While not the most terribly conceptual album (but in a way, it really is) ,what our friends Baroness here have been able to do is mix potpourri and metal into an album and have it liquidize itself out into something that flows majestically, that floats magnanimously, creating a carrying ambience in tracks such as "Isak", "Rays On Pinion
, "Teeth of a Cogwheel", "Aleph"...awww heck, all of them. Sludge beauty.
The drumming is a picturesque seaborne tempest, winding, enthralling, and thick. Fills never seem out of place and enhance the whirlwind landscape of the tracklist exponentially. as they are heavy in theory, messianic in execution.
When sought after the bass is eloquent. The bad part is that it must be sought after. While holding it's own on certain tracks such as "Isak", as it is a keystone in the production of the haze perpetuated, it consistently takes a backseat rather than accompaniment to the blazing reciprocity of the dual lead guitars.
Both guitars speak the mind of momentary and prolonging mood, neither overpowering or underpowering to the other, accenting and uplifting each other and the listener in both technical prowess and melodical mestery. Repition is the key to success in the Red Album as far as the melodical effect goes. Baroness finds some of most beautiful of all riffs in the stellar galaxy and strands them upon the belt of besting in the song "Wanderlust" (their first single and only so far) and plays them so that you will never forget, and in a way something fierce, slowly building upon themselves into an emotional swell that tips us all overboard drowning us in the waves of euphony, not only in "Wanderlust," but in other greats Such as "Rays on Pinion," "The Birthing," and several more. Oh The rapture induced.
Now, Baroness is no Radiohead. Insidpid yelping into a microphone holds no place on this vocalists platter. Holler. Yell it out. Tell the troops to take hike as they trek their way back from the forefront of battle seeking refuge could adequately describe the looming haze of mood throughout the almost instrumental album invoked by the roar of the beastly vocals. While they are NEVER out of place when used, vocal actions are far and few between. The band inhibits it's use of it's vocals throughout, by only occasionally produciung a proper situation for them when they hold so much emotion and positive tension that could surely be put to good use. Lyrically i find this to be a fascinating album. Fresh and rather enthralling when dually applied.
Bottom Line: Multilayered, sweltering and yet refreshing, The Red Album is worth everyones time. If only for a brief invstigation or seeking a full on experience, Barnoess puts out.
Baroness - RED ALBUM - 9.0/10
