Baroness: Yellow & Green

THE MEMBERS OF BARONESS have always mixed in a little indie rock with their occasionally sludgy brand of prog metal. And they've always peppered their albums with pretty little classical- and folk-anchored tunes like 'Cockroach en Fleur', 'Bullhead's Psalm' and 'Blackpowder Orchard'. But they've never pulled off either with the focus and sense of purpose they do on their latest. Nor have they ever sounded so eclectic, polished or mindful. In some ways, Yellow & Green could be seen as Baroness' Black Album. While it won't likely end up the crossover mega-hit Metallica churned out in 1991, the record finds Baroness following in the footsteps of its forebears in that the band is concentrating on proper singing and songwriting more than ever before.