THE AGGRESSIVE SOUTHERN R-O-C-K OF BARONESS
Notice I didn’t call it metal. Why, you ask? ‘Cause the band’s standard raw sludge-core style has noticeably evolved in a more palatable way on their recently-released full-length Red Album, and the new (dare I say) indie leanings serve to reduce the brutality in a big way. Yes, Savannah, Georgia’s once underground doom-math post-metal outfit Baroness are poised to break out in a big way, and are still keeping hope alive for stoners who wanna rock and rockers who feel like getting stoned…but what happened to the metal?
Personally I prefer the unbridled, garagey yet somehow progressive tone (both in songwriting and sonic qualities) of their previous recordings–the organic, grizzly offerings from their first two EPs (First and Second, respectively) feel more pure and special to this guy than most cuts off the new record, but there’s definitely a great deal of merit and a hell of a lot more melody on Red Album as well–no question about that.
At times the new new Baroness sound incorporates “jammy” or “indie” undertones (slightly to its detriment) into their formerly aggressive with a capital AAARGGHHH!!! approach, but these guys are clearly great players, and the noticeably Southern bluesy touches add a nice, down-home vibe. Mostly. There are definitely a few moments that sound a lot like an 8th grade Kentucky “shred” fest that’s, you know, totally “awesome”. But don’t let that deter you–every time they get past the noodling, settle into a back-woodz groove and that perfect growl comes in, it’s hard not to feel it.
The writing on the new record is certainly much more mature, and yet while there are some knockout gems (opener “Rays On Pinion”, “Wailing Wintry Wind”, and the extremely Mastodon-ish “Wanderlust”, to name a few), most songs are slightly uneven when considered from a start-to-finish perspective (as opposed to the various parts, or sections). The thoroughness of the transitions occasionally seems to have been overlooked, but despite all of my grumblings, the more I listen to Red Album, the more I can’t get several of the hooks out of my head, which is almost always a good sign.
Me and Vince and the Gibbler went to see Baroness last week when they played their ONLY New York area show in the back room of a local dive bar turned hipster hangout just 7 measly blocks from my apartment in Brooklyn….random choice from the Baroness booker, no? I thought their teeth were cut already!
Anyway, the “venue” was packed, and the kids loved the band. I had my fun moments in the decidedly indie pit, and the Gibbler appropriately remarked that he’d never seen so many people moshing to non-metal parts. In retrospect, however, I realize that most folks weren’t moshing per se as much as simply bouncing around exuberantly to the infectious aggressive [slightly metallic] boogie of the swampy Southerners’ sound–another testament to the strength of the new tunes.
However I am recommending to all newcomers that the place to start is definitely the aforementioned EPs, and here is an example why.
Brutality from tha back woodz…..
You can catch these fuckers on the road now, at a smallish, random venue near you (although I predict within a year’s time they’ll be opening for Mastodon, for obvious reasons that I can explain at a later date if need be).
Get yerself ahold of those EPs, and start yerself a stony mosh pit, ya Yankee bastard….
-KW
visit Baroness on myspace here
