Sword – Metalized (Release Year – 1986)
One hard rock CD that has been extremely illusive, and hard to get has been Sword’s debut Metalized.
Dave Mustaine once called this one of his top 10 Metal CD’s of all time. With that in mind, I knew I had to seek this one out. Finally, after many unsuccessful purchases and auctions, I landed a copy.
Does this disc live up to Mustaine’s opinion of it? I am not so sure about that, but Metalized is a damn good Metal disc. Sword is a Canadian metal band that consists of Rick Hughes on vocals, Mike Plant on guitars, Mike Larock on bass, and Dan Hughes on drums.
Sword opened for Metallica on the 1986 Master of Puppets tour in support of this disc, but I would not consider a thrash album, but pure heavy metal. This band reminds me of Savatage, and a little bit of Armored Saint.
Rick Hughes throaty screams are very similar in style to Jon Oliva. Mike Plant absolutely shreds on guitar, and the rhythm section of Mike Larock and Dan Hughes are second to none. Metalized is full of excellent vocals, great guitar work, heavy bass and thunderous drums that will appeal to 80’s hard rock fans.
My favorite tracks are F.T.W. (Follow the Wheel), Stoned Again, Out of Control, The End of the Night and Runaway.
Stoned Again
Metalheads are sure to love this disc. Do not hesitate to pick this one up, if you ever see a copy. It is hard to find, but worth the pursuit!
Aquarius Records released a Best of Sword in 2006, and that is far easier to pick up than Metalized.
Either disc would be a great addition to your hard rock collection!. For more info on Sword, check out the band’s myspace page.
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
1. F.T.W.
2. Children of Heaven
3. Stoned Again
4. Dare to Spit
5. Outta Control
6. End of the Night
7. Runaway
8. Where to Hide
9. Stuck in Rock
10. Evil Spell
Sword is:
Rick Hughes – Vocals
Dan Hughes – Drums
Mike Larock – Bass
Mike Plant – Guitar
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thanks everybody !!!!
merci beaucoup tou le monde
i have heard ,not sur if its is for real ,, but still i have heard that they reunited ,, can,t wait to see them again ,,,,
hey les gars va tu faloir rebatir ,( les cedres ) ,,,, lol
Woh! Got them in vinyl, cassette, CD and now MP3 and I still listen to them!!! I was 10 years old when I firt listen to them at SolidRock at the time. I heard rumours when Bruce Dickinson left Iron Maiden that Rick Huges was passing an audition for Maiden and I was crossing my fingers, hoping him to the next lead singer but Blaze bailey won the race 😦 Anyway, Sword étais la fierté de Montréal !
Back In The Day when I was a teenager!!!! (the 80’s – mainstream listening to Sabbath/AC±DC/Maiden/Saxon/Ozzy/Motorhead/Metallica/Anthrax) I used to buy the odd ‘unknown metal album’ at random when I was at the Derry Technical collage on day release (in Ireland), these were normally debut albums, mostly random stabs at the local vinyl shop, and I have to put my hand up to say most of my purchases were an utter waste of money & complete ball-der-dash, but for the few success stories I stumbled upon it was a well worth mission.
It changed my life for the better!!! I discovered bands like; Fates Warning, Tesla, Slayer, Crimson Glory and certainly in that category SWORD hit the mark for me. Pure Metal, Heavy Metal… just simply ‘Energy Music’ SWORD’s ‘METALIZED’.
Hey guys ‘n’ dolls this album still gets a regular outing on the airwaves for me, and like all good Metal bands…. they never age! still feels modern today… So, even if its its a drunken night in, a jam session with the Ibanez in the garage (still drink involved) or winding out the throttle of the Honda CBR wired to the iPod (probably/possibly drink involved) 😉 I still get the goose bumps hearing those vibes!
I feel lucky to have heard SWORD when it was all fresh and happen’in, I feel luckier to still enjoy this music 22 years on & I feel very privileged to be re-living a second birth of ‘Energy Music’ were young’ins are in pursuit of proper bands with real musicians, instruments, creativity & attitude.
“Long Live Metal – it delivers just enough enough madness to keep the rest of us sane.”
// Ricky V.
I have all their stuff,in viynl.There tunes are for the vaults of metal. Definitely one to have. I believe after they broke up some formed the band “too many cooks”. worth a listen also.
I have been trying to find this CD for years ever since Dave Mustaine rated it one of the top ten greatest metal albums of all time in Guitar World. I can’t find it for download anywhere. If anyone is kind enought to burn me a copy I would be in debt to you. Please email anvilheadsix@yahoo.com
I don’t condone copyright infringement like this, but sometimes it is the only way. Albums like this and Exodus’s Impact is Imminent and Force of Habit deserve to be heard!
hey America!!!! Wake-up!!! Sword is one of the best hard rock band’s of the 80’s!!! Power, melodic, furious…Listen and Metalized!!!
They came from Montreal and I follow them since their debut album until their death….snif!!!
🙂
I 1st came across them when they supported Motorhead in 87 and promptly went out and bought the debut album on good old vinyl.
After their second release (Sweet Dream) the band split with Rick going on to form Saints & Sinners.
I remember when this came out, but I have never heard it. The reviews at the time passed it off as being rather routine so i skipped it. They toured with Motorhead on their second tour in 1987.
WOW! This one needs to go in our library!