THE SWORD have announced US headlining dates in support of their new album Gods Of The Earth. The band will headline a slew of off-dates while on tour supporting METALLICA, who hand-picked the Austin, TX quartet as support on its upcoming North American tour, set to launch October 21st in Glendale, AZ.

Teaser clips for the Metallica / The Sword run have surfaced and can be viewed online at these locations: Clip #1, Clip #2.

In addition to headlining off-dates during the Metallica tour, The Sword will team up with LAMB OF GOD for a string of shows this December.

The Sword’s brand new music video - for the towering single 'How Heavy This Axe' - will make it's world premiere this Tuesday, October 21st on MTV2. The kaleidoscopic clip, which pays homage to the classic BLACK SABBATH videos 'Paranoid' and 'Iron Man', will also air as part of the network’s Headbangers Ball: 20th Anniversary programming. The week-long celebration, which will feature noteworthy interviews, archive footage from the program’s past 20 years, a roundtable discussion with ex-Headbangers Ball VJ’s and more will include the 'How Heavy This Axe' video as part of the Saturday, October 25th edition of Headbangers Ball.

Check out The Sword’s 'Maiden, Mother & Crone' video below...

The Sword dates (as part of Metallica's fall / winter North American headlining tour):

October

21 Glendale, AZ - Jobing Arena

23 Albuquerque, NM - Tingley Coliseum

25 Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center

26 Des Moines, IA - Wells Fargo Arena

27 Minneapolis MN - Triple Rock Social Club (* The Sword headline date)

28 Sioux Falls, SD - Nuttys (* The Sword headline date)

30 Missoula, MT - The Palace (* The Sword headline date)

November

1 Portland, OR - Rose Quarter

2 Boise ID - Neurolux (* The Sword headline date)

3 Salt Lake City, UT - Energy Solutions Arena

4 Denver, CO - Pepsi Center

5 Wichita, KS - Barleycorns (* The Sword headline date)

6 Omaha, NE - Qwest Center

7 Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge (* The Sword headline date)

8 Moline, IL - iWireless Center

9 Columbus, - OH Schottenstein Center

10 Nashville, TN - Exit / In (* The Sword headline date)

11 Asheville, NC - Stella Blue (* The Sword headline date)

12 Raleigh, NC - Lincoln Theater (* The Sword headline date)

14 Hiltonhead, SC - Shoreline Ballroom (* The Sword headline date)

15 Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade (* The Sword headline date)

16 Covington, KY - Madhatter (* The Sword headline date)

17 St. Louis, MO - Scottrade Center

18 Tulsa, OK - BOK Center

19 Ft. Worth, TX - Lola's (* The Sword headline date)

20 Houston, TX - Toyota Center

21 New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks (* The Sword headline date)

22 Little Rock, AR - Alltel Arena

23 New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Arena

December

1 Seattle, WA - Key Arena

2 Vancouver, BC - GM Place

4 Calgary, AB - Pengrowth Saddledome

6 Saskatoon, SK - Prairieland Exhibition Hall (with Lamb of God)

7 Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place

9 Spokane, SK - Knitting Factory Concert House (with Lamb of God)

10 Portland, OR - Roseland Theatre (with Lamb of God)

11 Chico, CA - Senator Theatre (with Lamb of God)

12 Ontario, CA - Citizens Bank Arena

13 Fresno, CA - Save Mart Center

15 San Diego, CA - Cox Arena

17 Los Angeles, CA - The Forum

19 Ventura, CA - Majestic Ventura Theatre (with Lamb of God)

20 Oakland, CA - Oracle Arena

January

12 Milwaukee, WI - Bradley Center

13 Detroit, MI - Joe Louis Arena

14 Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel (* The Sword headline date)

15 Washington, DC - Verizon Center

16 Westchester, PA - The Note (* The Sword headline date)

17 Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center

18 Boston, MA - TD Banknorth Center

20 Albany, NY - Revolution (* The Sword headline date)

21 Burlington, VT - Higher Ground (* The Sword headline date)

22 Buffalo, NY - The Tralf (* The Sword headline date)

23 Pittsburgh, PA - Mr. Smalls (* The Sword headline date)

24 Cleveland, OH - The Grog Shop (* The Sword headline date)

25 Columbus, OH - Ravari Room (* The Sword headline date)

26 Chicago, IL - Allstate Arena

29 Uniondale, NY - Nassau Coliseum

31 Newark, NJ - Prudential Center