Sword II EmbraceS Contrast on Electric Hour
Good luck categorizing Sword II’s new album, Electric Hour. It’s a winding genre trip that’s loaded with sonic surprises and structural pivots.
What is consistent with this Atlanta three-piece is juxtaposition: loud/soft, tender/pissed off, compressed/expansive. It’s as if all ten songs are driven by intentional contrast and connection. And it makes for a captivating listen.
Interestingly, one of the members, Travis Arnold, offered some praise for juxtaposition in a Pitchfork My Perfect 10 about Drop Nineteens’ Delaware. In the video, Arnold notes that the record blends “warm tones” and “cold vibes” — something Sword II also navigates skillfully. This comes through right out of the gate on Electric Hour with the opener “Disconnection.” What begins as a biting acoustic number spirals into something darker and heavier, sprinkled with voicemail backing vocals and squealing electric guitars.
Sword II (photo courtesy of section1)
The second track — “Sentry” — widens the lens as Mari González introduces an unsettled surfy pop angle with subtle vocal hints of Swedish singer Nina Persson (The Cardigans, A Camp). It’s a melodic high point. And, lyrically, Gonzalez delivers one of the most memorable lines on the record when she says, “I just need somebody to talk to who’s not afraid of a fight.”
“Passionate Nun” is another standout. The first-person narrative invites the listener into a secret romance, with singer Certain Zuko building a world through schoolyard references and tightly wound one-liners like: “I’ll be your little secret when you want.” By the end, Zuko and González veer away from the song’s earlier echoes of Smashing Pumpkins and, instead, tease out sharp melodic tension while riffing on the word “nun.” The track makes it nearly impossible to predict where the rest of the record might go…
It’s fitting that, in the midst of so much uncertainty and tension, Electric Hour concludes with “Even if it’s Just a Dream,” an extended, floating dream pop cut. Unsurprisingly, it upholds the running juxtaposition theme, offering heavy lyrics that contrast nicely with the hopeful instrumentation. In a way, it’s a farewell that also communicates, “We can take our sound wherever we want.” And, as a listener, I’m ready to follow them accordingly.
Check out the full album below and catch them on tour this spring (dates and cities available on their Instagram).
