DAILY FIX: Baroness, “Take My Bones Away”

The new album from Baroness, Yellow & Green, has been polarizing opinions and stirring up the band’s fanbase since early tracks were leaked online a couple of months ago. Its official release on Relapse Records finally occurred two weeks ago, and now that fans are able to absorb it in all its 18-song, double-disc glory, it seems that the debate has died down somewhat; perhaps everyone is still trying to decide what they think of it.

The new album from Baroness, Yellow & Green, has been polarizing opinions and stirring up the band’s fanbase since early tracks were leaked online a couple of months ago. Its official release on Relapse Records finally occurred two weeks ago, and now that fans are able to absorb it in all its 18-song, double-disc glory, it seems that the debate has died down somewhat; perhaps everyone is still trying to decide what they think of it. Into this relative calm, the Lexington, VA-born/Savannah, GA-based band has released its first video from Yellow & Green, for leadoff single “Take My Bones Away.” The video, filmed at multiple venues during Baroness’s spring tour with Meshuggah, gives an accurate idea of the band’s live show, which remains excellent in spite of recent member changes and surprisingly different new material. And speaking of that new material, “Take My Bones Away” is certainly a far cry from the crust-metal brutality of “Tower Falls,” from 2004’s First EP. And yet, in its loud, distorted, yet melodically-driven power, it’s not too different from recent work by equally progressive metal groups like Torche or Mastodon. So will Yellow & Green eventually win over longtime fans currently disgruntled by Baroness’s shifting sound? Will it turn out to have a surprising number of defenders when the time to make end-of-year album lists comes around? Only time will tell, but for now you can get a jump on making the decision for yourself by checking out the new video for “Take My Bones Away.” What do you think of the new Baroness sound? Let us know in the comments.