Rob caught up with The Sword backstage at Birmingham Academy 3 to talk about their latest album and slight lineup change.

Who would you say your main musical influences are?
Kyle, Ryan) Pantera, Thin Lizzy, Metallica, Black Sabbath.

You released your latest album ‘Warp Riders’ back in August 2010, how has the album gone down with your fans and press so far?
Kyle) Everybody likes Warp Riders, Were Proud of it.

The album is a concept album and a slight change in style from your previous albums, what made you take this approach this time around?
Kyle) It was the songs we happened to write at the time, we didn't set out to write a concept album, we wrote 10-12 songs and we'd just gotten off tour with a bunch of gnarly metal bands, and I think we just wanted to rock a little bit, once all that screaming and anger seeps into you a little bit, we wanted to make something positive instead.

Ryan) Instead of feigning a bunch of anger and making people want to punch each other.

Kyle) If People want to punch each other that fine, but you don't have to make them do it.

What would you say your favourite track from the album is and why?
Kyle) Warp Riders

Lawless lands we did a demo of it, it was pretty good, but the final version was something bigger than we anticipated making.

You were due to tour the Uk towards the end of 2010 but due to drummer Trivett Wingo leaving the band you had to cancel the shows, had did this make you feel at the time?
Kyle) Sad, it was dark times man, we weren't having the nest time up until that point, it was the icing on the shit cake, then we got another drummer and it all came together and now were having a great time.

Kevin Fender has taken Trivett Wingo’s place, how has he fitted into the band now?
Kyle, Ryan) Great, really well really it’s like he's been in the band for years.

You are currently back in the UK touring, how have the shows been so far?
Kyle) Last night was great in Southampton but it was really hot in the club, but it was great. The presale for tonight has been good. I think this is the 4th or 5th time we've been to Birmingham.

The tour finishes on Thursday, what do you have planned after this?
Were gonna go home, we got a lot of north American festivals were gonna be playing, then in September were gonna be play with Kyuss Lives, that'll be a good month long tour

Can we expect to see you guys returning to the UK before the year is out?
Ryan) About November yeah

You have shared the stage with many bands so far but who has been the best to tour with?
Kyle) Metallica by far, there the most generous, gracious act to open for and a lot of people could take note from them.

Do you have any good stories from your time on the road?
Ryan) Too many to count. If we were at a pub and had some drinks I could rattle some off.

What’s your take on the digital revelation killing off the music business?
People need to find a new way or new model, the music industry has only been thriving for the last 40-50 years as an industry, and it keeps changing but people are still trying to do it the old way, they need to find a new way to reach the fans, record labels are a thing of the past, there trying as hard as they can to hold on.

Where do you hope to see The Sword in a year’s time?
Ryan) In a mansion surrounded by naked chicks holding grapes.

Kyle) Still out on the road, smoking weed, writing songs, this is what we do, the same dance as yesterday.

One last random question that we ask every band, if you could be an animal out of a zebra or Giraffe which one would you be and why?
Kyle) Who fucking cares!

Thanks for your time is there a message for your fans reading this?
Thank you for being rad, sword fans are awesome, thank you.

Interview By Robert Lawrence