High Country (song)

"High Country"
Single by The Sword
from the album High Country
Released	July 20, 2015
Format	7" vinyl
Genre	Hard rock stoner rock
Length	2:37
Label	Razor & Tie
Writer(s)	J. D. Cronise Kyle Shutt Bryan Richie Jimmy Vela
Producer(s)	Adrian Quesada
The Sword singles chronology
"The Hidden Masters/Arcane Montane" (2014) "High Country" (2015)
High Country track listing "Empty Temples" (2) "High Country" (3) "Tears Like Diamonds" (4)

"High Country" is a song by American heavy metal band The Sword. Written by the band and produced by Adrian Quesada, it is the title track to the band's 2015 fifth studio album High Country. It was released as the first single from the album on July 20, 2015.

Composition and style

According to MetalSucks writer Axl Rosenberg, "High Country" is stylistically different from much of the band's previously released material, marking a departure from the comparisons with Black Sabbath for which the band had been known.^[1] Rosenberg described the song as "totally retro" and proposed that it was "designed for use with marijuana".^[1]

Release and reception

"High Country" was first made available for streaming on the band's website on July 1, 2015, when the title, release date and artwork of the album were first revealed.^[2] On July 20, the song was released as the first single from the album, as a limited edition 7" vinyl backed with previously unreleased B-side "Hexenringe".^[3][4] The single was made available at a number of independent record shops across the United States in a run of 1,000 copies, and came with a coupon providing $2 off the album.^[3][4]

In their review of High Country, Blabbermouth.net praised the title track as a highlight of the album, commending the performances of all four band members in descriptions of the "munching riffs" and "melodic rhythms".^[5] Rosenberg of MetalSucks also praised the song, described it as "totally groovy".^[1] Robert Pasbani of Metal Injection praised it as "good old fashioned rock n roll with a stoner tinge".^[6]

Track listing

1. "High Country"
2. "Hexenringe"

Personnel

J. D. Cronise – vocals, guitar Kyle Shutt – guitar Bryan Richie – bass, synthesizers Santiago "Jimmy" Vela III – drums, percussion

Adrian Quesada – production Stuart Sikes – engineering J. Robbins – mixing Jetter Green – artwork

References

1. Rosenberg, Axl (July 1, 2015). ""High Country": The Sword Don't Really Sound Like Black Sabbath Anymore". MetalSucks. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
2. "The Sword: 'High Country' Album Cover Unveiled, Title Track Streaming". Blabbermouth.net. July 1, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
3. Vallecillo, Alex (July 8, 2015). "The Sword to release limited vinyl single". Metal Insider. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
4. "The Sword To Release 7" Single For "High Country" Track". Theprp.com. July 8, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
5. Van Horn, Jr., Ray (July 27, 2015). "High Country The Sword". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
6. Pasbani, Robert (July 1, 2015). "The Sword Take You To "High Country" With Killer New Track". Metal Injection. Retrieved August 10, 2015.