Blue Record

Baroness
Relapse Records
General | Oct 2009

Reviews

Ragnar of Ravensfjord
Reviewed 2009-11-23
Modern Heavy Rock/Metal from Savannah, GA (see: Kylesa, Damad) with a fixation on an epic vibe and a bit of psych. Catchy while also being intricate and technical yet also nothing show off-y about it. Pretty similar to Kylesa, Neurosis, Big Business and the earlier-mid 90s bands like Quicksand, Failure and Season To Risk. Overall, very consistent and continually interesting. Dare I say “heavy music for those not into metal?”

((((1))))) Pretty chords, very psych intro.
(((((2)))) Intrictate riffing with a very nice vocal and guitar tone. Sort of brings a blend of Neurosis and Thin Lizzy. Weird thing is the backing vocalist sounds like a mix between Laura from Kylesa & Scott Kelly of Neurosis.
((((((3))))) Very lively with hard hitting drums and some great chord/tempo changes. Very dynamic sound and structure.
((((4)))) Starts acoustic sort of psych-folk then becomes a washed out melted down slab of fuzz before it fades into…
((((5)))) Bassy, mid-paced, warbly chords. Catchy vocals with the bass & some basic riffs following right underneath. The second set of guitars are again very dynamic.
(((((6))))) Fantastic heavy & bombastic interlude which might be based of an Ogeechee tribal hymn. Easily sticks in yer head.
((((((7))))) Builds off the last notes and builds into a complex burrowing zig-zaggy tune in constant movement. Excellent use of guitar harmonics and vocals. Plus more of them classic Thin Lizzy twin harmonies and fuzzed out solo.
((((8)))) Big build up with fast bass and more zig-zagging tempos. Big bass/drum and guitar sound. Spoken vocals with some very good instrumentation.
((((9)))) Straight up and hard hitting then pulls back to a more modern melodic heavy rawk to fast solos that are melodic and not wanky. Once more continues to go in forward motion.
((((10)))) Nice interlude with acoustic ramblin’ folk with a bit of electric guitar in the mix.
(((((11))))) Mellow intro then bigger, louder and sort of snakey tempos. Sounds like Neurosis doing a straight ahead heavy rawk tune. GREAT bass sound & melodies.,
((((12)))) Instrumental with a dream-like psych intro that connects back to Track #6 .

Recent airplay

A Horse Called Golgotha, Ogeechee Hymnal
CatharsisJan 21, 2012
Swollen And Halo
graveyard shift of mayhemDec 22, 2011
A Horse Called Golgotha
Everyday CommotionJun 04, 2011
A Horse Called Golgotha
Overkill RadioMay 14, 2011
Steel That Sleeps The Eye
public noize racketDec 16, 2009

Charting

2009-11-08 — 2010-01-10 Loud
Week EndingAirplays
Jan 3 1
Dec 20 2
Dec 13 2
Dec 6 2
Nov 29 1
Nov 22 1
Nov 15 2

Track listing

1. Bullhead's Psalm
2. The Sweetest Curse
3. Jake Leg
4. Steel That Sleeps The Eye
5. Swollen And Halo
6. Ogeechee Hymnal
7. A Horse Called Golgotha
8. O'er Hell And Hide
9. War, Wisdom And Rhyme
10. Blackpowder Orchard
11. The Gnashing
12. Bullhead's Lament