Baroness return with the heavy-hitting STONE, which carries the unmistakable essence of Baroness, but is also a product of newfound stability and purpose within the band.
Heavy rockers Baroness are back with their sixth album, STONE, the third release on their own Abraxan Hymns label. On the album, the Philadelphia band of John Baizley (guitars/vocals/illustration), Gina Gleason (guitars), Nick Jost (bass), and Sebastian Thomson (drums), take their colossal, multi-metal-genre sound and streamline it, creating a more focused and efficient version of the band.
The first three tracks released from STONE - "Shine," "Beneath The Rose," and "Last Word" - offer prime Baroness at their best. These songs are thoughtful, groovy, and at the same time effortlessly ear-splitting. "Shine" is a slow burner that sneaks up on you, until delivering a left hook of a riff that leads into an even better one. They ease up for a minute in the middle to give you a chance to catch your breath before kicking back in for a moment, only to ease you out of the song leaving you feeling like you just took a psychedelic hard rock roller coaster ride. “Beneath The Rose” opens with hypnotic guitar swirls and drums which morph into absolutely pulverizing heavy guitar jams, with a menacing vocal that’ll have you looking over your shoulder to make sure you’re safe. “Last Word” wastes no time getting into it, galloping ahead at full steam until the verse hits, breaking the song wide open like clouds parting on an ugly day, followed up by a hook-filled chorus that’ll make you want to sing along as if they’re your…well, your last words.
Baroness took an interesting approach to creating STONE. While Baizley handled the writing and pre-mixing, the band recorded drums, guitars, and bass before retreating to Baizley's unfinished basement in Pennsylvania, where they laid down vocals and added finishing touches. The final steps included mixing by Joe Barresi (known for his work with Kyuss and Alice In Chains) and mastering by Bob Ludwig (famous for Led Zeppelin and Nirvana), giving the album its final polish.
STONE is more than just an album; it's a work of art. The LP comes in a spot UV gatefold jacket with black flood and includes a heavyweight printed inner sleeve and a four-panel lyric booklet. The CD version is housed in a six-panel wallet with a four-panel lyric booklet, while the light blue cassette features a j-card. For the deluxe CD edition, fans can enjoy six live tracks from the band's By Request tour in 2022. The album artwork, done once again by band leader and painter John Baizley, really shows what a multi-talented and creative guy he is.
Baroness has a storied history, including a Grammy nomination for "Shock Me" from their 2015 album Purple in the Best Metal Performance category. They also earned a spot on Rolling Stone's 20 Best Metal Albums of 2015 list. With a catalog of studio albums that includes Gold & Grey (2019), Purple (2015), Yellow & Green (2012), Blue Record (2009), and Red Album (2007), Baroness continues to make their mark on the rock and metal scene.