Tag: baroness

Baroness operate in a musical universe that I just dip my toe into occasionally, because I am not fully familiar with the whole “sludge-stoner” thing. This is the band’s second album, released back in 2009.

I always wonder what was ground zero for this whole genre. I would hazard a guess at Children Of The Grave-era Sabbath, because that tone and sound are all over this record. Couple that with vibes from the residents of Sky Valley and we are not far away from the Baroness sound.

This is actually a very cool record. Mixed in with those sludgy riffs and grooves are some really delicate trippy interludes. My favourite tune is A Horse Called Golgotha. It’s got a wonderful riffy gallop with hints of their label mates, Mastodon’s early efforts. The one thing Baroness do have is amazing artwork, all of their albums have killer covers.

I really like this album and I may dip my toe in a little further.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

I think it’s quite cool that the band name their albums after colours as the artwork becomes very striking and I really like artist, John Dyer Baizley’s covers. This is the band’s second album, released in 2012. They have been dubbed everything from sludge metal, to Prog metal, and all points in between. Although, I do get a strong Kyuss vibe from the band with the use of fuzz pedals.

The very delicate and ambient Yellow theme gets us under way before the huge stoner beast Take My Bones Away gets things under way for real.  A very delicate intro starts March To The Sea and a melody is added to the stoner vibe; a hint of Mastodon is in there also. Love the picked chords on Little Things and the beat and groove is awesome. Twinkler is a really cool acoustic piece with an almost medieval vibe. Cocainium is a freaking awesome track!!! Absolute monster tune with a great guitar intro before the main song starts with a superb harmony vocal and wicked groove. Then, the huge fat riff diverts your attention before the beauty returns. Epic stuff!!! Back Where I Belong follows and is a more delicate tune with a great melody. Sea Lungs follows and has a very indie style beat and groove. Eula closes out the Yellow album; it was released as the third single and it got a fair bit of airplay.

On to the Green album and opening piece Green Theme: a slow instrumental with an evil undercurrent to the main choral chord. Board Up The House is up next with a very quirky beat and main groove but the vocal harmony and melody are superb. MTNS follows and has a very indie vibe, it is my least favourite track. Foolsong is as close to the band get to a ballad. Collapse is quite a simple song compared to the rest of the record with just vocals, acoustic, drums, and some crazy sounds mixed in. Psalms Alive starts a bit like The Cure and stays that way for most of the song until the flume is increased. Stretchmarker is a laid back instrumental that leads into The Line Between and is the heaviest track on the Green album, and once again reminds me of Mastodon. The album closes out with another instrumental: If I Forget Thee, Low Country. My favourite track from the album is Take My Bones Away. They would have had a killer single album as there is a bit too much filler for me but that’s their schtick, doing these huge concept pieces.

8/10 from the Grooveman.