Dead Swords
photo by Toby Metzger

Dead Swords (mem Gaslight Anthem) releasing debut LP (stream "Perception")

Dead Swords are a new-ish collaboration from The Gaslight Anthem guitarist Alex Rosamilia and Corey Perez (who’s also in Bottomfeeder with The Gaslight Anthem’s Benny Horowitz, used to be in I Am The Avalanche, and more), but they don’t sound the way you might expect from that résumé. For Dead Swords, Alex and Corey have taken the punk-turned-sheogaze route of bands like Nothing, Cloakroom, and Hyperview-era Title Fight, and they’re pretty damn good at it. We recently posted the song “Ender,” and we’re now premiering another song from their upcoming debut album, the eight-minute “Perception.” It’s got the hypnotic, slow-building sludge of the aforementioned bands (or Hum or Siamese Dream), and Alex’s sleepy-yet-powerful delivery is perfect for this kind of thing. Hints of his work with The Gaslight Anthem come through in the bright, melodic guitar riffs, but mostly Dead Swords are in a much heavier, much more atmospheric world than that band. Or as Alex himself puts it, “a la Grandaddy, if they were produced by Matt Sharp.”

Talking about the message behind the new song, Alex told us: “Even as a child, I was always fascinated (and terrified) about what happens after we die. With all the religions and philosophies that have made it to our current age; there is a myriad of possibilities as to what may happen. There is no way to tell for sure, so I think the only thing that should really matter is what inspires you. Life is short; there’s only enough time to do what you love.” Hear it for yourself below.

Dead Swords’ debut album Enders comes out March 8 via Human Blood Records. Alex and Corey produced it with Gates singer Kevin Dye, and it features contributions from The Gaslight Anthem’s Benny Horowitz (drums on “Tonight”), plus Frank Marra, Darrell Coco, Mike Maroney, Erica Rosamilia, Trevor Reddell, and Mischa Pearlman.

Dead Swords are also playing an album release show at NJ’s White Eagle Hall on March 15 (tickets). That’s their only upcoming date.