Photo Credit: Abraxan Hymns
Georgian rockers Baroness are back with a fantastic new album Gold and Grey. With 17 tracks, there’s a lot to unpack, but the music is so accessible, it doesn’t feel like a chore. Be honest, the first time you listened to Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness you took a break before putting in disc 2.
Over the past 12 years Baroness have released four full length albums, all with chromatic titles including Red, Blue, Yellow & Green, and Purple, respectively. With Gold and Grey, it feels like Baroness took pieces from all their previous albums and threw them into a blender to create something truly magical.
With so many layers of sound, Gold and Grey bounces from prog-rock, to metal, to alternative, leaving your mind and ears melted from pure awesomeness.
The album starts off with the blistering Front Toward the Enemy, a chugging, prog-rock infused track with a building chorus. Quickly shifting gears, the next track Already Gone has a welcoming melody and distorted guitars akin to Muse or Silversun Pickups. The third song Seasons is where the album really starts to take off. From the start, drummer Sebastian Thomson pounds a ferociously technical pattern while the guitars slowly build, culminating in a massive wall of sound. I personally think this is the most prog-rock song of the collection. With wild and bouncy guitar solos and double bass drum fills Seasons keeps you on your toes.
Following Seasons is the hauntingly beautiful track Tourniquet. Just when you think you have Baroness figured out, they switch styles again! Moving from acoustic, melodic rock to an almost Iron Maiden-like metal sound Tourniquet showcases Baroness’ ability to pull in a multitude of styles and instruments and still create a cohesive sound. Singer John Baizley screams in his trademark raspy growl “I’ve got an artificial heart. It beats but I can’t feel a thing!” These deep, thought-provoking lyrics sent chills down my spine!
With Gold and Grey, Baroness proves that they are in the upper echelon of rock and metal acts in the scene today and have the staying power to continue producing prog-rock masterpieces. Other Gold and Grey standouts include I’d Do Anything, Cold Blooded Angels, and Borderlines. You can find Gold and Grey wherever you purchase music starting this Friday June 14.
In support of Gold and Grey Baroness is hitting the road this summer for a 27-date headline tour. You can catch Baroness at the Waiting Room on July 26. Tickets for that show are on sale now. Visit our upcoming shows page or click HERE for more info. We hope you enjoyed our review and we’ll see you at the show!
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