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High Fighter Announce The Goat Ritual EP Tape Reissue

Posted in Whathaveyou on October 29th, 2020 by JJ Koczan

high fighter (Photo by Basti Grim)

The Goat Ritual (review here) was the one that kicked off High Fighter. An initial EP comprised of four tracks of blistering sludge metal that was equal parts both, it introduced the Hamburg outfit to the underground in blazing and brazen fashion. After releasing two full-lengths in 2019’s Champain (review here) and 2016’s Scars and Crosses (review here), the band will go back to the start with a new tape version of The Goat Ritual through Argonauta Records. Due out Dec. 4, it’s the second outing for High Fighter through Argonauta — the debut album was on Svart — and the tapes are up for preorder now. I’m not usually a huge preorder guy, but there is something about reserving a cassette in advance that appeals to my child-of-the-’80s sensibilities. Sweet nostalgia, harsh riffs.

High Fighter recently taped a Rockpalast performance on the rooftop of some industrial-looking building and you can see that linked below. I’d have embedded it, but the site wouldn’t let me. Fair enough. They’ll apparently air it on the old-fashioned tele-tube next month. Staying busy in difficult times and all that.

Info from the PR wire:

high fighter the goat ritual tape

Sludge Metal Juggernaut, HIGH FIGHTER, To Release Limited Tape Edition of 2014-Debut EP “The Goat Ritual”!

Hamburg- based Sludge and Stoner Metal act, HIGH FIGHTER, has announced a limited Tape edition of their critically acclaimed, 2014- debut EP “The Goat Ritual“.

Recorded on one weekend in the band’s rehearsal room, HIGH FIGHTER’s first and self-released EP took the heavy music scene by storm, and gained the band not just high praise from both fans and critics alike, but also opened the stages on tours with bands alike AHAB, GREENLEAF, THE MIDNIGHT GHOST TRAIN as well as Europe’s finest underground festivals such as Sonic Blast, Stoned From The Underground, Desertfest Berlin, Red Smoke Festival and many more. During the past 6 years, the band continued to heavily tour Europe with acts such as CONAN, DOWNFALL OF GAIA, ELDER or DOPETHRONE, and appeared at Wacken Open Air, Desertfest London & Antwerp, Summer Breeze, Keep It Low, Up in Smoke and countless more.

With the “The Goat Ritual”, HIGH FIGHTER introduced themselves to the world of Stoner Rock, Doom and Sludge Metal, and perfectly set the scene for their wild ride of styles and fast-paced hardcore based Stoner Metal. While the record, with its stunning cover artwork, was released exactly 6 years ago on Bandcamp and as Vinyl and CD formats, December 4th 2020 will see HIGH FIGHTER’s debut EP coming out as a limited Tape edition on Argonauta Records but also appearing on Spotify for the first time ever! This is a Must-Have record for any Stoner, Sludge, Heavy Rock and Doom Metal fan, but better be quick to pre-order your copy, as the Cassettes will most definitely run out fast at THIS LOCATION: https://www.argonautarecords.com/shop/other-stuff/506-high-fighter-the-goat-ritual-mc.html

Furthermore, HIGH FIGHTER have just announced a postponed festival appearance from 2020 at VAGOS METAL FEST to return next summer. They will be playing the Portuguese metal festival alongside acts such as Emperor, Dimmu Borgir, Exodus, Testament and many more. Find out more infos HERE!

HIGH FIGHTER also recently played an exclusive “Offstage“ show for German TV, WDR Rockpalast. This very special “Corona” concert in a unique setting at the Landschaftspark Duisburg, will be airing on TV on November 9th, but has just been premiered online at THIS LOCATION!

HIGH FIGHTER is:
Mona Miluski – vocals
Christian Pappas – guitar
Ingwer Boysen – guitar
Constantin Wüst – bass
Thomas Wildelau – drums & backing vocals

www.highfighter.de
www.facebook.com/highfighter
www.instagram.com/highfighter_official
www.highfighter.bandcamp.com
www.argonautarecords.com
www.facebook.com/ArgonautaRecords

High Fighter, The Goat Ritual (2014)

High Fighter, “Before I Disappear” official video

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The Obelisk Radio Adds: Jakob Skøtt, Sleeping Pulse, Palm Desert, High Fighter and Sans Soleil

Posted in Radio on November 14th, 2014 by JJ Koczan

the obelisk radio

Managing to do rounds of adds to The Obelisk Radio two weeks in a row? Why, that’s almost too much on-it to bear. I’ll try really hard to contain my self-satisfaction. Okay no I won’t.

A pretty diverse bunch of records joining the playlist today. There are 11 total that went up, and in addition to correcting the oversight of not having put up YOB‘s Clearing the Path to Ascend yet (infinite apologies), there are also new ones from Lord Dying and PrimordialIt’s Casual and the recently-reviewed Elephant Tree. Also the Atavismo that I put up the info for the other day and which will be reviewed at some point soon, and five records I thought it would be worth highlighting out of the bunch. Some of these artists I’m sure you know, one or two maybe not, but again, it’s a fairly wide stylistic berth and that’s just the way I like it best.

The Obelisk Radio adds for Nov. 14, 2014:

Jakob Skøtt, Taurus Rising

jakob skott taurus rising
His third solo album, Taurus Rising is also the second of the year for Copenhagen-based Causa Sui drummer Jakob Skøtt. Released through El Paraiso Records, it continues in the vein of earlier 2014’s Amor Fati in pursuing more of a full-band vibe, but strips that down somewhat to incorporate just synth and live drums. The result across Taurus Rising‘s five tracks is an unremitting progressivism, showcasing Skøtt‘s allegiance to krautrock in songs like opener “Escape from the Keep” while the centerpiece “Pleiades” has a little more of a psychedelic swirl. Keyboards arrive in multiple layers throughout, filling out the mix, and Taurus Rising becomes all the more impressive when one considers that Skøtt is essentially jamming with himself. He does so with a strong sense of evoking varied atmosphere from the tracks, the closing duo of “Bucket Brigades” (10:13) and “Taurus Ascendant” (7:59) pushing deep into spaced-out dynamics and, in the case of the latter, providing the album with its fullest wash and most satisfying linear build. Whether or not Skøtt intends to keep up this pace of releases, I don’t know — no reason not to so long as he’s inspired; it’s his playing, recording and label — but the prog-jazz sensibility of Taurus Rising seems ripe for further development. Jakob Skøtt on Thee Facebooks, El Paraiso Records.

Sleeping Pulse, Under the Same Sky

sleeping pulse unde the same sky

Sleeping Pulse are not yet fully through “Parasite,” the opening track on their Prophecy Productions debut, Under the Same Sky, before Mick Moss lets loose the full emotional juggernaut of his vocal delivery. The duo is a collaboration between Moss, best known as the frontman and founder of Antimatter, and Portugal-based guitarist Luís Fazendeiro of Painted Black, who wrote the music. At 10 songs and 55 minutes, Under the Same Sky is tied together both through Moss‘ voice and a persistent airiness that, were it not so cleanly presented, I’d almost be tempted to call post-rock. It is darkly progressive, and the lyrics match, weaving tales of manipulation in the subtly building “The Puppeteer” (also watch out for the sampled applause about a minute in) and betrayal throughout moody cuts like the later “Noose” and “War.” For those who know Antimatter — whose latest full-length, Fear of a Unique Identity (review here), was released in 2012 — Sleeping Pulse finds Moss well in his element across the board, but Fazendeiro varies the style such that the piano-led “The Blind Lead the Blind” and emergent distortion chug of “Painted Rust” fit well alongside each other, and Under the Same Sky flows smoothly to its concluding title-track, a minimal piano piece backed by ebow-style tones and once more showcasing the resonance in Moss‘ blend of fragility and defiance. A sleeper not to be slept on, particularly with winter ahead. Sleeping Pulse on Thee Facebooks, Prophecy Productions.

Palm Desert, Pearls from the Muddy Hollow

palm desert pearls from the muddy hollow

Perhaps unsurprising when one considers they take their name from the hometown of California’s ’90s desert rock movement, but Poland’s Palm Desert owe a large sonic debt to Kyuss. In the Wroc?aw four-piece’s style of riffing, tonality and propensity for the occasional stoner jam on their third album, Pearls from the Muddy Hollow (Krauted Mind Records), they show their allegiance to the desert style and its blend of fuzzed-up punk and laid back psychedelia. Vocalist Wojciech Ga?uszka helps change things up, however, with some elements of Soundgarden-era Chris Cornell to go with periodic John Garcia gruffness, so that Pearls from the Muddy Hollow‘s nine tracks make a suitable companion piece to Steak‘s 2014 full-length debut, Slab City, which basks in a similar mindset. That’s not to say Palm Desert bring nothing of their own to the style — both the quick “Rise Above” (not a Black Flag cover) and extended closer “Forward in the Sun” (8:19) branch beyond idolatry to an individualized moment — just that the resounding impression throughout Pearls from the Muddy Hollow is Kyuss loyalism. Within the style, they do well in portraying a warm-toned feel and shift smoothly between movements both inside of and between their songs. They’re not revolutionary, but Palm Desert do justice to a familiar sound and sometimes that’s plenty to make for a quality record. Another decent bit of output from Poland’s fertile scene. Palm Desert on Thee Facebooks, on Bandcamp.

High Fighter, The Goat Ritual EP

high fighter the goat ritual

Formed earlier this year as an amalgam of members from A Million Miles and Buffalo Hump, Hamburg, Germany’s High Fighter storm out of the gate with the five-song The Goat Ritual EP, a 21-minute thrust of modern metal and heavy rock ideals. Vocalist Mona Miluski shifts readily between a bluesy clean delivery and searing screams over the nod-ready riffing of guitarists Christian “Shi” Pappas and Ingwer Boysen, bassist Constantin Wüst and drummer Thomas Wildelau trading off between riding the grooves on “2Steps Blueskill” and energizing the bounce on “Fire in the Sun.” Second cut “Breaking Goat Mountains” seems to be particularly geared toward Kyuss‘ “Green Machine” in its riff, but bleaker, screamier centerpiece “Black Waters” shifts between the EP’s heaviest assault and a guitar-only peaceful moment that rounds out with a bit of fading feedback that leads to the wakeup punch of “Fire in the Sun,” in turn given over to the mosh fodder of “In Veins”‘s early going, which somehow transitions into more laid-back heaviness in its second half, of course building back to the initial riff to round out. In its production and much of its execution, it’s metal, but High Fighter keep command of heavy rock elements in such a way as to showcase the nascent moments of what has the potential to be a fascinating progression. The ritual, it would seem, is only beginning. High Fighter on Thee Facebooks, on Bandcamp.

Sans Soleil, A Holy Land beneath a Godless Sky

sans soleil a holy land beneath a godless sky

Calling a string-infused, instrumental post-metal release “atmospheric” seems completely superfluous, but Austin fivesome Sans Soleil put enough of a focus on ambience throughout their four-track Tofu Carnage Records debut long-player, A Holy Land beneath a Godless Sky, that to not say so would be worse. Eva Vonne‘s viola plays a major role in the band’s sound on “A Holy Land” and is complemented there and thereafter by guitarists Dustin Anderson and Lee Frejyalune and bassist Theron Rhoten, but it doesn’t come across as trying to fill a gap where vocals might otherwise be, instead just a weaving current between the distortion and sub-doom plod of drummer Zach Hoop, whose crash distinguishes itself on “An Umbral Plain” in keeping a slow march together early and moving fluidly to double-time in the middle third. Dense but not claustrophobic, the subsequent “Across Brilliant Sands” opens direct interplay between Vonne and a line of lead guitar before moving into Grayceon-style sparseness and explosion, or at least a more doomed interpretation thereof, and building to what feels like an apex for the album until the 11-minute closer “Beneath a Godless Sky” busts into a gallop as it passes the halfway point and relents from there only to resume again with greater force, closing out A Holy Land beneath a Godless Sky with a fitting push to coincide with the tonal weight preceding. An exciting and engaging debut from a group who arrive with a firm sense of what they want to convey sonically and emotionally. Sans Soleil on Thee Facebooks, Tofu Carnage Records.

Like I said at the outset, a little all over the place this week, but hopefully you find something to dig one way or another. To check out the full list of adds for this week and every week back to late 2012, and to see what’s been played on The Obelisk Radio today (some good stuff there), check out The Obelisk Radio Updates and Playlist page. It’s where the cool kids hang out, or something.

Thanks for reading and listening.

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High Fighter Release Debut EP The Goat Ritual

Posted in Whathaveyou on November 4th, 2014 by JJ Koczan

high fighter

With former members of A Million Miles and Buffalo Hump in the ranks, Hamburg five-piece High Fighter have released their debut EP, The Goat Ritual. It’s available now using something called the “internet” — I think I spelled that right — and features five tracks that pull together elements from classic stoner rock and modern metal, screams intertwining with melodic vocals over heavy and propelled riffing. The full thing can be streamed on the player below, and they’re asking one euro for a download, which I’m pretty sure translates to $75 by now. Ask about generous interest rates.

Info and audio:

high fighter the goat ritual

HIGH FIGHTER: Former members of A Million Miles, Buffalo Hump & Pyogenesis Unveil New Band!

Stream First EP The Goat Ritual in Full

After the release of their critically acclaimed album in early 2013 & their surprising split right after in early 2013, former A Million Miles frontwoman Mona Miluski & guitarist Christian Shi Pappas, have teamed up with Stoner Rock group Bufallo Hump – who had already been joined by ex-Pyogenesis drummer Thomas Wildelau – have just unveiled a brand new band known as HIGH FIGHTER!

Born in summer 2014 & with those great, former bands involved, HIGH FIGHTER delivers heavy stoner metal riffs, sludgy blues rock, hardcore elements and the relentless, intense and almost violent vocals by Mona. The band just recorded their first EP called The Goat Ritual – accordingly to the band live over one weekend in their rehearsal room – “no studio, no highclass polished production, just pure, simple and heavy!” stated the band just recently on their Facebook page.

And from there it became more than just a representable demo. HIGH FIGHTER’s brand new EP The Goat Ritual is now available to stream free at: http://bit.ly/1nHeqnC

Based in Hamburg, Germany, HIGH FIGHTER have announced their first show in their hometown on December 19th 2014. The band is currently in writing process for a full-length album and will be unveiling more gigs & news soon!

High Fighter are:
Mona Miluski – vocals (ex-A Million Miles)
Christian “Shi” Pappas – rhythm guitar (ex-A Million Miles)
Ingwer Boysen – lead guitar (ex-Buffalo Hump)
Constantin Wu?st – bass (ex-Buffalo Hump)
Thomas Wildelau – drums (ex-Pyogenesis & Buffalo Hump)

For More Info Visit:
www.facebook.com/HighFighter
www.highfighter.bandcamp.com

High Fighter, The Goat Ritual (2014)

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