Red Album | Baroness
Written by Dan on July 18, 2008
Home >> Album Reviews >> Red Album | Baroness
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Red Album (2007) by Baroness was actually named Album of the Year by Revolver magazine in their November 2007 issue. Not only that, they’re touring with Opeth throughout this October. So why haven’t you heard of them? Beats me. But that’ll change soon… real soon.

Baroness is another one of those progressive, post-metal type bands that I can’t help but gravitate towards, and yet they’re very unique and completely different from any of my previous posts slapped into this sort of genre. It’s easy to compare them to bands like Opeth or Isis just because there is some screaming and heavy guitar work… but they are not the same. First of all, yeah Baroness’s vocalist screams, but it’s far more tame than Opeth or Isis. It sounds more like he’s just trying to sing loud enough for everyone to hear because he doesn’t have a mic for some reason. He’s also far more melodic than the screams you’d hear with Opeth which are just for the pure black death metal nonsense effect. His vocals are also pretty sparse, similar to the distribution on Isis’s Panopticon album. Now that I’ve gotten the vocals out the way and I’m not supposed to put so much emphasis on such things… let’s get to the stuff.

The big appeal to Baroness is the guitar work. Maybe I should put it this way, it’s for the guitar works? Baroness is one the few bands with frequent multiple lead guitar parts. Sometimes both guitars are doing the same thing to get a really thick sound, but often enough they’re actually playing just slightly different parts or even different all together. This isn’t a Lynyrd Skynyrd three guitar part kind of thing, or even a Onesidezero dual subtle melodic lead kind of thing either. It’s that Baroness listen to us rock out with two leads because our rhythm section is so f’in tight kind of thing.

Baroness is easily one of the most unique metal bands out there today. They’ve got a great balance of technical articulation and strong compositional skills. They aren’t flashy, but they aren’t wimpy either. I don’t have their earlier EP releases, but Red Album is a strong one all the way through and I can’t wait to see how they develop in the years to come. I think touring with Opeth will give them some very positive exposure that they deserve.

Viewing 11 Comments

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    God Damn It Dan, I needed to post that I have been listing to this F!@#ing album nonstop for the past two days.
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    Wait really? Is this sarcasm? Long time no see on the site!
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    ha, no I'm serious. I still have a hard time calling this "metal" I guess its "Metal" because Baizley yells his lyrics? But people call bands like Dream Theater metal too...when I think they just sound like Rush....but whatever. I was looking for new music and was either going to get the new Mastadon or Baroness. I actually ended up with Baroness because Baizley painted the cover for another band Iike (Permafrost by Skelotonwitch).... Anyway, I think they are definitely an "album" band, IE taking anything out of context they sound ok, but the whole piece listened to end to end is fantastic.
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    I hear what you're saying about the whole metal thing. Metal has been completely redefined a few times since the 60's even. Haha... e.g. remember when Metallica was considered metal?

    Glad to hear you like this album. I've been flooded with so much other music since I wrote this post I kind of forgot about it.
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    You are quick to attack me as a closed minded elitist...interesting...where did I say they were bad? I don't think they are bad by any stretch! Just because they have a mainstream sound, doesn't mean they are bad, now THAT would be elitist (see what I did there!)

    ...in fact I think they may be one of the better bands doing what they are doing, bridging melody driven rock and roll with heavy metal. You don't get to tour with Opeth (which, BTW Opeth needs to tour with Dimmu Borgir....I would so love to spend much money to see that) unless you have some talent. I just had a problem with calling them "easily one of the most unique metal bands out there today" Also 5 bands that sound indistinguishable? Well that's tough to do with any five bands, especially with a band like Baroness who will switch between Soundgarden and Testament.

    I'm coming from a perspective of bands like Soulfly, Meshugga, All that Remains or even Lamb of God, who are guys that I think are interesting, and even with that I'm leaving out many many bands....(Dimmu Borgir, At the gates, American Head Charge, Skeletonwitch....AAAAH too too many) I just wouldn't put Baroness in there, not because they aren't talented, just not nearly as interesting as the above. Same as I wouldn't put Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey on the same list as Nina Simone or Aretha Franklin...all four women are amazingly talented, but two are less interesting.

    BTW, how could Revolver put Machine Head at 5? That's a crime, those guys are so full of awesome, they should have their own list...Top ten things that are awesome...1) Machine Head 2-10) doesn't matter, cause Machine Head rules.
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    Who me? An elitist.... crazy talk!

    It's clear we have a difference of opinion of what's interesting. I'll be honest, none of those bands float my boat. But isn't that what's great about music?
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    ....and finally the inevitable and indubitable conclusion is reached: two people with differing tastes arguing over music is no different than two people debating which color is the best or which food tastes better - in the end its completely subjective.

    btw - anyone else feel that the guy in the bluish shirt looks way out of place in that picture? Hell, it looks like he was Photoshopped in. Is he by chance the bass player? - don't ask me why but he looks like a bass player to me.
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    I love when the Shiavoni drops the bomb and concludes with a perfectly succinct statement. You beat me too the punch! Both Dave and Dan actually agree that Baroness in a great band. And though the levels of greatness may differ, that makes no difference in the way they feel about the music or the quality. Awesome when two points can get lost amongst the jumble of a debate!

    Dave did bring up some bands though that I have to check out. Thanks for bringing those up!
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    Very photoshopped indeed. And it's not the picture that's out of place... i mean, when do i not loot out of place?

    I may have a bass guitar... or three.
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    Seriously....Baroness is the most unique metal bands out there....and REVOVLER says album of the year...wow...just...wow learn about metal my friend. Seriously. These guys are mainstream, they just don't know it yet.
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    Nowhere did I say they were the most unique metal bands out there... I said one of the most unique. Baroness isn't the best thing out there, but to say they're no good is too elitist... even for me. If you can list even 5 bands that sound indistinguishable from these guys, then maybe I'll agree that they're mainstream. My guess is that you simply weren't impressed and saw a mainstream critic thrown in the review.

    I still stand by my review, it's easy to make a snap judgement with these guys because of the over sound they have. Its got an old 70's metal sound that makes it seem so familiar, but there's much more to Baroness than what you get the first listen though.... but maybe that requires an open mind.

    Though very rare, sometimes mainstream media critics have it right... e.g. Isis, Opeth....and dare I say The Dark Knight?
 
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