I think all Baroness reviews should mention (albeit briefly) Baizley’s outstanding artwork because new potential metal fans may be unaware that is actually made by it’s frontman. I really think Baizley’s paintings adds true dimension to the songs and this is kind of rare nowadays. There are tons of great album covers in metal, but most of them are not nearly as synesthetic as in a Baroness albums. It’s one of these bands that tempts you to buy the vinyl version of everything they do. They are helping to “physicalize” music consumption again and I think this is noteworthy.
Victor Borges totally agree with the buying vinyl point you raised- Kylesa reinvigorated my passion for vinyl, and groups like Baroness, Ghost etc have kept that going.
I'm a huge Baroness fan, but I definitely agree with what most folks are saying about the mixing. It isn't as bad listened to on a decent setup... but I still can't help but wonder how much more amazing some of these songs would be if they were just a bit clearer (but hey, there's always seeing them play live in order to get an "alternate take" on the songs). I'm surprised though that nobody's brought up what I feel to be the bigger issue with the album, the number of filler tracks on it. The actual songs themselves are good, but there are so many tracks that are just there as ambience or transitions. (But then, Aenima is my favorite Tool album and that thing was HALF filler tracks, so wtf do I know lol.)
Loving the hell out of this album! Definitely album of the year for me. Although I can understand the issues people have with the mixing, those are all valid complaints. Not for me though, these songs are just so dope.
I’m pleasantly surprised to hear you review the new album by Georgia’s own Baroness most positively since I happen to love almost all Progressive Metal that’s got equal parts melody & aggression And FYI, their new guitarist Gina is surprisingly familiar to me because I first discovered her almost 6 years ago when I came across the website for one of her first bands: an all-female Metallica tribute band called Misstallica
man, I'm trying to enjoy this album, but it won't spark the kind of enjoyment I had for Purple. The abrupt ending of "Seasons", the un-smooth transmission at the beginning of "Tourniquet", etc. I don't get, why they chose to leave it like this. Can't complain about the mixing/mastering too much, I'm not an expert in this kind, but at some points I ask myself, why they chose to do it the way they did. Baroness (for me) was never a band that needed to provoke or impress through weird sounds or rough mixing/mastering. So, for this album, I like the imagination of it being a "blunt diamond". Maybe a good foundation to put down expectations for the next album and potential to improve.
The production really hurts any enjoyability of this album. I listened on three separate avenues (car stereo, headphones, computer monitors) and the mix and master is far too compressed and disjointed to be listenable. My ears were actually in pain listening to this thing. On the songwriting side, Baizley's register is just so monotonous after a handful of songs that the whole things starts sounding homogeneous and dull. It's a shame too because I've been a Gina Gleason fan for a while and was excited to hear what she would bring to the band, too bad I couldn't hear the guitars half the time. Although her vocals on this thing were pretty good. If it was a stylistic choice by the band, I can't bring myself to recommend this album purely on the issues of the production. Kinda falls into the same category as Fallujah's second album, honestly.
Please bring back Locked Horns. All these Overkill Reviews and Metal Monthlies are fun, but nothing brought the international community of metal heads together like Locked Horns did. Also Baroness rocks! Great review!
The album was a letdown. Liked it less than Yellow/Green. Just isn't heavy enough for me, man. I miss their yelling vocals. Im honestly more geeked to listen to the new Torche. (Totally seeing them both in concert next month)
Good review, only thing you missed was Gina also did some vocals layered amongst John's vocals. For me it really added an extra smoothness to the overall sound. Think they used her the perfect amount.
Hard to hear in that mix. It all sounds like it's in the same spot of the soundscape and has a treble buzz. Took me these 2 years to get used to it enough to enjoy it without feeling frustrated. Basically, listen to any live versions you can. Their mixing live is just better unless it's filmed on a phone.
The mixing on the new Baroness album sounds very off to me. Since it has applied to each video that they have uploaded to UA-cam, I suspect it isn't a single song issue.
For over a year I let the mix of this album alienate me from it. I recently adjusted the equaliser in Vic and gave it another go. Wow. It absolutely floored me. Amazing. So intricate. Full of energy and beauty. Absolutely love it.
I feel like I was griping when I say that listening to this album on headphones actually gives me a headache due to the downright gross sound mixing but clearly other people are having similar experiences
Yup. Its been a huge problem more than usual on their last 2 album's (including this one). Its overly compressed "loudness war" style.... The vinyl releases tend to be better. Try finding a digital rip of the vinyl, and it wont be as bad. They really need a new better mastering engineer tho.... They are so good, the music deserves it.
