The Sword announce two compliations ‘Conquest Of Kingdoms’ and ‘Chronology 2006 – 2018’

THE SWORD have announced two compilation albums!

It’s been two years since the Austin, Texas heavy rockers decided to take a break, but THE SWORD are back once more with two career-spanning collections will be released simultaneously.

Conquest of Kingdoms is a three-disc vinyl collection of rarities and oddities, offering 30 tracks (16 previously unreleased) and is housed in a triple-gatefold package, including B-sides, remixes and live recordings of fan favourites like Freya, Iron Swan and Fire Lances of the Ancient Hyperzephyrians, as well as cover versions of Immigrant Song (LED ZEPPELIN), Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings (ZZ TOP), She (KISS), Forever My Queen (PENTAGRAM) and more.

Chronology 2006–2018 is a three-disc CD compendium, which, in addition to the aforementioned rarities, also includes THE SWORD’s greatest hits and fan favourites. Distilling their complete discography, this collection comprises 52 tracks (12 previously unreleased), including the studio recordings of Freya, Iron Swan, Cloak of Feathers and Deadly Nightshade. The set also features expansive new liner notes with contributions from the band, plus Lars Ulrich (METALLICA), Mark Morton (LAMB OF GOD), and Neil Fallon (CLUTCH).

Speaking about the upcoming collections, bassist Bryan Richie says, “we’ve got all these exclusive 7”s and a split record or two, that were pressed in 1,000 quantities – maybe people heard those tracks on a YouTube stream in not really the greatest quality. As the band had gone on hiatus, we had this wealth of material to share including live sets, things that were sitting on my hard drive for years, things that were given to me at shows. It seemed like the right time.”

Alongside the announcement of the two compilations, THE SWORD have released a previously unreleased version of Freya, recorded live at Stubbs in Austin, Texas in 2011.

Listen to Freya Live At Stubbs 2011 here: 

Guitarist/vocalist John D. Cronise describes the differences between the two formats and the methodology for compiling these, “the CD package will be more of a career retrospective with selections from each of our albums as well as the rarities and B-sides and things. Sort of a mini box set, you could say. The set will include a booklet with essays and photos, to make it special and extra. Whereas the LP release [Conquest of Kingdoms] is more streamlined, with just the B-side and rarities material. Personally for me, that’s what’s exciting about the releases. A lot of that stuff I never thought would see the light of day but I always thought was really cool and was proud of.”

Alongside the announcement of the two compilations, you can view both the track lists and artwork for the compilations below:

Conquest of Kingdoms Vinyl Track List: 

Side A
1. The Horned Goddess (live)*
2. Barael’s Blade (live)*
3. Lament for the Aurochs (live)*
4. Iron Swan (live)*
Side B
1. The Sundering (live)*
2. Fire Lances of the Ancient Hyperzephyrians (live)*
3. The Black River (live)*
4. The White Sea (live)*
Side C
1. Sea of Spears (live)*
2. Freya (live)*
3. Night City (live)*
4. The Chronomancer II: Nemesis (live)
Side D
1. He’s Waiting (C Average Version)
2. Sea of Spears
3. Immigrant Song
4. Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings
5. Codex Corvidae
6. Freya ‘08*
Side E
1. Forever My Queen*
2. She*
3. Daughter of Dawn
4. Farstar
5. Cold Sweat
6. Cheap Sunglasses
Side F
1. Hammer of Heaven
2. Hexenringe
3. Seriously Mysterious (Level One Remix)*
4. John the Revelator
5. Turnt to Dust*
6. Serpent Weather

* previously unreleased.

Chronology 2006-2018 CD Track List: 

Disc 1
1. Freya
2. Winter’s Wolves
3. The Horned Goddess
4. Iron Swan
5. How Heavy This Axe
6. Fire Lances of the Ancient Hyperzephyrians
7. Maiden, Mother & Crone
8. The Black River
9. Acheron/Unearthing the Orb
10. Lawless Lands
11. The Warp Riders
12. (The Night the Sky Cried) Tears of Fire
13. The Horned Goddess (live)*
14. Barael’s Blade (live)*
15. Lament for the Aurochs (live)*
16. Iron Swan (live)*
Disc 2
1. Cloak of Feathers
2. Dying Earth
3. Seven Sisters
4. Apocryphon
5. Empty Temples
6. Mist & Shadow
7. Early Snow
8. The Dreamthieves
9. Seriously Mysterious (acoustic)
10. Buzzards (acoustic)
11. Deadly Nightshade
12. Sea of Green
13. Used Future
14. Come and Gone
15. Sea of Spears (live)*
16. Freya (live)*
17. Night City (live)*
18. The Chronomancer II: Nemesis (live)
Disc 3
1. He’s Waiting (C Average Version)
2. Sea of Spears
3. Immigrant Song
4. Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings
5. Codex Corvidae
6. Freya ’08*
7. Forever My Queen*
8. She*
9. Daughter of Dawn
10. Farstar
11. Cold Sweat
12. Cheap Sunglasses
13. Hammer of Heaven
14. Hexenringe
15. Seriously Mysterious (Level One Remix)*
16. John the Revelator
17. Turnt to Dust*
18. Serpent Weather

* previously unreleased.

Conquest of Kingdoms and Chronology 2006-2018 are both set for release on June 5th.

For more information on THE SWORD like their official page on Facebook.