Baroness @ Stereo, 10 July

Tonight's been a long time coming; when Baroness last rolled through Glasgow some two and a half years ago, Sleazy's patrons stood witness to their progressive ability to merge heavier sounds with feel good rock 'n roll. If first impressions of new material are anything to go by, imminent double album Yellow & Green yields sufficient potential to solidify the Georgia quartet's status as one of the finest propositions to emerge from their booming native metal scene in some years. 

 

Still, to push fresh offerings too hard this early would be risky, instead they blow Stereo's door open with an airing of treats from 2009's much-loved Blue Record. Leading in, A Horse Called Golgotha is vigilantly performed, sending arms up and energy levels higher. “Holy fuckin' shit, Glasgow!” barks frontman John Baizley with an appreciative grin, faith evidently restored after a less than adequate crowd response in Manchester the previous evening. “It got so bad at one point I had to tell a joke,” he confesses.

 

The band's zeal is reflected in the urgency of their playing as lead guitarist Peter Adams and new bassist Matt Maggioni give it their all, ploughing through crowdpleasers like Jake Leg and Isak with absolute precision. Maybe Madchester didn't dig it, but tonight every gut rumbling bass throb and noodly solo hits the mark.