| Red Album | |
| Type: | Studio |
| Artist: | Baroness |
| Cover: | Baroness - Red Album.jpg |
| Released: | September 4, 2007 |
| Recorded: | March 18 – May 2, 2007 |
| Studio: | Jam Room Studio Columbia, South Carolina |
| Length: | 56:31 |
| Producer: | Phillip Cope (of Kylesa) |
| Prev Title: | A Grey Sigh in a Flower Husk |
| Prev Year: | 2007 |
| Next Title: | Blue Record |
| Next Year: | 2009 |
Red Album is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Baroness. It was released in 2007 by Relapse Records.
Red Album was recorded from March 18 to May 2, 2007 at the Jam Room Studio in Columbia, South Carolina. Like Baroness' earlier releases, the album was produced by Phillip Cope of Kylesa.[1] It is Baroness' only studio recording to feature guitarist Brian Blickle, who departed the band in 2008.[2]
In July 2007, Baroness posted the song "The Birthing" on their official Myspace page.[3] "O'Appalachia" was released in August on a limited edition split 7" with High on Fire and Coliseum.[4] A music video for "Wanderlust" debuted on December 6, 2007 on MTV's Headbangers Ball.[5]
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.[6] [7] 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." 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."
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." 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..." AllMusic 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."
Heavy metal magazine Revolver named Red Album the top metal album of 2007.[8] [9] In 2017, Rolling Stone ranked it 83rd on their list of "The 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time."[10]
By November 2009, Red Album had moved 20,000 units.[11]