Baroness: Yellow & Green

Baroness
Yellow & Green
Relapse Records [2012]









 Fire Note Says: Fans will be in for a surprise as Baroness once again changes things up on their new sonic double lp Yellow & Green!

Album Review:
Savannah, Georgia's Baroness are always on the search to try something new and on their new double lp, Yellow & Green, they do it again. The band has already made waves on their first two records and is well known for their progressive take on doom and sludge metal that is complete with a bombastic almost scream type vocal from front man John Baizley so it is important to warn the legion of followers out there - Yellow & Green is not anything like the Red [2007] or Blue [2009] album.

In fact, Yellow & Green upon first listen will feel like a complete left turn as its melodic melodies and minor low volume level chords will seem like a new band. It will have longtime fans scratching their heads, selling their copy of the album and possibly even causing physical harm to the record itself. Now before anyone goes to the extreme I would recommend listening again. Then go back and listen for these same components in Blue (they are there). After you take those steps Yellow & Green takes on a complete new energy and purpose. Yes it is subdued but it also contains tons of power that unleashes gorgeously at different points in the record. Songs will move along at a nice pace and then will have a thundering guitar break out which will make all listeners take notice. First single "Take My Bones Away" surrounds itself with muscular guitar riffs as Baizley's new found singing voice really works. Sure it is different but the song is good and so is Yellow & Green.

This is a record that is not only purposely two separate pieces but also an album that is bold and brave. It is an album that takes risks around every corner because it accomplishes things that were not expected from Baroness. There is the superbly strummed "Stretchmarker" which has textures that shine out of the instrumental track while "Board Up The House" is the closest thing the band has created to an alt-rock song that is catchy, poppy and memorable. At an almost running time of one hour and 15 minutes, Yellow & Green is an undertaking. For longer term fans, Yellow & Green may be hard to get with and may even bring the "sell out" ridicules but musically the album is the same high quality Baroness. I think we already knew that going into this record the band would once again change things up and by showing another side of their persona you get the big picture about Baroness which is they have great depth, don't care about stereotypes and most certainly have just made a record for your metal soul!

Key Tracks: "Take My Bones Away", "Sea Lungs", "The Line Between"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Mastodon
Queens Of The Stone Age
Torche

Baroness Website
Baroness Facebook
Relapse Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony