On a frigid Saturday night, Austin-based doom metal band The Sword took the stage in front of a packed house at Houston’s Last Concert Cafe. Their first trip to the Bayou City in nearly four years, the band brought the heat to the near freezing amphitheater.
Formed in Austin in the early 2000s, The Sword quickly made a name for themselves with 2006’s Age of Winters. The band disbanded in 2022 but reunited in late 2024 for a handful of one-off shows and thankfully for us, their reunion brought them back to Houston.
Kicking off the show was local doom metal band Wax Wizard. Fresh off the release of their self-titled debut album, the band treated the crowd to a short but heavy set before ceding the stage to the next band.
Another local act, Warlung was next to the stage. Billed as heavy-psych, Warlung’s set rocked the house. With several recent single releases and a new album on the way, the band played an electric set that certainly won them some fans in the crowd.
At 9:45 on the dot, The Sword took the stage in front of a packed house. Without even addressing the sold out crowd, the band immediately launched into “Maiden, Mother, and Crone” off of 2008’s Gods of the Earth.
With a 16 song set, The Sword brought riffs off of six different albums. Closing out with “Winter’s Wolves” and “Freya,” the band brought an energy that electrified the crowd. Here’s to hoping they find their way back to Houston again soon.
I'm a Houston-based concert and automotive photographer. I've been a music fan my whole life, and previously was the director for Coog Radio, the University of Houston's student radio station. I listen to a bit of everything, from blues to rock to EDM, but predominantly metal. Some favorites include Slayer, Iron Maiden, and Metallica. When I'm not behind the camera, you can catch me skating, going to car events, and buying too many coffee table books.
