Music Style Heavy as hell Rock 'n' Roll

Musical Influences Black Sabbath, Sleep, Teargas, Kyuss

Similar Artists Black Sabbath, Sleep, Teargas

Instruments guitar, bass, drums, vocals

Albums Surrounded By Thieves (2002), The Art of Self Defense,

Press Reviews From Roadburn E-zine THE ART OF SELF DEFENSE (Man's Ruin) Heavy, molten, and relentless, the new High On Fire cd is here. Happy happy day. This is without a doubt one of the best cd's I've heard in the past few years. Starting from the ashes of Sleep, Matt Pike's new band is blazing off to a place where the riffs are so heavy and loud, it must be heaven. Heavy metal heaven. To describe the music on "The Art Of Self Defense" without using a string of superlatives is virtually impossible, so bear with me. Picture a sound that is like Black Sabbath after years of steroid abuse going on an amphetamine bender. High On Fire play huge, hook-laden riffs at ridiculous volume. Then they string these head-banging manifestos together into unstoppable blasts of sound. They call these songs. I call them truths. They speak to the elemental nature of power, the irresistible urge to move with the riff - they speak to your gut. In huge waves of distortion. Over the top of this indescribably beautiful inferno, Matt's vocal's rage and seethe like a buddhist chant channelling the voice of Satan. His low register growl is mixed down into the music so that it is part of an organicwhole. These are completely the kind of vocals that you can sing along with,without sounding like a heavy metal cliche. Perhaps the only criticism I can find of this disc is that at low volumes, the vocals don't really come through very well. At high volume, they are amazing. As great as this record is, it also has that timeless quality of getting better with every listen. As you become accustomed to the overwhelming wall of sounds, the intricacies become audible. Subtle changes in dynamics, tempo and feeling abound. From the soothing, intriguing intro of "Fireface" to the grand canyon sized riff of "10,000 Years" you will go back again and again. To the portal of elemental release that this record provides. Other records that provide the same feeling include Black Sabbath's "Master of Reality", Kyuss' "Blues for the Red Sun" and Sloburn's "Amusing the Amazing". High praise for a masterful record. DREW

Location San Francisco, CA - USA

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