As Sword Heaven, Aaron Hibbs and Mark Van Fleet make raw, punishing sounds -- which they describe as "dirge noise" -- that feel like the work of the Swans and Test Dept. taken to the noisiest extreme. Slow but pummeling rhythms, tape manipulation, piercing guitars, and screaming come together in a dense, penetrating swarm of sound. The group began playing and recording in 2003, performing dates with 16 Bitch Pile-Up and Wolf Eyes and issuing work on the CD-R label Alamagator. Sword Heaven kept up a prolific performing and recording schedule, and eventually signed with Load Records to release their first full-length, Entrance, in 2007. ~ Heather Phares