Organized, practiced and ferocious, The Sword came to Mohawk last Wednesday ready to battle. With blistering licks and lyrics of an epic scale, they did not disappoint.

By Iris Bilich

Paying homage to their native city, The Sword kicked off their “Used Future” tour with a heavy show. As the first live performance of songs from the album, black-cladden fans from all heavy metal and hard rock camps head-banged and cheered at the newest sounds the band had to offer.

Formed in 2006, the band’s doom metal roots have progressively evolved into more traditional hard rock in the school of bands like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. The Sword is  known for lyrics that sound like something pulled from a Dungeons & Dragons game, and, when combined with epic riffage from lead-guitarist Kyle Schutt, conjure a mystique that transports listeners to faraway lands of dragons, space pirates and fair maidens. Their sixth and newest studio album, “Used Future,” carried their metal edge and fantastical lyrics, but incorporates lighter tones.

The show was opened by psychedelic-stoner rock-band King Buffalo. A deeply textured band, the Rochester trio sliced through the haze surrounding the audience and awakened an excitement for the following performance. Moving from ambient rock to the harder sounds of The Sword was a smooth transition, letting the show-goers ride one riff to the next. The crowd grew as the night became darker and Mohawk was full by the time The Sword began, leading to a packed and dynamic show.