The Baroness record is dope!! I caught 'em live yesterday in Mexico City, mindblowing!! That being said, Dylan ... Oh my God!! OH. MY. GOD!! I listened to that Thank You Scientist record, "Terraformer", it's so beautiful, so intricate but not overdone, the voice reminds me at times of Cedric Bixler-Zavala ... It's amazing!! Thank you for recommending it!!
Good review! I agree with the whole production issues, even if I've only listened to the album once. I'm reviewing this very record for the pilot episode of my channel, which is still in the process of being made.
I still love Baroness, they're one of my favourite bands, but so far I just can't get behind this album. It's like they just thought 'put distortion on everything. It'll be grand'. It just sounds like a slightly less shit Yellow & Green. After repeated listens on really good headphones I still have to strain to hear Gina's backing vocals. I'm sure they put tons of effort in but they sound like an after thought. The bass and drumming are amazing throughout but everything else sounds kinda week in comparison. The guitars sound way too tinny or 'plinky' one sec and then fuzzy but in a bad way the next. I was hoping it would grow on me but after repeated listens this week it's actually going the opposite for me. I still love Baroness and can't wait to see them live again but so far this album is pants. It's like reviewers are afraid to give them a bad review or something. I don't doubt Dylan genuinely liked the album but so many good reviews for such a chaotic, badly produced album with more than a couple of straight up bland songs in the mix? Also, at no point in this album does anything sound remotely like old Kykesa or Mastodon. Just saying :)
@TheGreaterGood80 I get ya but I still love them. They're always gonna change that much I reckon they'll be one of those bands whose fans hop on and off depending on what sound they're currently going for. That said, production wise this is definitely their St Anger 😂
I always look forward to Dylan's reviews, especially when they're prog. I love the others too, but prog was something I felt could be delved into more and I'm he's here to do it!
I saw baroness fill in for Kylesa for a punk fest in 06 (was a slight fan of the EPs at the time) and been a huge fan since. One of those bands you’ll see live and you’ll leave feeling like wow they’re going to go places and if they don’t it’s a damn shame.
Honestly I'd suggest starting with Yellow off of Yellow & Green, it's an album that really shows off the variety in their sound. I'd go for Purple after that, then Blue.
God I forgot that Thank You Scientist had a new album out, I'll have to be on the look out for it. Anyways, 'Gold & Grey' rocked my fuckin' world. 5/5 from me.
I get the complaints with production; I felt the same about purple. The difference is that all the songs are wonderful on this one. Baroness is a completely different band than they used to be. But listening back, this is now my favorite of their albums.
Definitely check out Thank You Scientist. They're so fucking good. Lots of great hooks in their music and some amazing vocals/arrangements. Definitely see them live, too. They put on a great show.
gino103196 Hope all their songs don’t sound like “Swarm,” because I got about 30 seconds in before I was turned off by them. Because horns....and they sound a little too much like Coheed and Cambria. Yet, that’s only after 30 seconds, so......
I havent listened to the whole album yet, but what I have heard from stuff released online, it has not grabbed me yet. I'm a big fan of Red and Blue, and I was hoping for a return to that in Purple and didnt quite get it. And now with Gold & Grey, Im so far feeling left out of this direction.
I'm still to give the album a proper spin. I've started listening to it a couple of times, but I find it to be mastered too loud and compressed that it's quite tiring when listening with headphones, so I had to put it down. I think most of their albums are mastered this way, which I find kind of ridiculous for the style of music they make. When you have so many dynamic changes, this degree of compression just kills the effect. Why have quiet parts followed by loud parts if you are just gonna even the volumes to the point the loud parts lose the impact?
I really hoped Gold & Grey would win me over to Baroness. I’ve always liked them for sure. Seasons is a solid song and I do like the Red album and plenty of Yellow and Green. But they’ve never been a favorite of mine and I hoped this album would help change that,but Gold & Grey turned out to be one of my least favorite rock/metal releases of the year. It feels like a chore trying to listen to the entirety of most of these songs. They just don’t hook me in at any point. On the other hand,Terraformer is an outstanding release. Thank You Scientist is one of the most underrated bands in progressive metal in my mind,and Terraformer is another display of their outstanding musicianship and song writing.
I love this band, love their guitar tones, drumming, riffs, vocal performance, but the production on this and Purple are just too slammed. Overcompressed, super saturated, completely muddy in the loudest parts, constantly clipping out. It kills an otherwise awesome set of records...
