Baroness, Sweet Oblivion, Timo Tolkki’s Avalon + More

Here are some of the new releases that come out today:

Baroness – Gold & Grey

The band has had one constant, John Baizley, who aside from being a renowned graphic artist, is the focal piece of Baroness. Every album has had a different lineup, this one includes the first recording with Gina Gleason who can shred and sing, and helps evolve the band further.

Each Baroness album’s title has been a color(s), but each one has been a little different, as Baizley has continued to push his work forward. Some fans have loved the progression, but others have seen this as a softening of the band’s sound as they’ve veered away from their sludge metal beginnings, and transitioned more into a classic heavy metal band in the vein of a Thin Lizzy (something most of the hipster sites seem to be ignoring).

If you’re into the band, you’ll probably enjoy this album, if you’re new to them, and love classic 70s hard rock and metal, do yourself a favor and explore their catalog, you won’t be disappointed.

Sweet Oblivion – Sweet Oblivion

Touted by many as Geoff Tate’s best release since Queensryche’s Empire. The project was presented to Tate by his label Frontiers, after Italian prog metal musician Simone Mularoni, best known for his work with DGM, put the musicians together and composed the music.

As Mularoni put it, he was heavily influenced by Queensryche and wanted to do something that harkened back to albums like Rage For Order, Empire, and Operation Mindcrime. This is Tate returning to a sound that garnered him a hardcore audience, which has been pining for more of a nostalgic release by the singer. So if you’re one of those fans, you’ll be extremely happy with this release.

Timo Tolkki’s Avalon – Return To Eden

It has taken Timo several years to release this album, it is a star studded outing that features the likes of Anneke Van Giersbergen (ex-The Gathering), Zak Stevens (ex-Savatage), Todd Michael Hall (Riot V), Mariangela Demurtas (Tristania, Ardours), and Eduard Hovinga (ex-Elegy).

If you’re a prog metal fan, you understand the importance of what Timo has done in the past with Stratovarius and other projects including Avalon. If you’re a fan of his work, or remotely enjoy prog metal, you’ll probably love this album.

Here are some other albums that drop today that may be of interest:

Chaos Magic – Furyborn

Hate – Auric Gates Of Veles

Neal Morse – Jesus Christ The Exorcist

Pinkish Black – Concept Unification

Walkways – Bleed Out, Heal Out

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Black Star Dancing EP

Bullet For My Valentine – Gravity/Radioactive Vinyl

Def Leppard – Pyromania Vinyl

Rainbow – Rising Vinyl

Scorpions – Love At First Sting Vinyl

R.E.M. – In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003 Vinyl

Thrice – Deeper Wells Digital

Buzzcocks – A Different Kind Of Tension Reissue

Buzzcocks – Singles Going Steady Reissue

Roger Daltrey – The Who’s Tommy Orchestral

Dimmu Borgir – Live At Dynamo Open Air 1998

Jorn – Live On Death Road DVD/CD

Bonfire – Live On Holy Ground -Wacken 2018

ZZ Top – Goin’ 50

Riot – Archives Volume 3: 1987 – 1988

Helix – Old School

Article by Victor M. Ruiz of Mars Attacks Radio & Podcast, and Galaxy Of Geeks Podcast.  Connect with him on Twitter:  @vmr907