The popularity of sludge act BARONESS is exploding. Soft-spoken vocalist and visualist JOHN BAIZELY gets in touch with TOM HERSEY to discuss how the once-underground act are transitioning into the limelight.

“I never, ever would have guessed it. Even a year ago I wouldn’t have guessed the levels of success of this album would reach. When I was a kid, when we first started this band we kind of assumed that it wouldn’t last and it wouldn’t be something that had that much commercial appeal. It’s interesting now to watch how this band has grown.”

If Baroness have done anything in the last year, it’s grow. Emerging from the hardcore scene early in the millennium, the band has been making people take notice with a musical integrity and boundless creativity reminiscent of a Remission-era Mastodon. Since Baroness’ Blue Record dropped in October last year, things have changed dramatically for the Savannah, Georgia-based four-piece. Although the band caused a minor stir throughout the underground with their 2007 debut full length, Red Album, the reception bestowed upon the Blue Record furiously paled any previous reaction their music had caused.  Receiving critical and commercial success, it was deservedly named album of the year by various metal publications and stormed the Billboard charts in America. Sounding incredulous about the success of his band, frontman Baizely says the band has learnt to expect the unexpected when it comes to Baroness.

“Every time we release something new, especially on this record and the last one, it’s been like a redefinition of the game for us. Which has certainly kept us on our toes. It’s weird to have played music in basements and small clubs for so many years and to have gotten acclimated to that, when things start to get bigger and opportunities start presenting themselves rather than the band having to chase down every opportunity, it’s very unique and very different. And we’re reeling from the effects of it. We’ve gotten to see that some of the back-breaking work, some of the blood, sweat and tears that we’ve put into this little project of ours has had an effect on other people. It’s not really changed us as people, or a band, because our goals are still the same. It’s not like we’ve gotten somewhere were we can rest on our laurels, but there’s a certain type of validation you get when you’re aware that people care about your music.”

The success of Blue Record is intrinsic with the musical growth of Baroness. One of the most pleasing aspects of the record is how the band have expanded the scope of the progressive, sludgy jams that dominated Red Album to include acoustic mood passages and desert rock guitar licks. Or how tempos and dynamics are manipulated with amazing results on tracks like The Gnashing and interludes Blackpowder Orchid and Steel That Sleeps The Eye. The scope of sounds on Blue Record, John affirms, is the result of Baroness striving not to limit their approach. “We started off as a simpler, more direct band. Over the process of years and years of touring and the thousands of shows we’ve played, and the hundreds of bands we’ve played with and seen, and all the experiences we’ve had over that period of time has soaked in. We’ve always been kind of thirsty for musical knowledge and musical experience. So when we’re capable of doing something new, that’s something that we do readily as long as it’s genuine to us. With every year we like to think that our abilities and method of communicating our music grows and broadens.”

The result of Baroness’s broadening musical horizons and increased dexterity, Blue Record is – to put it simply – fucking amazing. A grower record, layered with distortion and intrigue, it’s a mind-bogglingly cohesive piece of art just shy of 45 minutes and earns its place in the ranks of classic start-to-finish albums. As each track melts into the next, exploring progressive peaks, rock & roll valleys with rivers of molasses-thick sludge running in between, listening to the Blue Record from end to end evokes memories of albums like Sleep’s Jerusalem, Godflesh’s Streetcleaner or Genghis Tron’s Board Up The House – albums where it feels perverse to listen to a song out of order; albums where the artists’ work is recognised not as a collection of songs, but as a definitive collection. Just as listening to the album evokes feelings of wonderment and awe, John suggests that during the gestation of the album the band felt a special, undefined power would manifest on the Blue Record.

“Once the record started, from the first rehearsals to approving the final master of it, I just had this feeling in my gut that what we were doing was really important. And there was a connectivity between the band members that was almost like an electrifying vibe when we made this album. It was really cool because at the time we couldn’t define it or understand it. We were just vaguely aware of it, and when we heard the final record, it just clicked.”

The global recognition of the intangible awesomeness that lays deep within the marrow of the Blue Record has opened up countless doors to Baroness. One most pertinent to Brisbane fans being their upcoming slot on the Soundwave bill. Unsurprisingly, considering the palette of sound Baroness are painting with, John sounds stoked by the eclecticism of the punk/metal/emo/rock festival. Assuring that the inspiring diversity showcased on their records is something that Baroness will continue to expand upon.

“We never set out to be the type of band that sets out to exclude an audience. There certainly was that type of mentality around the time we started playing together, maybe for certain styles of music or bands we’ve toured with who understand they’ll have the same type of crowd now as they’ll have forever. And that wasn’t the sort of thing that interested us. Playing scene politics and always trying to keep up with the Joneses. What we’ve always tried to do is forge our own path, and every new fan is great for us. The more varied they are, the better.”

BARONESS play with Faith No More, Jimmy Eat World, Jane’s Addiction and more at the Soundwave Festival (RNA Showgrounds) on Saturday Feb 20. BLUE RECORD is out now through Relapse/Riot. For more info, head to www.myspace.com/yourbaroness.

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