Baroness is back with a new album, and once again it is one of the centerpieces of the release schedule for this year. Still, a band that does things on their own terms, in a DIY punk rock way, but still creating heady music for music lovers by music lovers. Gold & Grey (Abraxan Hymns) is an album that arrives with a justified glow of hype, especially following Purple. The former album is actually the standard Ghost Cult uses in our grading system as “perfect”, in case you had been wondering about what kind of esteem we hold this band. Continue reading →
As we dash towards the holidays and the end of the year Ghost Cult is feeling good about this season of giving. So we are giving our fans a chance to get to know our partners, peers, and friends from bands in the world of music. They will chime in with some guest blogs, end of year lists, and whatever else is on their minds as we pull the plug on 2015. Today we have Joseph Spiller of progressive metal band Caricature. Caricature put out the acclaimed Shadows: Maxi Single this summer have a full-length in the works for 2016. Here is Joseph’s “Most Topesty Cool Favorite Releases of 2015”.
1. Tigran Hamsayan – Mockroot
How often can an album tote a definite influence of Meshuggah, Dave Brubeck, Keith Jarret, and Porcupine Tree? Add on top that this is still a pure jazz record? Pfffft. This is the sound of someone furthering and redefining a genre.
2. Fetty Wap – Fetty Wap
Yeah, before anyone says it sucks because it’s not metal, listen to this record. Fetty is all hits, all the time. Zoogang knows how to make pop hooks as if it’s in their DNA.
3. Steven Wilson – Hand.Cannot.Erase
Steven Wilson, by Melina D Photography
Backing band of the century along with the golden god of Prog. Though it gets overly self-indulgent from time to time, Hand.Cannot.Erase is absolutely stunning.
4. Psycroptic –Psycroptic
Do you even riff, Bro? Joe Haley most definitely does.
5. Ghost – Meliora
Ghost, by Meg Loyal Photography
I never got the hype on this band. I actually disliked almost everything prior to Meliora, but goddamn, did Papa bring that A-game with this heavily Dave Grohl “inspired” record.
6. Abigail Williams – The Accuser
Who doesn’t love a good comeback? Possibly the best thing Ken Sorceron has ever done. Crushing and beautiful with rich song structures. BUY THIS RECORD NOW!
7. Lamb of God – VII: Sturm Und Drang
Lamb of God, by Evil Robb Photography
After all that went on with Randy, the band came back and tell that tale along with snapshot a troubled time in the world perfectly. The riffs and drumming on this record are some of their best to date, and Josh Wilbur killed it on the production side.
8. Baroness – Purple Record
Another “Comeback Record” of sorts. Stronger, more refined, defined. The mesh of only the finest points of Yellow & Green mixed lush instrumentation and what sounds like an intense infatuation with The Cure. This one has it all.
9. Ellie Goulding – Delirium
Though not an immensely technical singer, Goulding has a golden voice. The slight raspiness and harmonically rich tambre makes me envious. This album is LONG for the pop genre, but its all top quality with fantastic hooks meshed with smooth beats and tranquil melodies.
10. Solution .45 – Nightmares In The Waking State
If you don’t know who this band is, we probably cannot be friends. GROOVES
EXTREMELY HONORABLE MENTION: I’ll be Me – Soundtrack
The delayed release of the soundtrack to the documentary about the legendary guitar player, singer, songwriter, and former member of The Wrecking Crew,Glen Campbell, who has been battling Alzheimer’s Disease for the past few years. This has two live songs from his final tour that will blow your mind considering his state, along with songs from his daughter that will make you cry while your heart flutters. The title track, penned by Mr. Campbell himself as a final letter to his wife and family will give you goosebumps (unless you don’t have a heart.
Baroness has shared a video entitled Ultraviolet: Making Purple. You can watch the clip at this link or below:
Purple will be released on Dec 18th from their newly formed own label, Abraxan Hymns. The first track ‘Chlorine & Wine’ has already been released in the form of a video. You can see the video at this link or below:
Dates for the band’s forthcoming U.S. tour are listed below, tickets are on-sale now viawww.yourbaroness.com/tour.
