High on Fire (coined from a Richard Pryor life experience \/ joke about freebasing cocaine and lighting himself on fire) are a heavy metal band from California that\u2019s been touring almost non stop since it\u2019s inception in the late 90\u2019s. In that time, they\u2019ve release seven albums and been around the world many times.<\/p>\n
Having recently honed their sound even further on Luminiferous, a nine song affair that could well be the heaviest record this year by a semi mainstream metal band, High On Fire waged war on Thalia Hall last Tuesday.<\/p>\n
In a way, it\u2019s surprising to consider that the Matt Pike led power trio High On Fire are from<\/p>\n
Oakland, California, because their songs and sledgehammer guitar riffs suggest a more European sensibility, a cocktail of the sludgey, powerchord crunch of German masters Celtic Frost with a liberal dose of Motorhead\u2019s pummeling rhythm section (and not to mention Pike\u2019s eerie resemblance to Mr. Kilminster himself). In fact, Pike\u2019s vocal harken back to Tom Gabriel Warrior\u2019s styling\u2019s in the best way, a desperately angry roar, that, on new songs like \u201cThe Falconist\u201d and older cuts like \u201cRumors of War,\u201d recalls the classic riffage of Frost\u2019s To Megatherion.<\/p>\n
Tonight\u2019s set leaned heavily on the new record, and for good reason: Kurt Ballou\u2019s bright, savage production was mirrored beautifully on the live stage, with cuts like \u201cThe Dark Side of the Compass\u201d even more crushing while retaining their melodic structure, while the brutality of \u201cFertile Green\u201d from De Vermis Mysteriis shook the floor and the serpentine opening riff of \u201cSnakes for the Divine,\u201d a lead right out of Iron Maiden\u2019s playbook, provided a fantastic compliment to the darker, more brooding selections.<\/p>\n
For a man with his share of past demons, Matt Pike was supremely in control of the stage in Chicago. Sweat dripped from his body like he was under a shower. Pike recently clean and sober, really gave it his all even though he was clearly distraught from something. He left the stage a couple times for whatever reasons (seemingly ill) but always came back and slammed us right back in our seats. There\u2019s no fucking around here. He\u2019s here to punch you in the face with crushing guitar riffs and gut wrenching bellows and cobra spewing lyrics while Jeff Matz and Des Kensel backed the frontal assult. The band is as tight as they\u2019ve ever been. This is a new high for High on Fire and the fans really dug it as massive mosh pits and crowd surfing took control of the center floor.<\/p>\n
To see photo from the show, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n To find out more about the band, tours and albums, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n