In a refreshing departure from their color-coded album names, Baroness, the trailblazing band, has stirred up the anticipation of their fans with their new single, “Last Word“, and has simultaneously announced their upcoming sixth album, “Stone“. The new album, due for release on September 15, will be made available through Abraxan Hymns.
John Baizley, the frontman, took an innovative approach while recording the album, with each track getting real-time recording and pre-mixing, resulting in a unique sonic treatment for each song. While the album breaks from the color-coded tradition, it continues to carry original cover art by Baizley himself, making it a distinctively Baroness creation.
The single “Last Word” exhibits the quintessential qualities of Baroness, with an infectious hook and a guitar solo that rocks. The accompanying video is dipped in a shade of surrealism, further accentuating the vibe of the track.
“Stone” signifies a voluntary evolution for the band. The creation of the album took place in a secluded vacation rental in Barryville, New York, transforming the place into a recording studio. The band members immersed themselves into the project, working collectively on writing and recording the album. The result is a lively and more direct sound, reflecting the band’s risk-taking and non-conformist attitude.
The making of “Stone” was a tightly-knit affair. The band’s drummer, Sebastian Thomsen, points out the intensely collective mentality that resulted from being holed up in the mountains, leading to an authentic and cohesive sound. The band’s guitarist, Gina Gleason, expresses the unified approach towards stripping everything away and diving into the process, which proved to be a creatively empowering experience.
Following the release of “Last Word“, the band has also announced an extensive “Sweet Oblivion” tour. The tour schedule includes various locations across North America, starting from October 13 in Baltimore, Maryland. In their pursuit of bringing favorite bands onboard, Baroness will be joined by a variety of acts, including Jesus Piece, Portrayal of Guilt, and many more.
Tour Dates:
Oct 13 | Baltimore, MD | Baltimore Soundstage
Oct 14 | Richmond, VA | The Canal Club
Oct 15 | Asheville, NC | The Orange Peel
Oct 17 | Tampa, FL | The Ritz Ybor
Oct 18 | Atlanta, GA | The Masquerade
Oct 20 | Dallas, TX | The Echo Lounge & Music Hall
Oct 21 | Houston, TX | House of Blues
Oct 22 | Austin, TX | Empire Control Room & Garage
Oct 24 | Albuquerque, NM | Sunshine Theater
Oct 25 | Mesa, AZ | Nile Theater
Oct 27 | Santa Ana, CA | The Observatory
Oct 28 | Los Angeles, CA at The Bellwether
Oct 29 | Berkeley, CA | The UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall
Oct 31 | Portland, OR | Hawthorne Theatre
Nov 03 | Seattle, WA | The Crocodile
Nov 04 | Vancouver, BC | Rickshaw Theatre
Nov 06 | Edmonton, AB | Union Hall
Nov 07 | Calgary, AB | The Palace Theatre
Nov 09 | Salt Lake City, UT | The Depot
Nov 11 | Denver, CO | Summit
Nov 12 | Omaha, NE | The Waiting Room Lounge
Nov 14 | Minneapolis, MN | First Avenue
Nov 15 | Chicago, IL | The Vic Theatre
Nov 17 | Columbus, OH | The King of Clubs
Nov 18 | Detroit, MI | St. Andrew’s Hall
Nov 19 | Toronto, ON | Danforth Music Hall
Nov 20 | Montreal, QC | Théâtre Beanfield
Nov 22 | Albany, NY | Empire Live
Nov 24 | Cleveland, OH | Agora Theater & Ballroom
Nov 25 | Pittsburgh, PA | Roxian Theatre
Nov 26 | Buffalo, NY | Town Ballroom
Nov 28 | Boston, MA | Royale
Nov 29 | New York, NY | Webster Hall
Dec 01 | Philadelphia, PA | Union Transfer
In line with the band’s commitment to originality and creativity, the album “Stone” will be available in a variety of formats. Alongside the standard CD and LP, there will also be a limited-edition deluxe CD with bonus live tracks from the “Your Baroness” tour, a limited blue cassette, and ten limited-edition custom vinyl variants, each themed after a song from the album and designed by Baizley himself.
