Red Album was recorded from March 18 to May 2, 2007 at the Jam Room Studio in Columbia, South Carolina.[2] Like Baroness' earlier releases, the album was produced by Phillip Cope of Kylesa.[3] It is Baroness' only studio recording to feature guitarist Brian Blickle, who departed the band in 2008.[4]
Release
In July 2007, Baroness posted the song "The Birthing" on their official Myspace page.[5] "O'Appalachia" was released in August on a limited edition split 7" with High on Fire and Coliseum.[6] A music video for "Wanderlust" debuted on December 6, 2007 on MTV's Headbangers Ball.[7]
On September 4, 2007, Red Album was released by Relapse Records. The album is available on CD, on vinyl, and as a music download. In 2008, Hyperrealist Records released a one-off pressing of Red Album on dark red vinyl with etched borders, which was limited to 1000 copies.[8][9] All subsequent pressings were handled by Relapse Records.
Red Album was well received by music critics. In a review for Pitchfork, Grayson Currin gave the album an 8.4/10 rating, saying, "Baroness offers a fully realized record that is more ambitious, more accomplished, and simply bigger than anything they've done before."[12] In a review for About.com, Chad Bowar called it "an eclectic and epic album." He rated it four stars out of five, and wrote, "[Baroness'] combination of excellent musicianship, creative songwriting and willingness to experiment makes for a compelling and interesting CD."[10]
Adrien Begrand of PopMatters gave Red Album an 8/10. He praised "Rays on Pinion", stating, "As an opening track, it’s phenomenal... Baroness’s music has become much warmer and melodic, yet the band’s visceral power remains fully intact."[1]Scene Point Blank writer Bob gave the album a 7.9/10, and said, "Baroness effectively rewrite their place in the current musical maelstrom with this ten track monster...and set a new personal bar for themselves, as well as a new level of accomplishment." He called Red Album "a real good record and a highlight of the year," as well as "a huge leap forward for Baroness..."[13]AllMusic's Greg Prato gave the album three and a half stars out of five, and said, "The Red Album shows that Baroness is one of a select number of acts that manage to be both mathematical and melodic at the same time."[2]
Accolades
Heavy metal magazine Revolver named Red Album the top metal album of 2007.[16][17] In 2017, Rolling Stone ranked it 83rd on their list of "The 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time."[18]
Commercial performance
By November 2009, Red Album had moved 20,000 units.[19]
Track listing
All lyrics are written by John Dyer Baizley; all music is composed by Baroness
Red Album track listing
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Rays on Pinion"
7:35
2.
"The Birthing"
5:03
3.
"Isak"
4:22
4.
"Wailing Wintry Wind"
5:54
5.
"Cockroach en Fleur"
1:50
6.
"Wanderlust"
4:29
7.
"Aleph"
4:21
8.
"Teeth of a Cogwheel"
2:16
9.
"O'Appalachia"
2:36
10.
"Grad"
5:54
11.
Untitled (contains 11:01 of silence followed by a hidden track)
