High on Fire

These guys are amazing. I've known about them for a long time but never really checked them out. 2 weeks ago I went to a friends barbecue and it was playing and I was blown away! Very heavy stuff!

I loved Matt Pike's old band Sleep as well but they broke up quite awhile ago.

Listened to Death is this communion again yesterday, one hell of an album.

i mean to check them out eventually when funds allow me

http://www.guitarworld.com/article/high_on_fire_prepare_new_album

getting ready to record a new album, if it is anything like the last one it will be topping 2009 lists...

also, I never knew there was such a thing as doom thrash? is that an oxymoron?

They just signed a new deal with Koch Records. But Relapse is going to put out a live cd in January.

I'll be interested to see where Pike takes the next record. High On Fire has evolved fairly quickly from their origins into quite an interesting group. Matt Pike's vocals took me awhile to become accustomed to, but now I like him (hearing the Kalas record helped)...but their strength has always been in the instrumental sections, Pike and Kensel are telepathic and create some really sinister grooves.

Quote :

Matt Pike's vocals took me awhile to become accustomed to,

That's what's holding me back from making the purchase. I really want to like these guys, but the vocals are just too harsh for me. The music is killer, though.

I enjoy them. Saw them live at Gigantour and it was good, just don't own anything.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Quote :

Matt Pike's vocals took me awhile to become accustomed to,

That's what's holding me back from making the purchase. I really want to like these guys, but the vocals are just too harsh for me. The music is killer, though.

I did eventually become accustomed to them and like I mentioned earlier the Kalas album opened my eyes to Pike's abilities as a vocalist. He's basically "Lemmy style" growl but he's growing. However I can definitely understand why that's not everyone's bag.

I personally find his vocals to be some of the best there is, that hoarse half growl-yell is just absolutely flooring.

I'm listening to Death is this Communion right now and I'm digging it. The vocals, while harsh, work ok with the music. I'm not totally loving it just yet, but I think with repeated spins I could really get into this.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

I'm listening to Death is this Communion right now and I'm digging it. The vocals, while harsh, work ok with the music. I'm not totally loving it just yet, but I think with repeated spins I could really get into this.

Most of their albums are "growers", since you started with the most recent I'd recommend working your way backwards to "Blessed Black Wings" next.

Their debut is still my favorite (The Art Of Self Defense), but that album was pretty firmly in the stoner camp and they've moved on from that sound these days. It is a classic album though...one of the only records that captures that "Volume 4" weight.

I like all their albums though (warning - Surrounded By Thieves sounds terrible, the recording is awful)

detuned wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

I'm listening to Death is this Communion right now and I'm digging it. The vocals, while harsh, work ok with the music. I'm not totally loving it just yet, but I think with repeated spins I could really get into this.

Most of their albums are "growers", since you started with the most recent I'd recommend working your way backwards to "Blessed Black Wings" next.

Their debut is still my favorite (The Art Of Self Defense), but that album was pretty firmly in the stoner camp and they've moved on from that sound these days. It is a classic album though...one of the only records that captures that "Volume 4" weight.

I like all their albums though (warning - Surrounded By Thieves sounds terrible, the recording is awful)

I'll wait for this one to really sink in before I go back-tracking through their catalog, but thanks for the advice.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

I'm listening to Death is this Communion right now and I'm digging it. The vocals, while harsh, work ok with the music. I'm not totally loving it just yet, but I think with repeated spins I could really get into this.

the album reminded me of a bunch of druids calling up evil incantations.

sam wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

I'm listening to Death is this Communion right now and I'm digging it. The vocals, while harsh, work ok with the music. I'm not totally loving it just yet, but I think with repeated spins I could really get into this.

the album reminded me of a bunch of druids calling up evil incantations.

That's a good thing, right?

detuned wrote:

sam wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

I'm listening to Death is this Communion right now and I'm digging it. The vocals, while harsh, work ok with the music. I'm not totally loving it just yet, but I think with repeated spins I could really get into this.

the album reminded me of a bunch of druids calling up evil incantations.

That's a good thing, right?

you bet it is!!!

I found The Art of Self Defense in the used bins, so I snagged it. Listening to it right now. Good stuff, although the vocals sound really buried in the mix, especially on the 1st song. I gotta crank it to hear 'em. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

I also see that there's 2 different covers for this album. I got this one...



...which apparently is the original release. The re-release has a different cover and 2 bonus tracks. Oh well.

The one you have is the original Man's Ruin release (RARE). The best tracks are on that version, you're missing one original song and their cover version of The Usurper by Celtic Frost.

That album KILLS. 10,000 Years is a song that I just couldn't stop listening to when I first got it...so awesome. Then the last track "Master Of Fists" is one of the heaviest, most epic tunes I've ever heard...I worship at the altar of this album!!!!

By the way, check out the guitar tone on the song "Last", Pike manages to completely nail the sound Iommi had on "Wheels Of Confusion"...no easy feat.

I love High on Fire. To me they're among the frontrunners of metal bands that have emerged over the past decade or so. Like a lot of folks I'll admit it took me a little while to appreciate Pike's vocals but I think he's developed into a pretty good singer.

How indicative of the rest of Death Is This Communion would the track Rumors Of War be? I REALLY like that track, and if the rest of the album is as good I may check the band out much more.

SideShowDisaSter wrote:

How indicative of the rest of Death Is This Communion would the track Rumors Of War be? I REALLY like that track, and if the rest of the album is as good I may check the band out much more.

That's a good example of the overall sound, some songs are a little more progressive, but they all rage in similar fashion. There are a couple awesome slow songs as well.

detuned wrote:

The one you have is the original Man's Ruin release (RARE). The best tracks are on that version, you're missing one original song and their cover version of The Usurper by Celtic Frost.

That album KILLS. 10,000 Years is a song that I just couldn't stop listening to when I first got it...so awesome. Then the last track "Master Of Fists" is one of the heaviest, most epic tunes I've ever heard...I worship at the altar of this album!!!!

By the way, check out the guitar tone on the song "Last", Pike manages to completely nail the sound Iommi had on "Wheels Of Confusion"...no easy feat.

Didn't realize it was rare or anything, I was just jazzed to find any HoF disc in the used bins. Pretty good too. I've spun it 3 or 4 times already and I'm liking it. Looks like I've become a fan afterall. Guess I'll be tracking down their other 2 cd's at some point.

I've just got into this band recently which is really weird because I've been a fan of Matt Pike's previous band Sleep for years.
Just recently purchased their albums and bloody hell, are they awesome.
Every album from the first to their last album is smurfing awesome.
Death Is This Communion is one of the best metal albums I've heard in a long time.

The guitar he uses is awesome. 3 strings on the bass side, 6 strings on the treble.
Creates an awesome effect. Especially when it's tuned down to C.