The band Sword Collector are spread across Texas: Ryan Johnson (guitar) in Austin, Kyle James McCoy (bass, vocals) in Houston, and Carlos Cooper (synth, drum machine) in Corpus Christi.
Foraging for their collective musical identity over e-mail and text, the band discovered core principles of radical vulnerability, sonic exploration, and spiritual immediacy.
Over the ethereal soundscapes of Cooper and Johnson, McCoy explores existential desires, reclaims autonomy after surviving abuse, and grows the connection with their fluid gender and sexuality. Draped in a thick fog of occult, Sword Collector makes self-discovery sacred.
It’s amazing to me that a band who doesn’t even live in the same city can manage to put out material. Throwing excuses out the window, this dark pop outfit has just released a brand new music video for their single, “Drenched in Honey”.
When I first heard this track, I immediately was overtaken with Robert Smith vibes. The influence of bands like Depeche Mode and New Order are there to be sure, but Sword Collector has created their own sound.
If you have even an ounce of empathy this track will for sure make you feel something. This music is a form of catharsis for the members and it shows.
I’m sure we’ll be hearing more from Sword Collector as 2020 goes on.
For now, enjoy the video for “Drenched in Honey”