This album feels like it is going to take multiple listens to digest. Purple was the same way for me. Also, would love to hear a full review of Thank You Scientist's record. It may be my album of the year!
Not really a fan of Baroness, but the reviews are always fun to watch either way. Thanks, Dylan! Also, I am a fan of Devin Townsend, but I actually didn't get into the new one. Not sure why... I didn't dislike it, but it didn't really grab me, either.
Longtime fan, The Blue Album is one of my favorite albums ever! Just got my tape today, can't wait to see them with Torche, please review them when their new album comes out!
Love Baroness so much. Wish they mastered their records better though... The last few albums (including this new one) are overly compressed, 'loudness war' style. I highly recommend everyone get the vinyl, or even a digital rip of the vinyl, which tends to be slightly better mastered/less compressed. Sooo frustrating though... They need a new producer/mastering engineer.
The mix has been poor on the records since the blue album. The red album is masterfully mixed super clean, lots of contrast and I loved it. The way they do things now is WAY too muddy for my listening pleasure. But they were great live with Deafhevean a couple months back.
Find myself enjoying Gold & Grey more than Blue. Cant out-do Red. Production didnt ruin anything for me. I feel that too many people are letting this "bad" production ruin an othewise fantastic album. Give it more than one listen. Even Dylan talks about listening to it more than once. If production DOES ruin this album for you, then go back to listening to todays hits on whatever radio station you have if youre looking for over produced music.
I don't dig this album at all. I kinda had a feeling I wasn't going to like it when I found out who the producer was and when Pete left the band. This album just doesn't have a heavy edge to it and I saw that happening when Purple came out but Purple had just enough heaviness to keep me interested...this one does not. In many ways this isn't the Baroness I liked. Also the reviewer said this is like old Mastodon and old Kylesa??? I think he has that wrong. Baroness now sounds like new Mastodon and new Kylesa. I'm not sure what the hell he's hearing there. Oh well...to each there own. I can see a lot of people digging this album but I think fans of the old Baroness heavier sound will be disappointed.
@@camhorejs Cool that you dig it. I gave it another listen and it's just not for me. I don't like the production/general sound of the album and I don't dig the lack of heaviness in the guitars. Again...I figured this sound was coming because they hinted at it with the last album and Pete leaving the band was another sign to me that this album was going to be a new sound. The fact that there's only one original member left in the band was another bad sign for me. Don't get me wrong...I'm not against musicians trying new things with their band but this change just doesn't connect with me. This album sounds more like a commercial Alternative album with no "Sludge" and actually very little Prog. I'll still listen to everything they've put out up until this album.
@@mosesgarner2404 this is actually their most harmonically and rhythmically progressive output to date. Technical music ain't just aint just a barrage of 16th notes
@@DanielSanchez-yi9cr Uhm...technically that's not what I said in either of my comments. I barely even spoke on why I don't think this album is on the "progressive" side. Baroness was never about a barrage of 16th notes.
These guys should just drop the facade and collaborate with pop stars like Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Ed Sheeran, they're pretty much already in that arena anyway. LOFL
I love the band but I am a little disappointed over the mix. It is really not good listening to because of poor mix. It is for me not clean enough. But many of the songs are great played Greetings from Norway 🇳🇴 Like the Kvelertak t-shirt 🤘
Not to be a dick, but Baronness became irrelevant after the NWOTHM hit. We all kept praying for them to work their way into writing Priest and Maiden-esque songs but they just got weirder and weirder and I think most metal fans lost interest. Especially when Enforcer and Battle Beast (back when they were still good) popped up. I'll always have a soft spot for Blue Record though, which was fucking 10 years ago. Jesus christ I feel old.
My two cents: the production is mostly terrible. The arrangements mainly come off as bland. Avoiding hooks is all well and good but there's very little musical direction and despite the changes that happen there's no dynamics at play. It's just loud and flat, sonically and musically. Gina Gleeson, I don't know. I've just got nothing to be impressed with yet. Sometimes her voice is good enough, sometimes it just doesn't work in the music (When the music works). It's mostly just toneless yelling. Her guitar playing is much better than her singing which is fine but that's mostly lost in a terrible mix and an overly full arrangement. From Red album to here, I have to put this in last place which is really sad considering this is the last in the colour series. Some tracks are just unlistenable. I'd rather put Mayhem on for the higher quality.
How the hell has John not fired his engineer yet? People begged for remastering of Purple, then on the next record he uses the same guy and the clipping is almost a fuck you it's so bad.
