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The Sword Descends

Monday September 10th 2012, 7:00 am

We can finally reveal the art images for The Sword: Apocryphon album. First up is the main front cover. Below that is the official press release. Below that will be images of everything else, I’ve decided to show as much as I can, including some images of the merch that is available, all featuring some aspect of my designs. So a lot to sort through.

Front Cover for the vinyl and CD.

Press Release.

THE SWORD REVEAL APOCRYPHON ARTWORK AND ALBUM TRACK LISTING

Pre-Order Begins Today With Multiple Packages Available at Swordofdoom.com

On October 22nd, The Sword will release their fourth album, Apocryphon. Being huge fans of comic book art, the band was thrilled to have award winning author, illustrator, and designer J.H. Williams III (DC Comics Batwoman, Batman, Promethea) design the entire album package.

Apocryphon is a 10 track album featuring the following songs:
• Veil of Isis
• Cloak of Feathers
• Arcane Montane
• The Hidden Masters
• Dying Earth
• Execrator
• Seven Sisters
• Hawks and Serpents
• Eyes Of the Stormwitch
• Apocryphon

The album will be released on multiple formats including CD, Deluxe Digipak, Digital, Picture Disc Vinyl, Colored Vinyl and Cassette. Apocryphon is available starting today for pre-order in the following packages at Swordofdoom.com:
• CD, digital download, 24×36 poster
• Lava Orange Vinyl, digital download
• Picture Disc Vinyl, digital download
• CD, digital download, 24×36 poster, Baseball T
• CD, digital download, 24×36 poster, Woman T
• Lava Orange Vinyl, digital download, 24×36 poster, Baseball T
• Lava Orange Vinyl, digital download, 24×36 poster, Woman T
• Picture Disc Vinyl, digital download, 24×36 poster, Baseball T
• Picture Disc Vinyl, digital download, 24×36 poster, Woman T
Ultimate (Limited to 200)
• CD, picture disc vinyl, digital download, autographed 18×24 lithograph, both shirts, cassette

For all information on The Sword, go to:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/theswordofdoom
http://twitter.com/#!/thesword
www.swordofdoom.com

CONTACT:
www.razorandtie.com
Kerri Brusca Razor & Tie Media Relations  (212) 598-2255 kbrusca@razorandtie.com
Label Roster Artwork and Press Materials for Download: www.razorandtiepublicity.com

Back Cover for the vinyl and CD.

Inner Cover for the vinyl and CD.

Vinyl in-sleeve, and CD package art.

Vinyl and CD labels, note the red line marks are for production purposes only.

CD booklet back and front cover.

Interior images for the CD booklet.

Now onto some of the merch items. These will be available through the Sword site, not my store. Go to Swordofdoom.com

But here are some images of what you’ll find. But as stated in the press release the other variation of items besides what I’m showing below that will be available.

Collector’s bundle: T-shirt, Glow in the dark Vinyl, digipak CD, Triptych poster (this will have an invisible ink aspect that reveals under black light), Record player turntable slipmat.

Here is an example of the poster’s reveal under black light effect.

Limited Edition Picture Disc Vinyl front and back. Note the blue and pink lines are for production purposes only, and not part of the design.

Better view of the T-shirt

Better view of the Vinyl

Better view of the CD digipak

Turntable Slipmat for record players

Well, thats it for now, an awful lot to take in really. I’ll get pictures up for other items as soon as I can.

Also from what I’ve been told there will be use of my art designs on the tour as well. I think a stage backdrop, and hopefully other shirt designs, and who knows what other little surprises.

47 Comments

47 Comments so far
Leave a comment

Absolutely gorgeous! Thank you for sharing, you’ve just made my day!

Comment by Amanda 09.10.12 @ 9:34 am

You sir have destroyed on this!!! You slayed it!! I can’t wait to get this in my hands!

Comment by Sword Fan Since Their Demo 09.10.12 @ 10:46 am

Hello Amanda
Thanks, I’m glad you dig it!

Comment by jhw3 09.10.12 @ 11:17 am

Hey Sword Fan Since Their Demo
Thank you very much. I’m glad I’ve made another Sword fan happy!

Comment by jhw3 09.10.12 @ 11:18 am

YESSS! Super rad! I hope the album is better than their last few! Can’t wait to listen!