Nov 27: Ace of Cups – Columbus, OH Nov 28: Beat Kitchen – Chicago, IL (SOLD OUT) Nov 29: Frequency – Madison, WI Dec 01: The Demo – St. Louis, MO Dec 02: Jackpot Music Hall – Lawrence, KS Dec 04: 89th Street Collective – Oklahoma City, OK Dec 05: Double Wide – Dallas, TX Dec 06: Mohawk – Austin, TX Dec 08: Rudyard’s – Houston, TX Dec 09: Gasa Gasa – New Orleans, LA Dec 11: 8-BIT Bar – Gainesville, FL Dec 12 :The Jinx – Savannah, GA Dec 13: The Earl – Atlanta, GA Dec 15: Local 506 – Chapel Hill, NC Dec 16: Strange Matter- Richmond, VA Dec 18: Metro Gallery – Baltimore, MD (SOLD OUT) Dec 19: Johnny Brenda’s – Philadelphia, PA (SOLD OUT) Dec 20:Saint Vitus Bar – Brooklyn, NY (SOLD OUT)
Baroness has announced their long awaited new album, and the officially confirmed title of Purple will be released on December 18th from their newly formed own label, Abraxan Hymns. The first track ‘Chlorine & Wine’ has been released in the form of an animated video complete with classic John Baizley artwork reveal. You can see the video at this link or below:
John Baizley has commented on the album:
“After releasing a lengthy and investigative record like Yellow & Greenwe all felt that we needed to make something much more direct and immediate. We wanted to write with our normal focus on artistry, balanced against an increased level of energy and focus. It was important for us to write our new songs with the type of enthusiasm and expressiveness that could act as a counterpoint to the album’s dark themes. As a result, the music came out in an intense, heavy and sonically captivating in a new way, which was important, loathe, as we are to fall into any kind of complacency pitfall or formulaic songwriting routine. Purpleis the most fully realized representation of our intention as a band; considering the amount of physical and mental energy spent writing it, we have accomplished something which would have seemed impossible to us a couple of years ago.”
Baroness, photo credit Jimmy Hubbard
Produced by Dave Fridmann (The Flaming Lips, MGMT) at Tarbox Road Studios, the band worked with Fridmann in the secluded town of Cassadaga, New York. Pre-order packages for Purple, which feature an instant grat download of ‘Chlorine & Wine’ as well as a limited edition colored vinyl version of the new album, two picture discs, t-shirts and other unique items, are available now via this link: http://smarturl.it/dpurple. iTunes (http://smarturl.it/ipurple), Amazon (http://smarturl.it/apurple) and Google Play (http://smarturl.it/gpurple) are also offering pre-orders as of today.
Purple track list:
1. Morningstar
2. Shock Me
3. Try to Disappear
4. Kerosene
5. Fugue
6. Chlorine & Wine
7. The Iron Bell
8. Desperation Burns
9. If I Have to Wake Up (Would You Stop the Rain)
10. Crossroads of Infinity
The band performs tomorrow at the Reading Festival and at the Leeds Festival on Sunday. North American tour dates are pending. The Purple will be the long awaited follow up to the critically acclaimed Yellow & Green (both Relapse) released in 2011. Less than a month after that album’s release the band was in a near fatal tour bus crash outside of Bath, England. The band resumed activities less than 8 months later with an appearance at South By Southwest in March of 2013 and has remained mostly on the road or in the studio ever since.
In a series of posts to their social networks, Baroness has announced they will reveal details of their next album, tomorrow on their website www.YourBaroness.com. The band has been teasing that new material was forthcoming all summer and using Purple as the color scheme, evoking a possible theme and name for the release. The album is due out later this year from their own record label Abraxan Hymns.
The “Purple” album will be the long awaited follow up to the critically acclaimed Yellow & Green (also Relapse) released in 2011. Less than a month after that album’s release the band was in a near fatal tour bus crash outside of Bath, England. The band resumed activities less than 8 months later with an appearance at South By Southwest in March of 2013 and has remained mostly on the road or in the studio ever since. The band is winding up a European tour ahead of the new release.
