Confetti coming from the canons of this success
For a young heavy metal band, having formed in 2003, Baroness has shuffled through many members in their 16 years. But their continued growth shows their adaptability and willingness to keep going, even with multiple changes. Continuing with their trend of naming their albums after colors, Gold & Grey is the band’s fifth full-length album and is one of their best yet.
Having started strong with Red Album in 2007, the band set precedent for good things to come and have not disappointed. They revealed that the reason they name albums after colors is for simplicity and that they can get to the most important part— the music. Clearly, this mentality works and is reflected in the compositions Baroness creates.
Gold & Grey encompasses everything fans have come to love about the band while also showing their skills by incorporating new things. Sometimes a band can get comfortable with the point it has reached and stay static, but Baroness continues to try their hand with new stylistic elements to add to their sound.
Structure-wise, this album has an interesting pattern in which after the first three songs, almost every other track is about two minutes or less and has either no vocals or a very minimal amount. The only time this doesn’t happen is in the middle with “Emmet – Radiating Light” and “Cold-blooded Angels.” Other than those two songs, the album adheres to the structure mentioned above.
“Sevens,” the first track to feature no vocals, displays light keyboards filtering the air that lulls fans into a serene state. Even the shorter tracks that have light humming/chanting such as “Anchor’s Lament” and “Blankets of Ash” accomplish the same feeling. It’s as if the pattern is creating a flowing of feelings and emotions.
Interspersed throughout the album are some stand out songs like “Seasons,” “I’d Do Anything” and “Borderlines.” Each has its own reason for being note-worthy such as the clear instrumental skills and shining vocals. In “Seasons” and “Borderlines,” the guitar skills steal the limelight while in “I’d Do Anything,” the vocals are at the forefront and dominant. But the final song, “Pale Sun,” will leave the album off with a chilling vibe that creates goosebumps and the desire to start Gold & Grey over.
Overall, the album is masterfully constructed and Baroness continues to produce albums that should be listened to. What color will fans experience next?
Leave a Comment