Baroness

Along with Mastodon, Kylesa and Harvey Milk, Baroness is part of a mini-wave of terrific metal bands currently roaring out of Savannah, Georgia. The group's mix of psychedelia, doom and raw '70s riffage makes it one of the most potent combos in contemporary heavy music. Early EPs showed a fair bit of promise, but it wasn't until issuing its full-length debut, last year's Red Album, that the act's sound truly bloomed. It doesn't hurt that Baroness's albums also look amazing; guitarist/vocalist John Baizley designs them all, and has also done work for Darkest Hour, Pig Destroyer, Torche and the Red Chord, among others. The band recently hired guitarist Peter Adams to replace drummer Allen Blickle's brother Brian, who's headed to law school. Consider this tour a trial by fire, as Baroness serves as the mind-altering, arty but crushing bridge between Opeth's tightly controlled prog-death epics and High on Fire's raw blasts of thunder.