Baroness is a metal band, embracing the ferocity and sharp technique of new… Read Full Bio ↴Baroness is a metal band, embracing the ferocity and sharp technique of new-millennium metal but with melodic accents and intelligent guitar work that suggests the influence of stoner metal, alternative metal and post-metal bands.

Baroness formed in the Summer 2003 in Savannah, GA, United States with all members, past and present, hailing from Lexington, VA in the foothills of the mighty Blue Ridge Mountains. Maybe that’s where the band draws inspiration for their music, or maybe their style is inspired by their name, or maybe it's just when these four band-mates come together the end result is always bold and impressive?

With a sound built upon a resolute sense of purpose and shaped by hundreds of explosive live shows, Baroness position themselves at the forefront of heavy music with their first full length and Relapse debut Red Album. Red Album is at once powerful, expressive, confident, and commanding. The record sees the band expand its sonic vision; colossal riffs and haunting vocals roll like thunder across epic songs spanning both the intense and the sublime. As with each Baroness recording, Red Album was recorded at the Jam Room Studio in Columbia, SC w/ producer Phillip Cope and engineers Jay Matheson and Steve Slavich.

In 2009, the Blue Record was released by Relapse Records. With this release, they continued to push the envelope and development as their style progresses. This progression ultimately gave them the Album of the Year award from Decibel Magazine and gave them numerous Best of lists from Pitchfork, Village Voice, Popmatters, Revolver, Rock Sound, and Metal Hammer.

Baroness hadn't toured for the entire year in 2011 to focus on creating a new, both in the sense of music and in the literal meaning, album. Yellow-Green was recorded with producer John Congleton in Hoboken, NJ and Dallas, TX. The new album was released on July 17th, followed by extensive touring.

BARONESS has forged forward with heavy independent touring -almost 250 shows a year - since the band’s inception. They've criss-crossed the U.S. three times, Europe, and the UK twice, and have performed at international music festivals such as SXSW, MacRock, ZXZW in The Netherlands, Australia's Soundwave Festival and more. Baroness has toured with many friends and peers, including Mastodon, MUNICIPAL WASTE, TORCHE, KYLESA, ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY, CURSED, THE HOLY MOUNTAIN, and many more.

On May 23, 2011, the band launched their official website.[17] The first content released on the new page gave hints to work on a new album being produced again by John Congleton. On May 14, 2012, the single "Take My Bones Away" from the new album was released over YouTube, along with an album teaser.

Baroness released Yellow & Green on July 17, 2012 through Relapse.[18]

On August 28, 2015 towards the end of a two-week tour in Europe they released the song "Chlorine & Wine" and announced that their new album Purple would be released December 18, 2015 on their own newly formed label Abraxan Hymns.

Purple was recorded with Dave Fridmann at Tarbox Road Studios in Cassadaga, New York.

On September 24, 2015, Baroness released the official music video for "Chlorine & Wine" and announced a North American small venue tour for the fall of 2015.

On November 15, 2015, the band released the first official single "Shock Me" from the forthcoming album Purple, which debuted on BBC Radio 1's Rock Show with Daniel P. Carter.

Purple's track "Shock Me" was nominated for Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance at the 2017 Grammy Awards.

Gina Gleason joins Baroness in June of 2018 after Peter Adams departure.

In 2019 and 2023 Baroness released their fifth and sixth albums, "Gold & Grey" and "STONE."

Baroness is:
Sebastian Thomson - drums
Nick Jost – bass
John Baizley – guitars, vocals
Gina Gleason – guitars

Discography
2004 First (Hyperrealist Records)
2005 Second (Hyperrealist Records)
2007 A Grey Sigh in a Flower Husk (At a Loss Recordings)
(aka: Third), split CD with Unpersons
2007 Red Album (Relapse Records)
2009 Blue Record (Relapse Records)
2012 Yellow & Green (Relapse Records)
2015 Purple (Abraxan Hymns)
2019 Gold & Grey (Abraxan Hymns)
2023 STONE

RISE
Baroness Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Rise
Circle
Greet the sun
Serpent coils unwind
Pressure blood from stone
Now do valleys open wide
Now like rust do we reach out
Now do clouds burst forth under weight

Rise

Rest
Your
Shield

Lay
Down
Your
Plow

Wake
Inhale
Listen
Rise

Have you ever seen the scarlet day
Or felt the calloused hand of age
You till the ground and bring to home
Muscle flesh and blood to bone

Taste this oaken grain
Grab its horn and not the reins

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Baroness's song "Rise" speak of awakening, shedding old skin, and embracing the new. The song starts with "Rise, Circle, Greet the sun," and the listener is immediately transported to a scene of rousing energy. The next line "Serpent coils unwind" speaks to the shedding of the old skin, like a snake shedding its skin in order to grow. The line "Pressure blood from stone" speaks to the effort it takes to make something happen, to get blood from stone and bring about new changes.

The subsequent lines "Now do valleys open wide, Now like rust do we reach out" speak to the opening up of new opportunities, like rust opening up a rusty gate. The next line "Now do clouds burst forth under weight" speaks to the release of pent-up emotions and the soaring release that can come with it. The chorus with the single word, "Rise," emphasizes the power of awakening and shedding the old skin.

The second part of the song's lyrics serves as an urging to let go of the past and start anew. It advocates for taking rest, laying down shields, and plows to wake up and listen to the world. These lines call for the listener to be present in the moment and to pay attention to what's happening around them. The lines "Have you ever seen the scarlet day, Or felt the calloused hand of age" speaks to the passage of time and the importance of embracing new experiences.

Line by Line Meaning

Rise
Become stronger and more powerful

Circle
Embrace the cyclical nature of life and existence

Greet the sun
Start anew each day with warmth and positivity

Serpent coils unwind
Release inner tension and embrace change

Pressure blood from stone
Overcome obstacles and difficulties

Now do valleys open wide
Opportunities arise from unexpected places

Now like rust do we reach out
We make progress despite our imperfections and weaknesses

Now do clouds burst forth under weight
Overwhelming emotions can bring about powerful transformations

Rise
Become stronger and more powerful

Rest
Take a break and find inner peace

Your
Personal possession or quality