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8 out of 10
This is a re-release of - you guessed it - Baroness's first and second EPs, cunningly entitled First and Second, remastered and remixed on a single CD in some rather nice slipcase digipack packaging including a cool little booklet insert, with lyrics and such. It's a nice package, and I believe the original EPs are somewhat rare now, so it's nice for fans of the band to be able to fill the gap in their collection, I reckon.
There's a definite distinction between the two EPs, released a year apart in 2004 and 2005. First shows a wider spectrum of influences, ranging from Black Sabbath to the Haunted, via ISIS and Neurosis. There's definitely more of a slowed down Swedish thrash feel here than on Second, which displays its Neurosis influence more plainly.
I personally struggle to pick a favourite between the two EPs. First is a little bit different to the many ISIS inspired Hydrahead bands so prolific around the time it was released, and Second - whilst being closer to the genre standard - is easily on a par with the best ISIS have released, and better than most of their imitators and contemporaries. I'd not heard Baroness before this release, and I now really want to hear more of their material, which I suppose is recommendation indeed.
Listen: www.myspace.com/yourbaroness
Tracklist:
1. Tower Falls
2. Couer
3. Rise
4. Red Sky
5. Son of Sun
6. Vision
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