Releasing their first album since 2019, Baroness are back with STONE and it’s the hard rocking album you hoped for. Taking a DIY approach, the band recorded the album at an Airbnb, then engineered and produced the album themselves giving them the opportunity to explore new ideas and sounds.
Easing you into STONE, ‘Embers’ starts the album with some ambient sounds and acoustic guitar. The quieter tones don’t last very long though as ‘Last Word’ hits like a freight train. A drum fill into a chunky guitar riff, it sets the tone for the rest of the album. A simple chorus that is sure to get stuck in your head ‘Last Word’ is the pace setter for what is ahead.
‘Beneath The Rose’ has a prog feel to begin with before going back to the huge guitar tones heard in the previous song. Soaring vocals and catchy hooks fill the track, making it destined to be a fan favourite. ‘Choir’ has vocalist John Baizley speaking lines and hitting huge notes on one of the most diverse tracks on the album. Again, there’s an underlying prog element which the band are able to keep without losing the hard rock edge.
‘The Dirge’ takes a step back and marks the midpoint of Stone. Slowing things down ‘The Dirge’ feels hopeful yet has an element of despair. Things don’t stay slow for long though, as ‘Anodyne’ goes straight back to heavier tones. A chugging riff is a constant throughout the song leaving ‘Anodyne’ is brimming with energy.
‘Shine’ begins acoustically before firing into perfectly constructed chaos. Like a lot of the album ‘Shine’ has elements of rock, prog and metal all fusing together creating a stand out track. Similar to ‘Shine’, ‘Magnolia’ also starts off slow. Being the longest track on the album there’s unsurprisingly a lot of variation through the track, with the solo section on this being one of the best on the album.
‘Under The Wheel’ is a frantic track where the band just leans completely into heavy tones. A rumbling bass line immediately gives it that heavy feel as Baizley pulls off some his best vocals on the entire album. Closing the album is ‘Bloom’ and it’s a definite departure from anything else on Stone. Guitarist Gina Gleason shares vocal duties on this one which is more indie-folk than rock, metal or anything else in between however it is a fitting closing song for a diverse album.
Most established rock bands have a set formula and sound they stick to when they’re 20 years into their career. Not Baroness though, and certainly not on Stone. With influences clearly being pulled from a range of genres, Baroness have created a rock album that delivers in every aspect. With songs that range from prog rock to metal and hard rock to folk, Stone delivers everything you could possibly want from a modern rock album.
