Baroness, Portrayal of Guilt, Escuela Grind [garage]

Not your father’s Baroness – front room of old Emo’s sludge fiends – the Philly foursome changed irrevocably following the 2012 tour for Yellow & Green. Sixth LP Stone reflects that sliding doors changeover, refracting much light, sound, melody. “Last Words” echoes U2, while “Beneath the Rose” slams Doors-ian in last-founder-standing John Baizley’s lizard king vox. Like vintage prog-lite Canadians Triumph, Baroness remains richly layered (“Shine,” “Magnolia”), but not extreme. Shitstorming extremity, Portrayal of Guilt supports with Devil Music, the local trio’s fourth excoriating full-length. Katerina Economou fronting HC grind/powerviolence openers Escuela Grind might just usurp the whole bill. —73703