Sword II are one of those bands that sound like everyone simultaneously. On Electric Hour, the group’s 2025 sophomore album, the band cherry-picks from across the spectrum of contemporary indie rock, sneering grunge on “Gun You Hold,” a menacing bit of jangle on “Passionate Nun,” bittersweet dream-pop for “Even if it’s Just a Dream.” The Atlanta-based trio of Mari González, Certain Zuko, and Travis Arnold hit all the marks of ‘90s-inflected alternative like straight-A students of the genre.
It shouldn’t be a surprise that Sword II sold out their headlining set at Baby’s All Right, alongside Nashville shoegazers Total Wife and Brooklyn-based art-rock group fantasy of a broken heart. The band is fresh off the release of an acclaimed new record released via the Partisan Records imprint Section1. They’re the perfect snapshot of what’s “in” in contemporary indie right now.
Though, they’re certainly not trendchasers. This is a band that is road-tested and DIY-raised. All three members have been involved in a variety of different projects within Atlanta’s DIY community. Playing to the crowd at Brooklyn’s scene-iest venue was no issue for the trio.
After a few technical difficulties and monitor adjustments, Sword II began the set with “Damage,” a blown-out, noisy cut from 2023’s Spirit World Tour. Though I wouldn’t call Electric Hour a particularly moshable record, guitarist/vocalist Certain Zuko began the show by bringing the audience forward with a few enthusiastic armwaves. Rock music is best for close-quarters. By the second half of the set, the audience was jumping along to the heavy “Disconnection” or alongside the bolts of guitar on “Halogen.” The Electric Hour cuts with grabby, affecting hooks fit the room best: Zuko sneering the word “Desire” on “Passionate Nun,” the harmonies on “Under the Scar,” González’s whisper on “Sugarcane.”
The three members of the band all share vocal duties across the show, offering a suite of different tones and energies behind the mic. Zuko is bold and peppery, interspersing plenty of comments like “This song is about hating the cops.” González and Arnold are softer presences, drawing you in while the guitars fill out the middle of the mix. For every ilk of indie rock they try out, they have a vocalist at the ready. No wonder they can cover such breadth. As much as Sword II feels drawn right from the endless tap of ‘90s alternative-inspired bands, they can’t help but only sound like themselves.
Words by Andy Steiner
Photography by Bobby Nicholas Ⅲ
Sword II at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn, NY 2/21/26 by Bobby Nicholas III
order tickets for Sword Ⅱ HERE