The Hidden Masters/Arcane Montane

"The Hidden Masters/Arcane Montane"
"The Hidden Masters" cover
Single by The Sword
from the album Apocryphon
Released	April 8, 2014
Format	7" vinyl
Recorded	June–July 2012 at Magpie Cage Studios, Baltimore, Maryland
Genre	Heavy metal, doom metal, stoner metal, hard rock
Length	4:49 ("The Hidden Masters") 4:06 ("Arcane Montane")
Label	Razor & Tie
Writer(s)	The Sword
Producer(s)	J. Robbins, The Sword
The Sword singles chronology
"Hammer of Heaven" (2012) "The Hidden Masters/Arcane Montane" (2014) "High Country" (2015)
Apocryphon track listing "Arcane Montane" (3) "The Hidden Masters" (4) "Dying Earth" (5) Apocryphon track listing "Cloak of Feathers" (2) "Arcane Montane" (3) "The Hidden Masters" (4)

"The Hidden Masters" and "Arcane Montane" are songs by American heavy metal band The Sword. The lyrics for both were written by vocalist and guitarist J. D. Cronise, and the music is credited to the full band. Produced by J. Robbins, the songs are featured on The Sword's 2012 fourth studio album Apocryphon, and were released together as a single on April 8, 2014.

Composition and style

In a favorable review of Apocryphon for website PopMatters, Dean Brown noted that both tracks "lean lyrically on fantasy, but there is some apocalyptic tension in [writer J. D.] Cronise's words", adding that on "Arcane Montane" the singer "begs for assistance from the mountains while they [sic] band shake the ground with some Clutch-style swagger".^[1] Consequence of Sound's Jon Hadusek also praised the album for its apocalyptic themes, highlighting "The Hidden Masters" as a track on which Cronise "sets the grim scene" and "Arcane Montane" as featuring "fantastical motifs".^[2]

Release and packaging

It was announced in February 2014 that "The Hidden Masters" and "Arcane Montane" would be released as a double single on 7" vinyl, with remixes of each track by Dylan C included as B-sides.^[3] "The Hidden Masters" was pressed on green vinyl and "Arcane Montane" was pressed on pink vinyl.^[3] The set was released on April 8, 2014.^[4]

Track listing

All lyrics written by J. D. Cronise, all music composed by The Sword.

Disc one ("The Hidden Masters")
No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Hidden Masters"	4:49
2.	"The Hidden Masters" (Dylan C remix)	5:11
Total length:		10:00

Disc two ("Arcane Montane")
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Arcane Montane"	4:09
2.	"Arcane Montane" (Dylan C remix)	4:55
Total length:		9:04

Personnel

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

Additional personnel J. Robbins – production, engineering, mixing Greg Calbi – mastering J. H. Williams III – design, illustrations Todd Klein – design assistance

References

1. Brown, Dean (November 1, 2012). "The Sword: Apocryphon". PopMatters. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
2. Hadusek, Jon (November 2, 2012). "The Sword - Apocryphon". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
3. "The Sword Release "Hidden Masters"/"Arcane Montane" 7" Remix Set". theprp.com. February 9, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
4. "Hidden Masters/Arcane Montane - The Sword". AllMusic. Retrieved February 8, 2015.