Ok, so thoughts on the new album, and Baroness in general. I’ve been a fan since about ‘10, when I first heard the Blue Record, and although I really enjoy the band they’ve never crossed over into a top 50 band or anything. Inevitably they get compared to bands like Mastodon a lot, which is how I first discovered them. Mastodon are one of my all time favourites and Baroness always kinda fall short, and here are my reasons why.
I think John Baizley is incredibly talented (he’s probably one of my favourite artists) but I find his vocals to be quite weak. I love Mastodon because of the versatility they have with three lead vocalists, I think it really compliments their different styles. Unfortunately Baroness don’t have this going for them.
Riff wise I think the band are stellar, and I also adore some of the melodic guitar work they have layered into their music over the years. Herein lies another problem I have with the band, they always leave me hanging with these great guitar parts. They are beautiful, but too fleeting. I’ll use Beneath the Rose, off the new album, as an example. There’s this lush part that comes in around the 4 minute mark, but it’s over before you know it. It’s like in Shock Me as well, they have this absolutely gorgeous section (and I love the guitar tone as well), but it’s too damn short. They leave me wanting more and feeling unsatisfied, and it’s something I can’t shake when listening to them.
I’m just finishing up my second listen to the new album, and one thing I do like is the new vocal approach John is taking (I’m assuming it’s John?). It almost feels like they have a second vocalist and helps give some variety. The album still very much feels like a Baroness record, and one of their better ones, but I can’t help thinking they have it in them to write a truly incredible record. Just my thoughts on the band.
I will finish up saying that John Baizley’s artwork is godly, and makes each release a fuller package. I have a T-shirt that came with deluxe version of Purple and it’s still one of my all time favourite band T-shirts.