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
Rays on Pinion
Baroness Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's bright with holes
Rays on pinion
Lay me down
Our trust lies in mighty wing
As we thrust ourselves into the drink
Pitched boats sail and ploughmen toil
Stow your gaze
Away these waves
Stain reflection
May we drown
This is our last goodbye
This is our final cry
This separation of bird and bone
Is an introduction to tide and lung
We've resigned ourselves to soar home
Despite these wayward rays
The lyrics to "Rays on Pinion" by Baroness appear to be somewhat cryptic and open to interpretation. The opening line, "Save your soul, it's bright with holes," could be interpreted as a warning to the listener to be aware of their own internal flaws and to not let those flaws consume them. The reference to "rays on pinion" could refer to the literal idea of light shining through holes, or it could represent the glimmers of hope that can be found even in a difficult situation.
The next section refers to trust in "mighty wing," perhaps a reference to divine guidance or the power of nature. The image of thrusting oneself "into the drink" suggests a risky, uncertain endeavor. The reference to "pitched boats" and "ploughmen" could represent the struggles and hard work that people undertake in order to survive and thrive.
The second verse includes a more pessimistic sentiment, suggesting that there may be no hope left for the singer. They implore the listener to "stow your gaze" and accept their fate, whatever it may be. The line "this separation of bird and bone is an introduction to tide and lung" could be interpreted as a metaphor for the separation of soul and body that occurs at death, with the two elements being reintroduced to nature in different ways.
Overall, the lyrics to "Rays on Pinion" are poetic and enigmatic, leaving room for multiple interpretations and lending itself to repeated listening for potential new meanings.
Line by Line Meaning
Save your soul
Preserve your inner self and essence
It's bright with holes
The soul is filled with flaws and imperfections
Rays on pinion
The act of flying, soaring through the air
Lay me down
Submit to the will of nature and the universe
Our trust lies in mighty wing
We put our faith in the power of flight and freedom
As we thrust ourselves into the drink
We dive into the unknown with confidence and courage
Pitched boats sail and ploughmen toil
People work hard to survive and thrive
To drift on and work the soil
To live a simple and honest life
Stow your gaze
Look away from the distractions of the world
Away these waves
Avoid the chaotic and tumultuous waters of life
Stain reflection
Negative emotions and experiences that leave permanent marks on the soul
May we drown
To surrender to the darkness and oblivion of the abyss
This is our last goodbye
The end of a journey, a final farewell
This is our final cry
A last expression of emotion, a lamentation for what was lost
This separation of bird and bone
The division between the spiritual and the physical
Is an introduction to tide and lung
A way to connect with the rhythms of nature and existence itself
We've resigned ourselves to soar home
We have accepted our destiny and ultimate goal
Despite these wayward rays
Even when faced with obstacles and challenges
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind