The Sword in Richmond

The Sword is an American heavy-metal band formed in Austin, Texas, in 2003. Their music draws on stoner metal, doom and hard rock, led by heavy guitar riffs and science-fiction and fantasy imagery. The band became known through albums including Age of Winters, Gods of the Earth, Warp Riders and Apocryphon; “Freya” also reached a wider audience through Guitar Hero II. The Sword played Ozzfest in 2006, then joined portions of the World Magnetic Tour beginning in 2008. That run put them in arenas as an opening act for Metallica, while later headline tours behind Warp Riders and Apocryphon took them through clubs and theatres.

Hippie Death Cult is an American heavy-rock band from Portland, Oregon. The group plays doom-laden stoner and psychedelic rock, represented on the albums 111, Circle of Days and Helichrysum. Hippie Death Cult documented its stage work on Live at the Star Theater, a concert recording made in its hometown. The band later brought its heavy, guitar-led set to European clubs and festivals, including Desertfest Berlin.