For the past few days, The Sword’s website had been counting down to something. Amidst a somewhat psychedelic backdrop of blue and green clouds, a circle began forming. At noon, the circle was complete, and the band unveiled the first taste and title track of the band’s fifth album, High Country. The album will be released on August 21st, but preorders are now live for it. In case you weren’t taking the album title literally, one of the preorder bundles comes with a stash box, a dugout, rolling papers and a grinder card. To grind weed with. As far as the track is concerned, it’s got a Sword-like groove to it that sounds a little more akin to their third album, Warp Riders.

 

As for their touring plans, if you’re in the United States, you’re out of luck. The band will be headed to Europe for the first leg of the tour. Here’s where you’ll be able to catch them:

 

August 21 – Trondheim, Norway – Pstereo Festival
August 22 – Oslo, Norway – Parkteatret
August 23 – Goteborg, Sweden – Sticky Fingers
August 25 – Helsinki, Finland –Tavastia
August 27 – Stockholm, Sweden – Debaser Strand
August 28 – Malmo, Sweden – KB
August 29 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Lille Vega
August 30 – Hamburg, Germany – Rock Café St Pauli
August 31 – Berlin, Germany – Magnet
September 2 – Wien, Austria – Arena
September 3 – Munich, Germany – Magnet
September 4 – Milan, Italy – Legend
September 5 – Salzburg, Austria – Rockhouse
September 6 – Winterthur, Switzerland – Salzhaus
September 7 – Stuttgart, Germany – Universum
September 9 – Antwerp, Belgium – Trix Club
September 10 – Tilburg, Netherlands – Extase
September 11 – Cologne, Germany – Luxor
September 12 – Paris, France – La Boule Noire
September 14 – Nottingham, United Kingdom – Basement
September 15 – Glasgow, United Kingdom – King Tuts
September 16 – Manchester, United Kingdom – Academy 3
September 17 – Wolverhampton, United Kingdom – Slade Rooms
September 18 – London, United Kingdom – Underworld
September 19 – Bristol, United Kingdom – The Thekla