Baroness - Yellow & Green

Baroness have been an ever evolving entity since their inception nearly a decade ago. Their earlier works in the appropriately named First and Second EP's along with the split with Unpersons entitled A Grey Sigh In A Flower Husk showcased the ferocity of a hardcore-minded root structure that was part of a churning and growling metallic monster. While these three releases shared this common ground, each was a step further and further away from the straight forward metallic hardcore sound that they created in infancy. By 2006, they were prepared to begin work on their debut full length, Red Album.



It was with this recording that you started to see this band blossom into what they were to become. Upon its release in 2007, it was obvious that a greater emphasis was placed on melody, groove and atmosphere than in previous works. While still recognizable as the band that created those earlier records, this was the first major turning point for Baroness. Along with the bombastic riffery that you came to know as a defining trait of these musicians, you were treated to massive sonic swells, acoustic interludes, alternating time signatures, greater exploration via effects and an overall heightened songwriting ability. This was the album that made Baroness a household name in the underground metal world and deservedly so. Most wondered, where they would go from here?



The year 2009 saw the release of the masterpiece, Blue Album. For myself personally, this album was at the top of my list in the year it was released. It saw the concepts introduced on Red masterfully sharped with razor precision. All musical exploration that was performed on the previous release that worked well with big picture were amplified and used to even a higher degree of success. Even more so, an amplified sense of melody was conjured and intertwined with their existing structures creating a downright infectious product. There aren't many records in recent years that I would deem "flawless"... but Blue comes to mind when I start to populate that list.



Well here it is, 2012... and 3 years since our last sighting of a new Baroness album. This is due to their tireless work ethic of non-stop touring for the two years following the release of the last record. In 2011, the band decided to take the entire year off to write a new collection of songs, but more so to outdo all of the work they had already carved their path with. What they came away with was a double LP of material entitled Yellow & Green.

This new record, while very recognizable as Baroness, is yet another major turning point in the storied career of this band. The first half of this collection (Yellow) is more akin to the sound they crafted on the last album. Back are the huge and playful riffs, along with the distinctive tandem howling of John Baizley and Pete Adams. What I find to be new this time around is the phenomenal sense of flow through the entire record. Moments of quiet instrumentation seamlessly transition to and from their raucous counterpoints, creating a lush soundscape that very few bands could dream of replicating. Within the confines of this half of the release, I believe listeners will feel most at home with what they comfortably feel Baroness to be. Where Green takes over at the midpoint of this record is where I fear that some less open-minded individuals may lose interest. You see, to me Green is the riskiest move that Baroness has ever attempted. Most aspects of "metal" crumble away, exposing the soft underbelly of this band. The songs take on a much less aggressive and more "rock" leaning tone. They softly sway back a

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