BARONESS
Sound Surrounds
By: Josh Schafer
Revealing their unprecedented album for Relapse, entitled simply The Red Album, BARONESS has managed to assemble a stunning and cohesive blend of melody and aggression for all to experience. Blending together their mammoth riffing and graceful songwriting, they are prepared to show everyone an intimate reflection of themselves and their own vision. Guitarist and vocalist John Dyer Baizely was kind enough to take a little bit of time to give some insight on the inner-workings of the behemoth that is BARONESS.
Resound: This is your debut album for Relapse. How did the initial contact come about between you and Relapse?
John Baizely: “We were first contacted by Relapse about the possibility of working together last summer. At that point, we had written about half of the album. All of the members of BARONESS are fans of at the very least several of the Relapse bands. We have many good friends in bands on the label, and most importantly, we sensed a definite candor from the individuals we were speaking to at Relapse that wasn’t necessarily coming from other directions.”
Resound: Who consists of the line up of BARONESS? Have there been any significant line-up changes since the last record? Have you guys played in any other bands over the years?
Baizely: “We have all been active musicians for years, and we’ve all played in bands before, although it would get lengthy to try to name them all. Suffice it to say, nothing with any real longevity. Our current line up is as follows: John Dyer Baizley handling the vocals and guitar, Summer Welch on bass, Brian Blickle on guitar, and Allen Blickle taking care of the beats. There has only ever been one other member, Tim Loose (guitar 2003 – 2005). He has played on all recordings up until the current Relapse full length, although Brian has been our guitarist for almost two years now.”
Resound: There is quite a bit of diversity running through your music. Who/what are some of your influences when writing your music? Is there any single person/band especially? THIN LIZZY perhaps?
Baizely: “Concerning the question of our influences, which seems to be an oft-asked question, I don’t feel the need to get too specific. We have always worn our influential hearts on our sleeves. Discerning listeners will always be able to find a host of reference points when listening to any band. That said, we are certainly working within the framework and context of a traditional band. While our collective musical interest has never been resigned to one or even several genres, I certainly have a lifelong love for metal, punk, and rock in all its shades and colors. However, much of our influence is drawn from divergent sources. We tend to draw influence from all corners of sound and music.”
Resound: I am fairly certain I heard that you guys recorded at least one of your other albums with analog all in one take. Is there any truth to that? Did you record the new album that way?
Baizely: “Our Second EP was recorded straight to tape and in one take. Conceptually and physically, it was a difficult undertaking and a full album would have suffered under those conditions. We have tried consciously to take a slightly different approach on all of our recordings, thanks very much in part to the forethought of our producer Phillip Cope.”
Resound: Where did you record The Red Album? How was that experience?
Baizely: “The new record was recorded at The Jam Room in Columbia, South Carolina with Phillip Cope, Jay Matheson and Steve Slavich. We have recorded all of our proper releases there with that exact team of engineers and producers. They all bring an intimate knowledge and understanding of BARONESS to the recording, and our experience there on this past record was great. We focused very hard on creating a specific vibe that would compliment our sound. Additionally, we had a significantly longer time in the studio to track and mix the songs.”
Resound: Your first two releases are entitled First and Second; and your Relapse debut is called The Red Album as I mentioned before. Is there any particular reason you guys decided to stray from the initial theme?
Baizely: “We feel strongly about consistently working with themes and this record is no different. We’ve simply changed thematic gears. Our releases for Hyperrealist represented a certain time period for us, and the titles reflect that. Our current and subsequent releases on Relapse should offer a progression on our earlier themes. Trust me, our new album title theme will be every bit as simple to follow.
Resound: I noticed on the new album the vocals are a bit sparser as compared to your other material. Is this something you did to emphasize the songwriting and riffing, or did it just occur naturally?
Baizely: “BARONESS vocals are a constant work-in-progress. They always occupy a space with our material that feels natural, so there’s not much preplanning. They have never been a real strong point for us. As with our music, we depend on a lot of improvisation and intuition time in order for things to unify. What you hear is the end of that lengthy process; a process in which we get so personally involved that we are often unable to ascertain qualities like sparseness or density. So, yeah, I guess the vocals came about pretty naturally.”
Resound: You do a lot of artwork for bands, including your own. Will you be doing the artwork for your new album? What medium(s) do you use?
Baizely: “I am doing our artwork for the new record. I use all traditional materials such as pens, pencils, paper, inks and watercolors.”
Resound: When you guys play live, do you have any rituals or customs before going on stage? Two picks in the headstock? 5 beers in the gut?
Baizely: “My playing experience centers on a number of rituals, all of which occur onstage, plugged in and amplified. It has everything to do with electricity and volume. For me, it should exemplify the same sort of ritual that a member of the crowd experiences, the process of becoming enveloped and overwhelmed by the surrounding sound.”
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