Andy Fox that’s just your worthless opinion. And you’re in the minority. Either that or you just didn’t listen to it at all and are just being a troll. Reviews are almost universally positive. And I never asked for it to be reviewed, only mentioned as the major release that it was, like every other important release that is at least mentioned in the shout-outs. Just respect for a classic important band.
6:21, I may have discovered one of my new favorite bands! An amazing mixture of Dillinger Escape Plan, The Mars Volta, Coheed and Cambria, Leprous and Protest the Hero; right up my alley. Should've reviewed this album instead of Baroness's.
Worst mixed record of 2019 and considering Darkthrone released a good sounding record, that should be a sign. Seriously, what the fuck were they thinking? Also, I can't understand the hype around them, they're like a mall version of Mastodon. The shitton of interludes and forgettable nature of the record certainly doesn't help. Gave this band a lot of chances and it still isn't clicking haha, something big is just missing but I am not too bummed because there is a shitton of good music out there, from rap to prog to avant-garde. Cool review! Thank You Scientist is AotY material btw, for me at least.
I can get past the production of the mixing... just about. But I really miss Pete's guitar playing. This new album is very rhythmically driven which I like, but all the guitar solos are an onslaught of 16th note riffs that don't give the music the room to breathe. Gina is awesome, but her style has impacted the band in a very different way, which is something I still need to get used to.
I think all Baroness reviews should mention (albeit briefly) Baizley’s outstanding artwork because new potential metal fans may be unaware that is actually made by it’s frontman.
I really think Baizley’s paintings adds true dimension to the songs and this is kind of rare nowadays. There are tons of great album covers in metal, but most of them are not nearly as synesthetic as in a Baroness albums.
It’s one of these bands that tempts you to buy the vinyl version of everything they do. They are helping to “physicalize” music consumption again and I think this is noteworthy.
Victor Borges totally agree with the buying vinyl point you raised- Kylesa reinvigorated my passion for vinyl, and groups like Baroness, Ghost etc have kept that going.
I'm a huge Baroness fan, but I definitely agree with what most folks are saying about the mixing. It isn't as bad listened to on a decent setup... but I still can't help but wonder how much more amazing some of these songs would be if they were just a bit clearer (but hey, there's always seeing them play live in order to get an "alternate take" on the songs).
I'm surprised though that nobody's brought up what I feel to be the bigger issue with the album, the number of filler tracks on it. The actual songs themselves are good, but there are so many tracks that are just there as ambience or transitions. (But then, Aenima is my favorite Tool album and that thing was HALF filler tracks, so wtf do I know lol.)
Man, thank you scientist was a revelation. Listening to their new album and so far so good, loving every single seconds! Thanks for the shout out.
"Front Towards Enemy" is printed on the front of Claymore anti-personnel mines
Came here to say that 👌
I was going to say that as well
I mean he could have googled it but...
Interesting 👍
Had the image from Edge of Tomorrow in mind
please give a bad album for Dylan to review, he's always so nice and generous in his ratings...
true
Disturbed’s last album
This was his chance
@@hillsboroughsports2461 he didn't review it alone... he did a review of Within Temptation though. I still thought he was way too nice then.
anything from iron maiden lmao
They were great on their tour for this album. Great energy and sounded great. Need to pick this up on vinyl ASAP.
Best show at graspop metal meeting last year as well.
Can you hook it up with the set list by any chance?
Loving the hell out of this album! Definitely album of the year for me. Although I can understand the issues people have with the mixing, those are all valid complaints. Not for me though, these songs are just so dope.
I’m pleasantly surprised to hear you review the new album by Georgia’s own Baroness most positively since I happen to love almost all Progressive Metal that’s got equal parts melody & aggression
And FYI, their new guitarist Gina is surprisingly familiar to me because I first discovered her almost 6 years ago when I came across the website for one of her first bands: an all-female Metallica tribute band called Misstallica
man, I'm trying to enjoy this album, but it won't spark the kind of enjoyment I had for Purple. The abrupt ending of "Seasons", the un-smooth transmission at the beginning of "Tourniquet", etc. I don't get, why they chose to leave it like this. Can't complain about the mixing/mastering too much, I'm not an expert in this kind, but at some points I ask myself, why they chose to do it the way they did. Baroness (for me) was never a band that needed to provoke or impress through weird sounds or rough mixing/mastering. So, for this album, I like the imagination of it being a "blunt diamond". Maybe a good foundation to put down expectations for the next album and potential to improve.
Love that Kvelertak shirt, brother. Also, great review. Thanks for your thoughts.
