, 2008 – Stoke, UK – Sugar Mill *
April 01, 2008 – Newport, UK – TJ’s *
April 02, 2008 – Portsmouth, UK – Wedgewood Rooms *
April 03, 2008 – London, UK – Underworld *
April 04, 2008 – Colchester, UK – Arts Centre *
April 14, 2008 – Lubbock, TX – Jake’s Sports Center
April 15, 2008 – Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad
April 16, 2008 – Phoenix, AZ – The Brick House
April 17, 2008 – San Diego, CA – The Casbah
April 18, 2008 – Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theater
April 19, 2008 – San Francisco, CA – Slim’s
April 21, 2008 – Portland, OR – Berbati’s
April 22, 2008 – Seattle, WA – Neumo’s
April 24, 2008 – Boise, ID – Nuerolux
April 25, 2008 – Salt Lake City, UT – Club Vegas
April 26, 2008 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
April 28, 2008 – Wichita, KS – Barley Corn’s
April 29, 2008 – Oklahoma City, OK – Conservatory

* w/ Saviours, Black Cobra
w/ Children, Slough Feg

East coast tour with Torche, May 2008

For more information about The Sword, please visit:

Kemado Records

The Sword on Myspace
The Sword Official Website