Word or Object | en

The Sword are an American heavy metal band from Austin, Texas. Formed in 2003, the band is composed of vocalist and guitarist John D. Cronise, guitarist Kyle Shutt, bassist Bryan Richie, and drummer Santiago "Jimmy" Vela III. Originally signed to New York-based independent label Kemado Records, the group released its debut album Age of Winters, which was largely written by Cronise before the band's formation, in 2006. The follow-up, Gods of the Earth, was released two years later, and gave the group its first entry on the US Billboard 200 chart. In 2010 the band released Warp Riders, a concept...

I. The Word is an instrumental/Sacred steel/gospel blues jam band. The supergroup included well-known musicians: Robert Randolph (pedal steel guitar), John Medeski (keyboards), and all three members of North Mississippi Allstars - Luther Dickinson (electric guitar), Cody Dickinson (drums, washboard), and Chris Chew (bass guitar). The Word developed from a mutual affection for gospel music and the Sacred Steel tradition shared by Medeski and members of the North Mississippi Allstars, both having discovered the phenomenon through a series of albums published by Arhoolie Records in the 1990s and early 2000s. Chris Chew and Luther Dickinson were particularly fond of a...

"a live band whose music oozes an almost Philadelphia soul sound with layered grooves punctuated by rhymed lyrics about a world where hope exists alongside darkness, and women are seen as complete human beings." -- David Jakubiak for The Chicago Sun Times -- Winner -- 2008 Independent Music Awards: Best Hip-Hop Song Winner -- 2007 Metromix Chicago's Battle of the Bands Winner -- 2007 Going.com Battle of the Bands Performing artist for Great Performers of Illinois Festival held at Millennium Park, Chicago Straight from the City of Wind: Chicago, IL, Animate Objects carries the spirit and soul of the new...