The production really hurts any enjoyability of this album. I listened on three separate avenues (car stereo, headphones, computer monitors) and the mix and master is far too compressed and disjointed to be listenable. My ears were actually in pain listening to this thing.
On the songwriting side, Baizley's register is just so monotonous after a handful of songs that the whole things starts sounding homogeneous and dull. It's a shame too because I've been a Gina Gleason fan for a while and was excited to hear what she would bring to the band, too bad I couldn't hear the guitars half the time. Although her vocals on this thing were pretty good.
If it was a stylistic choice by the band, I can't bring myself to recommend this album purely on the issues of the production. Kinda falls into the same category as Fallujah's second album, honestly.
Please bring back Locked Horns. All these Overkill Reviews and Metal Monthlies are fun, but nothing brought the international community of metal heads together like Locked Horns did. Also Baroness rocks! Great review!
There's another thing apart from the production: 17 tracks, 3 good ones.
Juan Pablo Vivanco I feel the same. Not impressed with this album. I’m curious though, which 3? Borderlines & Seasons are decent, but what else?
@@jwetenkamp Well, let's say 4 then: Borderlines, Tourniquet, Seasons, Broken Halo, IMHO.
Can't wait to see Baroness in Baton Rouge in August.
Also, Thank You Scientist rocks my nads.
The album was a letdown. Liked it less than Yellow/Green. Just isn't heavy enough for me, man. I miss their yelling vocals. Im honestly more geeked to listen to the new Torche. (Totally seeing them both in concert next month)
Good review, only thing you missed was Gina also did some vocals layered amongst John's vocals. For me it really added an extra smoothness to the overall sound. Think they used her the perfect amount.
Hard to hear in that mix. It all sounds like it's in the same spot of the soundscape and has a treble buzz. Took me these 2 years to get used to it enough to enjoy it without feeling frustrated. Basically, listen to any live versions you can. Their mixing live is just better unless it's filmed on a phone.
Please please please talk about Devin Townsend's Empath!
i got to see thank you scientist open for coheed and they were super high energy and definitely worth checking out.
“Front toward enemy” is a nod to the Claymore mine fwtw
The mixing on the new Baroness album sounds very off to me. Since it has applied to each video that they have uploaded to UA-cam, I suspect it isn't a single song issue.
All their albums have been terribly mixed with completely smushed dynamics. Guess it's somewhat a Sludge metal thing.
IMO this is the... AND JUSTICE FOR ALL record for baroness.
Explain?
@@joeyuzwa891 sounds like shit when it shouldnt. Horrid mix.
For over a year I let the mix of this album alienate me from it. I recently adjusted the equaliser in Vic and gave it another go. Wow. It absolutely floored me. Amazing. So intricate. Full of energy and beauty. Absolutely love it.
I feel like I was griping when I say that listening to this album on headphones actually gives me a headache due to the downright gross sound mixing but clearly other people are having similar experiences
Yup. Its been a huge problem more than usual on their last 2 album's (including this one). Its overly compressed "loudness war" style.... The vinyl releases tend to be better. Try finding a digital rip of the vinyl, and it wont be as bad. They really need a new better mastering engineer tho.... They are so good, the music deserves it.
The Baroness record is dope!! I caught 'em live yesterday in Mexico City, mindblowing!!
That being said, Dylan ... Oh my God!! OH. MY. GOD!! I listened to that Thank You Scientist record, "Terraformer", it's so beautiful, so intricate but not overdone, the voice reminds me at times of Cedric Bixler-Zavala ... It's amazing!! Thank you for recommending it!!
Please do Devid Townsend’s Empath and Avendra’s Descender. My top progressive albums of 2019.
Good review! I agree with the whole production issues, even if I've only listened to the album once. I'm reviewing this very record for the pilot episode of my channel, which is still in the process of being made.
Rammstein! - Townsend would be fine too, but also.... Rammstein !
Yeah the compression hurts the record you can notice listening to their last single "Throw Me An Anchor".
The first track is an M18 claymore! It’s Killer
I still love Baroness, they're one of my favourite bands, but so far I just can't get behind this album. It's like they just thought 'put distortion on everything. It'll be grand'. It just sounds like a slightly less shit Yellow & Green. After repeated listens on really good headphones I still have to strain to hear Gina's backing vocals. I'm sure they put tons of effort in but they sound like an after thought. The bass and drumming are amazing throughout but everything else sounds kinda week in comparison. The guitars sound way too tinny or 'plinky' one sec and then fuzzy but in a bad way the next. I was hoping it would grow on me but after repeated listens this week it's actually going the opposite for me. I still love Baroness and can't wait to see them live again but so far this album is pants. It's like reviewers are afraid to give them a bad review or something. I don't doubt Dylan genuinely liked the album but so many good reviews for such a chaotic, badly produced album with more than a couple of straight up bland songs in the mix? Also, at no point in this album does anything sound remotely like old Kykesa or Mastodon. Just saying :)
Yeah it certainly wasn't as memorable as I hoped upon first listen..
