I’ve been waiting for High on Fire to finally get a budget for a video. Not that “Rumors of War” from Death is this Communion was bad, but it was pretty much the shortest song on the album and the video was basically the band playing in a warehouse. If it doesn’t have a battle axe, it hardly seems appropriate.

The ensuing clip for “Frost Hammer,” from the band’s much-lauded Snakes for the Divine LP, seems to have the cure for anyone wanting of the epic. To wit:

And sayeth the PR wire:

Filmed on location in both Los Angeles, CA and NYC with director Kevin Custer for Toaster in the Tub, High on Fire’s “Frost Hammer” video showcases intense performance footage of the award-winning band juxtaposed alongside “the epic tale of a warrior’s sojourn to the cold and barren Plateau of Leng where he secures the fabled Frost Hammer that will be used to enact the final rites and complete the dark rebirth and reign of the Frost Child.” [Duh. – ed.]

Despite hearing “Frost Hammer” well beforehand and streaming about half of the title track when that was put online, I held off listening to High on Fire’s fifth full-length, Snakes for the Divine (their first offering on new label E1 Music) until I could hold the disc in my hand. Since production was my major concern going into the record – how it would actually sound, in other words – I didn’t want to waste time on the poor quality of a MySpace stream or something like that. Plus, sometimes it’s better to wait. Builds the anticipation.

And anticipation was certainly at a fever pitch for High on Fire this time around. I don’t think there’s a headbanger over drinking age for whom Snakes for the Divine wasn’t right near the top of the list of albums being looked forward to in 2010. It was right up there for me as well, and as the reviews started coming out and everyone seemed to be in accord on the level of kickassery, I wanted to hear it all the more. Having now finally had that chance, to sit with Snakes for the Divine and try to understand where it’s coming from, as an avid High on Fire fan since their early Relapse Records days, I will honestly say this latest effort is a mixed bag.

While we’re being honest, I was hesitant to even post a review of the record after listening to it, since I’ve no doubt that for the vast, vast majority of those who will hear it, Snakes for the Divine will more than surpass expectation – not to mention that, with a release this huge, my opinion is of minus relevance, so I’m basically pissing in the wind. Nonetheless, here we are.

Read more »

…Just because I have. Yet again I’ve fucking failed to grab the code to stream a song from Spin and put it on this site. This time it’s the title track to the new High on Fire record, Snakes for the Divine. Pleh. Download it here, along with some nifty Jay Reatard and MC Frontalot, whoever the hell they are.

Because it’s the internet and exclusivity is a thing of the past, you can hear the studio version of High on Fire’s “Frost Hammer” right here on The Obelisk. Credit where credit’s due, Stereogum got the official premiere, but I’ve gotten halfway decent at this internet thing the last 12 months, so I more or less grabbed the embedding code from them and put it here. Now I can make believe I’m relevant enough to debut new High on Fire songs too. It’ll be like a tea party, only with cups of sadness.

Here’s the track, followed by some PR wire info:

Today, High on Fire premieres the first new song from Snakes for the Divine, unleashing the powerhouse “Frost Hammer.”  The out-of-this-world track sees the Oakland band at the peak of its powers, delivering state-of-the-art heavy metal as only High on Fire can while legendary guitarist/vocalist Matt Pike roars about “icy skies, frozen minds and galactic eyes.”

When asked for comment on “Frost Hammer,” Pike called the song, “An icy death lullaby.”

Recorded at The Pass Studios in Los Angeles with producer Greg Fidelman, Snakes for the Divine is High on Fire’s magnum opus, capturing every nuance of the legendary band’s ongoing musical progression and evolution into one of heavy music’s all time greats. Production by Fidelman — the man who produced Slayer’s World Painted Blood and is mixing the upcoming Metallica live album — boosts High on Fire’s strength and power while blackened lyrical tales of ancient wars, frozen planets and doomed societies emerge from Pike’s bellowing barks and throaty war cries.

In case you haven’t seen it yet, here’s the Arik Roper artwork for the new High on Fire record, Snakes for the Divine. As if you needed me to tell you it rules:

Fucking killer. I want to get a poster of it, travel back in time and put it up on my 14-year-old self’s bedroom wall and say, “Listen up you little bastard! You don’t know what the hell this is yet, but you spend the next decade and a half staring at it and then maybe you’ll be worthy enough to find out.”

Snakes for the Divine is out Feb. 23 on E1 Music. I wanna be friends with it.

