Artist: Savage Sword
Country: Sweden
Label: Dying Victims Productions
Formats: Demo Tape
Year: 2026
Formed in 2025, this Swedish Heavy Metal band made no time wasted, and we received their debut demo as early as January of this year. A simple title like ‘Demo MMXXVI’ refers to the equally simple music presented to us on this four-track, 17-minute demo. It may be basic, but with Dying Victims Productions as the label in charge, you know the quality is solid.
The label draws comparisons with Mercyful Fate, Running Wild and Omen. I am not entirely sure where Mercyful Fate is to be found, but the “uglier” side of early Running Wild as well as the first album of Omen feels rather apt. In fact, ‘Demo MMXXVI’ feels like a long lost recording from the 80s, from a band that took their inspiration from American, German and Swedish Heavy Metal. Basic and simple riffs, rather rudimentary leads and straight forward pounding drums: it is overly clear that Savage Sword is not here to steal the show with technical wizardry. Instead the band opted for a muscular and moustached sort of 80s Heavy Metal with hints of heavy Hard Rock and Speed Metal at the same time. With a brisk tempo, the band makes it clear they’re more into choppy riffs than melody and other subtleties, though there are some nice but mainly functional leads.
At one time in history, bands like Attacker, Helstar, Liege Lord, Griffin and Omen were called Power Metal, not quite the same style as the one (later) popularized by Helloween in the 80s and Hammerfall in the 90s. But this is indeed very powerful and with such a band name and Conan on the front, it is no surprise that the band also delivers equally no strings attached savage Heavy Metal.
