The Sword

The band that, to me, carries the brightest and highest torch in the re-revolution that is NWOARM is THE SWORD. The Sword is the ultimate expression of all that is good about heavy metal. From their own pages of lore:

Before forging the blade, the swordsmiths underwent fasting and ritual purification. They then worked at their anvils in white clothes, like the robes of the priests. Their efforts were well rewarded. The final result was a blade of unparalleled craftsmanship. Its edge is made of metal so hard that it holds a razor sharpness even after repeated use in battle.

Little more may be said. All of their prose expresses the most noble and manly learnings, without stooping to the level of Power Metal, which, while at times enjoyable, is so clichéd that it often parodies itself to the point of making you revisit recent meals. And, as an added plus (haha, redundancy to the max), they produce the most violent, hard-rocking riffage since at least the NWOBHM.

Here is a Rolling Stone-style mathematical breakdown of The Sword:

Black Sabbath x (Manowar - bullshit) = THE SWORD