Anyone out there have any records you’re really looking forward to hearing this year? Preview stuff is always tricky to put together because it’s either rampant speculation or shortsighted. The fact is no one knows how a year will play out as it’s just beginning. There are all these “Albums to Watch Out For” lists and it’s either stuff you’ll never see or everything is released by the middle of March.

But hey, it’s an unpredictable world. Maybe The Melvins will have a record this year, maybe not. And if they do, maybe it’ll suck. One can never tell what life is going to bring.

With the usual stipulations that this is in no way comprehensive or based on anything other than personal opinion (namely mine), here are five albums I’m looking forward to hearing in 2010, numbered for convenience, not necessarily preference:

01. High on Fire, Snakes for the Divine: Duh. It’s probably the biggest “stoner metal” release of the first half of the year, if not the whole thing, and if not one of the biggest metal releases overall. I don’t know how Greg Fidelman will handle the production — so help me Robot Jesus if I don’t get to hear every Des Kensell tom thud — but even if it’s not up to par with Death is this Communion, the new High on Fire is bound to kick at least some ass.

02. Sasquatch, III: These guys already have two fantastic albums on Small Stone under their collective belt and are more or less the Great American Hope for 21st Century stoner rock. No pressure, dudes. Nothing really riding on this except the future of your country’s output in the genre. Not like if it’s not the greatest thing ever the whole world is going to laugh at America’s diminished riff prowess (you know Belgium’s just been waiting). So yeah, just play it cool.

03. Solace, A.D.: Long time coming, but I have faith that the Jersey boys will get it done and out this year. I’m not sure why exactly I have that faith, but I have it nonetheless. I’ve heard some of this material live and it destroys. It’s high time Solace started getting at least a piece of the recognition they deserve, and getting A.D. out is essential to that process. This might be that whole “rampant speculation” thing though, because A.D. is at least three years in the works at this point.

04. Brant Bjork’s new album: Doesn’t have a revealed title yet, but if I had a New Year’s resolution (I don’t), it would be to interview Brant Bjork. He’s also reportedly got a live record out sometime soon, and he’s touring Europe again this Spring, so there’s a lot going on there.

05. Humo del Cairo, Humo del Cairo: MeteorCity is doing an issue of the Argentinian trio’s self-titled debut, and if there’s one thing I like, it’s stoner trios from Argentina. Especially ones with grooves as massive as “Cauce,” which you can hear on the band’s MySpace. Could be a sleeper hit, or could just rule. Count me in either way. I could have sworn I’d written about them before, but apparently not. An oversight soon to be corrected, I’m sure.

Oh PR wire, just when I think I’m out, you pull me back in. Here’s the latest news on High on Fire’s new album:

World-renowned power trio High on Fire has completed work on its long-awaited, fifth studio album and follow-up to 2007’s Death is this Communion. Titled Snakes for the Divine, the record will drop on February 23, 2010 via E1 Music.

Recorded at The Pass Studios in Los Angeles with producer Greg Fidelman, Snakes for the Divine is High on Fire’s magnum opus, capturing every nuance of the legendary band’s ongoing musical progression and evolution into one of heavy music’s all time greats. Sharper, faster and darker than anything the group has ever recorded, Snakes for the Divine is an unrelenting tour de force, showcasing cult guitar hero Matt Pike’s utterly unique and inventive musicianship and the band’s epic, thundering sound. From the moment the leviathan-like title track explodes to kick off the album, it is immediately evident that High on Fire is determined to push modern heavy metal into new and uncharted realms.

The track listing for High on Fire’s Snakes for the Divine is as follows:

1.) Snakes for the Divine
2.) Frost Hammer
3.) Bastard Samurai
4.) Ghost Neck
5.) Fire, Flood and Plague
6.) How Dark We Pray
7.) Holy Flames of the Fire Spitter
8.) Mystery of Helm

Snakes for the Divine’s album artwork will be brought to life by longtime High on Fire cover artist Arik Moonhawk Roper.

Please note that the headlining band with whom High on Fire will be sharing the stage in Australia does not really have “Corporate Douchebags” as its moniker. It’s actually Lamb of God, but I figured my way worked just as well, and the thought of helping to promote that kind of bullshit mediocrity via this forum turned my stomach, so “Corporate Douchebags” it is. Behold the PR wire news release, obviously edited to suit my purposes:

World-renowned power trio High on Fire has announced December, 2009 Australian tour dates alongside �Corporate Douchebags.� The metal heavyweights will join forces beginning December 11 in Brisbane as part of a touring bill that will also include DevilDriver and Shadows Fall. The just-announced expedition�s complete itinerary can be found below.

High on Fire�s long-awaited, fifth studio album and follow-up to 2007�s Death is This Communion [reportedly titled Snakes for the Divine � ed.] is currently nearing completion. The award-winning band worked with producer Greg Fidelman (Metallica, Slayer, Johnny Cash) at Los Angeles� The Pass Studios with the goal of capturing �the ultimate High on Fire experience.� The album is slated for a January 23, 2010 release via E1 Music.

High on Fire / �Corporate Douchebags� December Australian tour:
(*All dates also include DevilDriver and Shadows Fall)
December 11 – Brisbane, The Riverstage
December 12 – Sydney, Luna Park
December 13 – Sydney, Luna Park
December 15 – Melbourne, Festival Hall

Just figured I’d ask since they’re doing a 34-date US tour together starting in October. Support comes from High on Fire and Converge, which actually makes for a pretty good bill if you can handle all the silliness. Anyway, the question at hand:

Mastodon?

or Dethklok?

By the way, I still haven’t listened to Crack the Skye and I’ve yet to hear any arguments convincing enough to make me want to buy it. I’m sure Mastodon, who sold over 40,000 copies of the record its first week out alone, are crying. Anyone remember when they put out Leviathan? That was awesome.

It’s old news by now, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t post this news from the PR Wire that thrashers, bashers and all around crazy mother fuckers High on Fire are about to start working on a new record. It’ll be their fifth, following hot on the heels of the epic Death is this Communion from 2007. It is an album of firsts, though. It’s their first for new label Koch/E1 Entertainment and their first time working with producer Greg Fidelman, whose approach is said to be more hands on than anyone the band has yet worked with. No worries though, I’m sure if anything gets fucked up or turns out otherwise unsatisfactory, Matt Pike will take a battle axe to his head. Because that’s how he rolls.

World-renowned power trio High on Fire will begin work on its long-awaited, fifth studio album and follow-up to 2007?s Death is this Communion this August. The esteemed band will commence pre-production in Los Angeles with producer Greg Fidelman (Metallica, Slayer, Johnny Cash) and the goal of capturing ?the ultimate High on Fire experience.?

The new High on Fire album is slated for an early 2010 release. When asked for comment, Pike states, ?We look forward to sharing the dark seas of our new riffs and tragic stories. Soon the next saga of High on Fire’s world will be known.?

All reports indicate the new High on Fire material to be ?heavier, louder and more intricate.? Prior to entering the studio, the Oakland-based band will embark on a string of California live dates set to kick off on August 7 in Eureka, CA. The group is expected to preview some of its new material live for the very first time at these shows.

High on Fire tour dates:
(all dates include support from Early Man)
August 7???? Eureka, CA Noctumum
August 8???? Sacramento, CA Harlows
August 10?? Fresno, CA Starline
August 11?? Modesto, CA Fat Cat
August 12?? Long Beach, CA Alex’s Bar
August 15?? San Diego, CA Casbah (w/ Earthless)

“Infernal” Keith Bergman — drummer/vocalist of The PB Army, former editor of InfernalCombustion.com (Wiffley Snidegarb!), contributor to Blabbermouth and numerous other outlets and regular feature in the stoner rock scene — has opened an eBay shop called Exile Toledo. While perusing the tubuwebs recently I came upon an original Man’s Ruin promo copy of 1999’s The Art of Self Defense by High on Fire, not even knowing it was Keith selling it, and it was simply too cool to not buy.

Yes, I know it seems like a long time ago, but before they were the overlords of beast metal, blessing black wings and communing with Death himself (or herself if you read Saramago), High on Fire were just the nascent offshoot of stoner kings Sleep. They were just getting going, and the promo for The Art of Self Defense was the first exposure a lot of people had to them. There may have been press releases beforehand, maybe a live track on Napster or something, but remember, there was no Facebook or MySpace, and if you were a member of the media, unless you were really searching it out, you’d be hearing “Blood from Zion,” “10,000 Years” and “Fireface” for the first time. How fucking awesome is that?

Needless to say, thanks to Keith for the listing and prompt shipping (positive feedback ahoy) and I’m happy to share with anyone who feels free to click the “Read More” link the bio that came in the back cover of High on Fire’s first record.

Read more »