‘The Sword’ Release Statement Announcing Official Break Up

One of metal’s most beloved bands of the last two decades, The Sword, are officially calling it quits. Across 19 years the band has recorded six studio albums and done countless tours across the globe, many of which had them supporting top tier acts like Metallica. Given all the band has achieved in those 19 years it sounds like its members have grown satisfied with their success. Today The Sword announced their ‘break up’ or retirement you could say, as the band’s founder John D. Cronise posted a statement to social media outlining the details behind the decision.

“Hello friends,

I find it my duty to inform you that, after much contemplation, I have reached the difficult conclusion that it’s time to bring The Sword’s long and storied career to a close. When I started the band back in 2004, I could’ve only hoped for the successes we’ve enjoyed, and I consider myself extremely lucky to have been able to do it for a living for almost two decades. In that time everything I ever wanted to say and do with The Sword creatively has been said and done, and so the time has come for me to move on to other endeavors.

Thanks to everyone who’s ever come to a show, bought our albums and merch, and supported us over the years. Thanks to everyone who’s teched, tour managed, done sound, or sold merch for us. Thanks to all the bands who’ve taken us on tour and to all the bands we’ve taken on tour.

Thanks to the promotors and venues who booked us and let us play. Thanks to the producers and recording engineers who worked on our albums and to the labels that released them. Thanks to Josh our booking agent and Mark our business manager, whom we are glad to count as friends. And most of all thanks to my bandmates, Kyle, Bryan, Jimmy, and Trivett, for having faith in me and allowing me to realize my vision. You dudes are true legends.

It’s been a helluva journey. Now it’s time for the next chapter…

— John D. Cronise”

While it’s of course disappointing to see The Sword go into retirement, especially this early on in their career, respect is owed to them for knowing when to call it quits and reflect on the journey that was the last 19 years. For a band like The Sword who play in the rather niche genre of stoner rock/metal, it’s a big deal for them to have gotten where they are and to do so after only six studio albums. The countless praises they’ve seen from their metal piers in Metallica, Machine Head, and Lamb of God have only helped them grow beyond their sub-genre and become renown in the wider plains of rock and metal. It’s hard to guess if we’ll ever see the band again, or if there’s any possibility of ‘one off’ shows in the future. Either way, I think it’d be in the band’s best interest to at least host a round of final shows before they finally cut the rope.