Baroness - Blue Record [12", 2LP]

BARONESS likes to give their releases simple, yet logical names. Their EP's were named First and Second, and after their debut Red Album followed BLUE RECORD. Although Red Album remains my favourite, this is also a true beast of an album. A great mix of post-metal, post-stoner and sludge. And all of that combined with fantastic artwork by frontman John Dyer Baizley.
Many pressings, at least 5 or more, in various colours have been made of this release by now. But i'm very happy with my (appropriate) baby-blue edition, part of the first pressing. Only 1000 copies were made of this one.

Label: Relapse Records
Cat.nr.: RR 7053-1
Year of release: 2009

SIDE A:
01. Bullhead's Psalm
02. The Sweetest Curse 
03. Jake Leg

SIDE B:
01. Steel That Sleeps The Eye
02. Swollen And Hollow
03. Ogeechee Hymnal

SIDE C:
01. A Horse Called Golgotha
02. O'er Hell And Hide

SIDE D:
01. War, Wisdom And Rhyme
02. Blackpowder Orchard
03. The Gnashing
04. Bullhead's Lament          

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

Baroness - Second [12", EP]

Before BARONESS got big with Red Album and Blue Record, they had a few EP's out and this is one of them - their second, d'uh. It's out of print these days and copies are going for big money, but what i really like about this release is that it has a great etching on the back.So it's single-sided.
Check it:

Label: Hyperrealist Records
Cat.nr.: HR 010
Year of release: 2005

SIDE A:
01. Red Sky
02. Son Of Sun
03. Vision

SIDE B:
etching