10 Sci-Fi Hard Rock Albums You Need To Hear

5. Warp Riders - The Sword

Having a massive surge of popularity and exposure thanks to phenomenal track "Freya" on Guitar Hero 2, The Sword used to be all about fantasy imagery and that genre in general. Epic clashes of steel and magic, backdrops of thundering skies and surroundings of ancient stone.

It served them very well indeed.

Then came 2010's Warp Riders, and like many creatives wanting to flip things on their head, The Sword took to penning a concept album instead. Deviating away from fantastical settings, guitarist and vocalist J.D. Cronise wanted to "create a setting for songs that would be unique and different [...] a place where epic sagas unfold”.

Whilst you have to head to the band's official website to read how songs like "Unearthing the Orb", "The Chronomancer", "Lawless Lands" and "Astraea's Dream" tie together (something to do with restoring balance by using a "vessel" called The Sword), it's one of my personal favourites because The Sword are a complete riff machine.

If you love guitar-driven hard rock with evocative lyrics that paint pictures regardless of a throughline narrative, Warp Riders should be next on your list.