THE SWORD’s new album, Gods Of The Earth, debuts at #102 on the Billboard Top 200 chart in it's first week of release.

Gods Of The Earth also debuted at #1 on Billboard’s “Heatseekers” chart, #1 on Billboard’s “New Artist” chart and at #5 on Billboard’s “Tastemakers” chart. The follow up to the Austin, TX-based band's 2006 debut, Age Of Winters, Gods Of The Earth was released via Kemado Records on April 1st.

On the heels of the band’s Billboard debut, The Sword has announced summer, 2008 tour dates with the legendary METALLICA. The influential metal band has called The Sword, “one of our favorite bands of the last few years,” and hand-picked the explosive quartet to open for it on a slew of European live dates, beginning July 16th in Bergen, Norway. Joining Metallica and The Sword on the tour will be New Orleans’ DOWN.

The Sword’s brand new music video - for the powerhouse track 'Maiden, Mother & Crone' - also makes its world premiere today via MTV2’s Headbangers Blog. The magnetic clip was directed by Artificial Army and can be viewed now at this location.

The 'Maiden, Mother & Crone' video will see it's world television premiere this Saturday, April 12th as part of the network’s long-running Headbangers Ball program.

Additionally, The Sword will perform as one of the featured artists of the 2008 Bonnaroo Music Festival, set to take place June 12th - 15th in Manchester, TN. Known for showcasing “some of the best performers in rock and roll, along with dozens of artists in complementary styles,” Bonnaroo 2008 will see The Sword perform alongside Metallica, SIGUR ROS, ROBERT PLAND and ALISON KRAUSS, THE RACANTEURS, M.I.A., WILLIE NELSON and more.

To check out the Gods Of the Earth E-card, featuring 'Fire Lances Of The Ancient Hyperzephyrians', visit this location.

The Sword dates with Metallica:

July

16 - Bergen, Norway - Koengen
18 - St. Petersburg, Russia - SKK Hall
20 - Riga, Latvia - Skonto Stadium
22 - Bologna, Italy - Parco Nord
23 - Bucharest, Romania - Cotroceni
25 - Sofia, Bulgaria - Vassil Levski Stadium
27 - Istanbul, Turkey - Inonu Stadium