High On Fire, Snakes For The Divine
Featured Album
Massive, aggressive opuses from seasoned metallers
High on Fire have a propensity for a BIG sound, and with producer Greg Fidelman (Slayer, Slipknot, Metallica) at the knobs, the Bay Area trio's fifth full-length, Snakes for the Divine, channels that sound into massive, aggressive opuses that build on their stoner/doom foundation in an appropriately BIG way.
Opening with the eight-plus-minute title track, High on Fire unleashes a fast and ferocious riff that brands itself into your memory before bending into the galloping verses, punctuated by slow chugs and long, wailing solos. The song structure of that epic alone delivers everything you expect from these legendary heshers — and the album's only just begun. Throughout Snakes, one thing remains clear: High on Fire is not only interested in making sacrifices to the riff god, they also want to showcase the new breadth of frontman Matt Pike's range. "Frost Hammer" begins as a High on Fire standard, with the pairing of colossal riffage and vicious vocals, but then comes the low-sung quiet part; the slow 'n' evil start of "Bastard Samurai" sees Pike actually sing before steamrolling into his vicious snarl.
Brief instrumental interlude "The Path" breaks up the lengthier tracks, and the gorgeous, two-minute melodic guitar intro to the ominous "How Dark We Pray" showcases true craftsmanship from these seasoned metallers. The album closes with "Holy Flames of the Firespitter," where tribal percussion further showcases the versatility and range of this crushing contingent.
