AMERICAN heavy metal band Baroness will finally play Southampton four years after suffering an accident en-route to the City that put they career on hold.

The group, from Savannah, Georgia, have released a new album Purple which is already receiving high acclaim.

It is their most emotionally threadbare and musically complex offering to date.

“Baroness have confidently produced one of the year’s best metal albums.” – 4*, Q

“Baroness have delivered their masterpiece.” – 4*, Mojo

“An absolute belter.” – KKKKK, Kerrang!

“A formidable show of power and resilience.” – 8/10 , Uncut

Now the band have confirmed a major 32 show European headline tour running through February and March 2016, with UK dates starting at Southampton Engine Rooms on February 24. The band were en-route to a show in Southampton in August 2012 when they suffered the horrendous bus crash that put their career on hold for two years.

Produced by Dave Fridmann (The Flaming Lips, Tame Impala, MGMT) in the secluded town of Cassadaga, New York, ‘Purple’ reflects a dark moment in the group's recent history: the terrifying bus crash they survived while on tour in 2012. "The band suffered a gigantic bruise," says vocalist/guitarist John Baizley of the accident. "It was an injury that prevented us from operating in a normal way for quite some time. Hopefully, this record is the springboard that helps us get away from all that."

The album covers the gamut of emotions Baroness have experienced in recent years and serves as their victory cry. ‘Purple’ finds a revamped lineup of the band – Baizley and Pete Adams (guitar, vocals) and new additions Nick Jost (bass, keyboards) and Sebastian Thomson (drums) – playing ten intricately textured tunes and singing about the worry they felt immediately after the crash (‘If I Have to Wake Up (Would You Stop the Rain)’), the struggle to recover as smoothly as possible (‘Chlorine & Wine’) and their ongoing quest for survival (‘The Iron Bell’).

The ‘Purple’ campaign kicked off with the lead track ‘Chlorine & Wine’ which has already received over 400,000 plays at YouTube alone, and the follow-up ‘Shook Me’ was selected as Track of the Week on the Radio 1 Rock Show. Throughout the process, Baroness have also been documenting the making of the album with an ongoing video series.