When they get to the Black album, it's going to be pure noise.
@@weregretohio7728 Hahahahaha, If they weren't finishing up the colour scheme I'd love to hear how a Black album would turn out 😂
@TheGreaterGood80 I get ya but I still love them. They're always gonna change that much I reckon they'll be one of those bands whose fans hop on and off depending on what sound they're currently going for. That said, production wise this is definitely their St Anger 😂
Good essay.
@@entertherealmofchaos Yeah.. I did go on a bit too much but feck it, I do love this band 😂
I always look forward to Dylan's reviews, especially when they're prog. I love the others too, but prog was something I felt could be delved into more and I'm he's here to do it!
Completely unrelated, but I'm loving the Leviathan representation in one of the promo shots.
Same. Good band
@@joeyuzwa891 Absolutely amazing band.
I saw baroness fill in for Kylesa for a punk fest in 06 (was a slight fan of the EPs at the time) and been a huge fan since. One of those bands you’ll see live and you’ll leave feeling like wow they’re going to go places and if they don’t it’s a damn shame.
I love Thank You Scientist
Haven't heard the band but, seems promising which order should I follow in order to check out their entire diacography
Honestly I'd suggest starting with Yellow off of Yellow & Green, it's an album that really shows off the variety in their sound. I'd go for Purple after that, then Blue.
listen to first and second and realise it wont get any better
This band is fantastic live, put on one of the best shows I've ever seen
Fair point about poor production, that was my thought after first listen in the car this morning. Let’s it down.
Thank you for review, I'm going to listen them
Great review. I am loving most of this album but purple will always be my favourite
Never heard of these guys but im sold!
God I forgot that Thank You Scientist had a new album out, I'll have to be on the look out for it.
Anyways, 'Gold & Grey' rocked my fuckin' world. 5/5 from me.
I get the complaints with production; I felt the same about purple. The difference is that all the songs are wonderful on this one. Baroness is a completely different band than they used to be. But listening back, this is now my favorite of their albums.
Definitely check out Thank You Scientist. They're so fucking good. Lots of great hooks in their music and some amazing vocals/arrangements. Definitely see them live, too. They put on a great show.
gino103196 Hope all their songs don’t sound like “Swarm,” because I got about 30 seconds in before I was turned off by them. Because horns....and they sound a little too much like Coheed and Cambria. Yet, that’s only after 30 seconds, so......
I really like Blue and Red, but idk man, I just don’t dig the rest.
I feel you man, you do you! I'd say give green and yellow and least another go they really grow on you!
You should like Purple... atleast certain tracks.
Ryan Walters a few, yeah, but as a whole no.
I agree mate they lost me after the blue album, the others bore me.
I've never heard of this band before, but now I think I'll check out the album and their whole discography.
Thanks
Colin Manning You must hear the Purple album.
Find the One and Two EPs and Red & Blue. Their album Green and Gold is pretty neat but was “too soft” for prickly young corenuts
@@benmech Well yeah they're all good if you like the band.
I havent listened to the whole album yet, but what I have heard from stuff released online, it has not grabbed me yet. I'm a big fan of Red and Blue, and I was hoping for a return to that in Purple and didnt quite get it. And now with Gold & Grey, Im so far feeling left out of this direction.
If you are a fan of The Dillinger Escape Plan and Every Time I Die, don’t miss THE CALLOUS DAOBOYS next week: ua-cam.com/video/turQDDwveu0/v-deo.html
Production is not very good, I agree with you on that! This album could have been so great.
Also Wormwitch
Why does it sounds like almost every word is cut short at the end?
Are we just going to ignore Emmet: radiating light? Lol it’s like the coolest song on here
I'm still to give the album a proper spin. I've started listening to it a couple of times, but I find it to be mastered too loud and compressed that it's quite tiring when listening with headphones, so I had to put it down.
I think most of their albums are mastered this way, which I find kind of ridiculous for the style of music they make. When you have so many dynamic changes, this degree of compression just kills the effect. Why have quiet parts followed by loud parts if you are just gonna even the volumes to the point the loud parts lose the impact?