Comment by Drew 09.10.12 @ 12:44 pm

Er, last TWO, I mean. I absolutely never get tired of listening to Age Of Winters. It’s perfect.

Comment by Drew 09.10.12 @ 12:50 pm

Yes, this is exactly what I was looking for in the T-shirt design. Not discounting the rest by any means just Quetz’ing out here.

Comment by Michael 09.10.12 @ 1:48 pm

And I was able to preorder the entire package this morning so I am looking forward to all of this ridiculous goodness arriving at my door in October.

Comment by Michael 09.10.12 @ 1:50 pm

Hey there Drew
Thanks very much. Actually really dug the last records myself ;^)

Comment by jhw3 09.11.12 @ 3:58 am

Hey there Mike
Yep pretty cool. There is going to other versions of things too I believe.

Comment by jhw3 09.11.12 @ 3:59 am

Awesome images. Mind if I use some for my Facebook profile banner jhw3?

Comment by azman 09.11.12 @ 6:09 am

[…] J.H. Williams III has revealed a host of design work for the group’s new release Apocryphon on his blog. More art from the project can be found […]

Pingback by J.H. Williams III covers Texas heavy-metal band The Sword | Robot 6 @ Comic Book Resources – Covering Comic Book News and Entertainment 09.11.12 @ 9:00 am

Hello azman
Sure thing.

Comment by jhw3 09.11.12 @ 2:30 pm

Beautiful! Looks like a lot of occult symbolism. Did you do it with any esoteric meaning in mind? (I’d be surprised if the answer was no)I’d love to see an exegesis of what’s symbolized here and what the rune-looking letters mean. Do I see Osiris’ head on the front?….

Comment by DocHolliday 09.11.12 @ 2:39 pm

Hey there DocHolliday
Very astute. So, yes. A lot of the meaning is coming from some of the themes in the lyrics and how JD relates to them. So its very personal stuff for the band. All of this came from talks I had with JD, about what was in the new songs and what they wanted for the intent of the new album itself.

Comment by jhw3 09.11.12 @ 9:09 pm

This is beautiful. I bet John Coulthart (good friend of Alan Moore) who’s done album covers for years will be jealous.

http://www.johncoulthart.com/decalcomania/decalcomania_cd.html

Comment by Gabriel McCann 09.12.12 @ 3:43 pm

Hey there Gabriel
Thanks for the nice comment, and yeah, I’ve known John’s work for a very long time. But from what I’ve seen of his visions I serious doubt he’d be jealous of my meager efforts.

Comment by jhw3 09.12.12 @ 11:42 pm

Wow … Super cool !!!

Comment by Pam 09.13.12 @ 3:44 pm

Hello Pam
Thanks very much. I hope you like heavier music ;^)

Comment by jhw3 09.13.12 @ 9:05 pm

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If I was an artist I think doing an album cover for a metal band would mark the ‘doesn’t get an better than this’ apogee in my career

‘course in my case it would probably be Spinal Tap.

Congratulations!!!

Comment by Karl 09.17.12 @ 3:51 pm

Hey there Karl
Thank you so much! I hope it leads to other projects of a similar nature down the road. And yeah, Spinal Tap would be awesome.

Comment by jhw3 09.17.12 @ 9:02 pm

As an artist, I am floored and feel like the metal world just got new inspiration for artwork. A breath of fresh air. My favorite album artwork for as long as I can remember. I ordered the now sold out ‘glow’ package day 1, the picture disc and the orange vinyl! Could not get enough of The Sword and that artwork. It’s obvious that A LOT went into making this upcoming album a mega success. The imagery is epic with the tenderness and calm of the goddess, psychedelic colors & flowers in the middle of apocryphal domination and death. Beautiful work, JHW!!! So, what do the symbols mean exactly?

Comment by Michael J Sturrock 09.29.12 @ 4:03 am

Hello Michael Sturrock
Thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement. The symbols are something you have to figure out whence you get the package in your hands. Some of it is related to the music while some of it is personal stuff for the band and myself.

Comment by jhw3 09.30.12 @ 1:42 am

I liked the continued mystery! thanks!!

Comment by michael j sturrock 10.03.12 @ 4:39 pm

I want to to thank you for this good read!! I
definitely loved every bit of it. I have you bookmarked to check out
new stuff you post_

Comment by xfire.com 11.07.12 @ 3:39 pm

Thanks

Comment by jhw3 11.07.12 @ 10:51 pm

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