Baroness - Red Album [12", 2LP]

The RED ALBUM by BARONESS is -to my opinion- still their finest work to date. One of those rock monsters, in the same league as Mastodon's Leviathan or Burst's Origo.

I own two different versions of this classic. The one pictured above is one out of 1400 of the first pressing on Relapse Records; here's the details:

Label: Relapse Records
Cat.nr.: RR6721-1
Year of release: 2008

SIDE A:
01. Rays On Pinion
02. The Birthing

SIDE B:
01. Isak
02. Wailing Wintry Wind
03. Cockroach En Fleur

SIDE C:
01. Wanderlust
02. Aleph
03. Teeth Of A Cogwheel

SIDE D:
01. O' Appalachia
02. Grad


But now it becomes interesting. Before Relapse did their pressings (i believe they've done 5 so far, on various colours), the Hyperrealist label did a one-off pressing of 1000 copies. It's on clear dark red vinyl:

The gatefold sleeve is a glossy one (the Relapse isn't), it's 33 RPM whereas the Relapse version is 45 RPM, and there's a poster included of the artwork. But the really special thing about this release is that it's got etchings on the outer inch of each of the 4 sides. This is what they look like:

One of the coolest things i've ever seen when it comes to etched vinyl.


Label: Hyperrealist
Cat.nr.: HR 016
Year of release: 2008

SIDE A:
01. Rays On Pinion
02. The Birthing

SIDE B:
01. Isak
02. Wailing Wintry Wind
03. Cockroach En Fleur

SIDE C:
01. Wanderlust
02. Aleph
03. Teeth Of A Cogwheel

SIDE D:
01. O' Appalachia
02. Grad