I just picked this up. Another kick ass album.
Easy 5/5 skulls fantastic album also thanks for a shout out for Thank You Scientist
I really hoped Gold & Grey would win me over to Baroness. I’ve always liked them for sure. Seasons is a solid song and I do like the Red album and plenty of Yellow and Green. But they’ve never been a favorite of mine and I hoped this album would help change that,but Gold & Grey turned out to be one of my least favorite rock/metal releases of the year. It feels like a chore trying to listen to the entirety of most of these songs. They just don’t hook me in at any point.
On the other hand,Terraformer is an outstanding release. Thank You Scientist is one of the most underrated bands in progressive metal in my mind,and Terraformer is another display of their outstanding musicianship and song writing.
Diane... this is a damn fine review.
I love this band, love their guitar tones, drumming, riffs, vocal performance, but the production on this and Purple are just too slammed. Overcompressed, super saturated, completely muddy in the loudest parts, constantly clipping out. It kills an otherwise awesome set of records...
This album feels like it is going to take multiple listens to digest. Purple was the same way for me. Also, would love to hear a full review of Thank You Scientist's record. It may be my album of the year!
never thought of Baroness as "prog" I guess its an accurate label though
thefiddleronthecouch Green and Yellow and Purple had a lot of Prog flavor
Not really a fan of Baroness, but the reviews are always fun to watch either way. Thanks, Dylan! Also, I am a fan of Devin Townsend, but I actually didn't get into the new one. Not sure why... I didn't dislike it, but it didn't really grab me, either.
U aint the only one. Empath didnt hit me as well
Empath was personally a grower for me
the Thank You Scientist album is so fuckin great
its absurdly good!!!
KVELERTAK
And that new Infernal Conjuration is fucken insane!!!!!!
Wishes Baroness could get in that Mastodon & Opeth "tier" when the quality of both bands output have been nowhere near Baroness in the last decade.
He's so so so good and informed! I just love him, what can I say?
Devin Townsend - Empath
Longtime fan, The Blue Album is one of my favorite albums ever! Just got my tape today, can't wait to see them with Torche, please review them when their new album comes out!
Love Baroness so much. Wish they mastered their records better though... The last few albums (including this new one) are overly compressed, 'loudness war' style. I highly recommend everyone get the vinyl, or even a digital rip of the vinyl, which tends to be slightly better mastered/less compressed. Sooo frustrating though... They need a new producer/mastering engineer.
The mix has been poor on the records since the blue album. The red album is masterfully mixed super clean, lots of contrast and I loved it. The way they do things now is WAY too muddy for my listening pleasure. But they were great live with Deafhevean a couple months back.
Find myself enjoying Gold & Grey more than Blue. Cant out-do Red. Production didnt ruin anything for me. I feel that too many people are letting this "bad" production ruin an othewise fantastic album. Give it more than one listen. Even Dylan talks about listening to it more than once. If production DOES ruin this album for you, then go back to listening to todays hits on whatever radio station you have if youre looking for over produced music.
Already voted for Empath dude :) and yes you must be the one to review it!
I think this album is a mix between Yellow/Green and Purple albums. And I love it
I feel like its a mix between the purple and the brown album.
Should check out Mordant Raptures ‘quell the voiceless’ music video
I don't dig this album at all. I kinda had a feeling I wasn't going to like it when I found out who the producer was and when Pete left the band. This album just doesn't have a heavy edge to it and I saw that happening when Purple came out but Purple had just enough heaviness to keep me interested...this one does not. In many ways this isn't the Baroness I liked. Also the reviewer said this is like old Mastodon and old Kylesa??? I think he has that wrong. Baroness now sounds like new Mastodon and new Kylesa. I'm not sure what the hell he's hearing there. Oh well...to each there own. I can see a lot of people digging this album but I think fans of the old Baroness heavier sound will be disappointed.
Moses Garner I love old Baroness but I think they keep getting better with every album. They aren’t has heavy but the songs are so good
@@camhorejs Cool that you dig it. I gave it another listen and it's just not for me. I don't like the production/general sound of the album and I don't dig the lack of heaviness in the guitars. Again...I figured this sound was coming because they hinted at it with the last album and Pete leaving the band was another sign to me that this album was going to be a new sound. The fact that there's only one original member left in the band was another bad sign for me. Don't get me wrong...I'm not against musicians trying new things with their band but this change just doesn't connect with me. This album sounds more like a commercial Alternative album with no "Sludge" and actually very little Prog. I'll still listen to everything they've put out up until this album.
@@mosesgarner2404 this is actually their most harmonically and rhythmically progressive output to date. Technical music ain't just aint just a barrage of 16th notes
@@DanielSanchez-yi9cr Uhm...technically that's not what I said in either of my comments. I barely even spoke on why I don't think this album is on the "progressive" side. Baroness was never about a barrage of 16th notes.
I learnt about Baroness through Two Minutes to Midnight.
Yea, do Empath by Devin Townsend!
These guys should just drop the facade and collaborate with pop stars like Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Ed Sheeran, they're pretty much already in that arena anyway. LOFL
Mispyrming
þ*
I love the band but I am a little disappointed over the mix. It is really not good listening to because of poor mix. It is for me not clean enough. But many of the songs are great played
Greetings from Norway 🇳🇴
Like the Kvelertak t-shirt 🤘
She was a former cirque du soliel guitar player so you know shes really really good. Yes of course i know all about circus guitar players....
Not to be a dick, but Baronness became irrelevant after the NWOTHM hit. We all kept praying for them to work their way into writing Priest and Maiden-esque songs but they just got weirder and weirder and I think most metal fans lost interest. Especially when Enforcer and Battle Beast (back when they were still good) popped up.
I'll always have a soft spot for Blue Record though, which was fucking 10 years ago. Jesus christ I feel old.
My two cents: the production is mostly terrible. The arrangements mainly come off as bland. Avoiding hooks is all well and good but there's very little musical direction and despite the changes that happen there's no dynamics at play. It's just loud and flat, sonically and musically. Gina Gleeson, I don't know. I've just got nothing to be impressed with yet. Sometimes her voice is good enough, sometimes it just doesn't work in the music (When the music works). It's mostly just toneless yelling. Her guitar playing is much better than her singing which is fine but that's mostly lost in a terrible mix and an overly full arrangement. From Red album to here, I have to put this in last place which is really sad considering this is the last in the colour series. Some tracks are just unlistenable. I'd rather put Mayhem on for the higher quality.
Danke Wissenschaftler.
the mix sux! I still can't listen to Purple. 4.5 stars? i won't buy the damn thing.
oh well :)
Not a fan of the mixing on this record. The lyrics and singing are great but everything else... nope. 5/10 from me.
SUCH a great album. Thanks for review
Of course I voted Rammstein ;)
the production is soooooo shitty but the songs are so good that you can kinda ignore it....
Imagine the album with a good production
which is what we all said about Purple.
Prog is the bee's knees
Devin Townesend Empath please baby!!!
Thank You Scientist is SOOOO fucking good. Thanks for the tip!
It's the difficult 5th album .
How the hell has John not fired his engineer yet? People begged for remastering of Purple, then on the next record he uses the same guy and the clipping is almost a fuck you it's so bad.
Mentions Geoff Tate’s project Sweet Oblivion, but no mention still of Queensryche’s The Verdict, out 3 months now and a #16 Billboard debut.
Because its not good....
Andy Fox that’s just your worthless opinion. And you’re in the minority. Either that or you just didn’t listen to it at all and are just being a troll. Reviews are almost universally positive. And I never asked for it to be reviewed, only mentioned as the major release that it was, like every other important release that is at least mentioned in the shout-outs. Just respect for a classic important band.
Is Queensryche really the hill you wanna die on?
6:21, I may have discovered one of my new favorite bands! An amazing mixture of Dillinger Escape Plan, The Mars Volta, Coheed and Cambria, Leprous and Protest the Hero; right up my alley. Should've reviewed this album instead of Baroness's.
Worst mixed record of 2019 and considering Darkthrone released a good sounding record, that should be a sign. Seriously, what the fuck were they thinking? Also, I can't understand the hype around them, they're like a mall version of Mastodon. The shitton of interludes and forgettable nature of the record certainly doesn't help. Gave this band a lot of chances and it still isn't clicking haha, something big is just missing but I am not too bummed because there is a shitton of good music out there, from rap to prog to avant-garde. Cool review! Thank You Scientist is AotY material btw, for me at least.
Yeah, surprised you skipped Empath
\m/ o'yeah
Is there ever an Overkill review that doesnt end with a 4/4.5 out of 5?
dimmu borgir newest album
I can get past the production of the mixing... just about.
But I really miss Pete's guitar playing. This new album is very rhythmically driven which I like, but all the guitar solos are an onslaught of 16th note riffs that don't give the music the room to breathe. Gina is awesome, but her style has impacted the band in a very different way, which is something I still need to get used to.