The Obelisk Questionnaire is a series of open questions intended to give the answerer an opportunity to explore these ideas and stories from their life as deeply as they choose. Answers can be short or long, and that reveals something in itself, but the most important factor is honesty.

Based on the Proust Questionnaire, the goal over time is to show a diverse range of perspectives as those who take part bring their own points of view to answering the same questions. To see all The Obelisk Questionnaire posts, click here.

Thank you for reading and thanks to all who participate.

The Obelisk Questionnaire: John Steele of High n’ Heavy

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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?

I’m one of the primary songwriters, and guitarist, of the metal band High n’ Heavy. After trying a few different band ideas I, along with our drummer and bassist, invited an old friend to start a new project. The original idea has sort of evolved along the way.

Describe your first musical memory.

My parents started taking me to concerts when I was very small. One of the first concerts I remember going to was to see Aerosmith in Providence when I was 4 years old. I remember Skid Row opening, and slightly remember Aerosmith. Mostly because I fell asleep during their set. We always listened my dad’s old records at home, and they really opened me to some of my favorite music. But I also remember starting to play guitar at 9. That’s when it all came full circle, and I was able to learn my favorite songs and use that inspiration to make my own.

Describe your best musical memory to date.

That’s a really tough one. When it comes to going to shows, playing shows, and moments in life that had a certain soundtrack behind it. Getting to see The Misfits at Madison Square Garden a few years ago is definitely up there. They are one of my all time favorite bands, and it felt like being 13 all over again. Made even better by getting to share the experience with my wife. As far as my playing, the first High n’ Heavy show really stands out. Our singer showed up dressed as a wizard from that very show, and still does. The energy of the people in that little bar. Plus, the energy we had. The full excitement of getting to play songs we’d been working on for those months before.

When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?

In one of my earlier bands there was a lot of infighting due to whether or not we should charge people for certain things. I was always of the belief that if you can get music to people for free then you should do it. I understand the need to charge when things get bigger and more involved. We made the demos on our computers and printed the stickers on cheap sticker paper.

Where do you feel artistic progression leads?

It opens up so many doors. Like with music. The more I’ve learned. Whether it’s a new instrument, how to record/mix, or how to write a song. It can lead you down so many roads. The pandemic was a big moment of progression for me. Trying to write all different types of music. Building up a home studio. Becoming more comfortable in my artistic skin, so to speak.

How do you define success?

Probably being happy with where you are, and not letting other people’s opinions affect that. High n’ Heavy was the first band I was in where I just wrote what came without worrying how it may be perceived. Before that I was hardly ever happy with what I wrote. It all felt so forced. Once I stopped worrying what other people might think it opened the flood gates and the inspirado flowed.

What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?

I’d like to say instances where favoritism in a music scene screws over a more talented band, or someone who might deserve a chance. However, the thing that always comes to mind is when I saw Iggy Pop when I was 17. At one point a kid climbed on stage. It was just a small club. The bouncers dragged him to the side, threw him off the stage, and started beating the shit out of him while he was on the ground. When they were finished the dragged him to the door that led to the alley, and tossed him outside. I get the position of not wanting people to jump on the stage, but it was a heavy over reaction. Made especially horrible when a few songs later he played The Passenger and invited everyone on stage.

Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.

I’ve been working a lot on video editing. Mostly skate footage, and such. I’ve really wanted to incorporate all my interests into it. Make short films of stimulating imagery. Scored by me. Maybe leading to music videos for my band, or other peoples if they’re interested. Also, been messing with animation a little, so I’d love to incorporate that.

What do you believe is the most essential function of art?

Self expression. Just get it out of you. Opinions don’t matter. Make what you like. On the other side of it just finding what you like, and trying to find more of it. Getting outside of your comfort zone to find things that can move you.

Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?

I have two wonderful children, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how they grow. They’re already at the age of their personalities starting to really shine through. The journey is a wonderful thing.

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https://highnheavy.bandcamp.com/
https://www.highnheavy.com/

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High n’ Heavy, V (2021)

Massachusetts doom rockers High n’ Heavy release their fifth album, V, through Electric Valley Records on May 28. A flair for the epic pervades the eight-song/42-minute outing that should come as little surprise to anyone who donned the mantle of their 2019 offering, Warrior Queen (review here) — also their debut on Electric Valley — and from opener “Cleansed with Blood” and the even-fuzzier “Gather Flame” that follows, the band take the trodden paths of genre deep into an old growth New England forest of lost mysticism and magic that’s probably spelled with a ‘k’ somewhere in there. As frontman Kris Fortin intones in the hook of “Gather Flame,” “It must be victory or death.” The stakes, then, are pretty high.

Fair enough. Fortin is a steady forward presence on V, and stands up to the test before him of bringing thematic scope to the classic heavy fuzz and natural tones of guitarist John Steele (also keys) and bassist Michael Dudley, as well as the rolling drumwork of Nick Perrone. Horror, fantasy, fantasy horror — and no doubt the songs are rife with references for those in the know on this or that particular book, game, whatever it might be, but more crucially, High n’ Heavy create a flow between their songs that’s neither wholly doom nor heavy rock and roll, finding a place between genres that’s metal-adjacent in its poise but not aggressive, unwilling to sacrifice fist-in-the-air power for stonerly groove, but somehow harnessing both. Maybe that’s that magik at work.

“Power of Arachnid” — premiering below — runs six and a half minutes and slows down from the opening duo, but nestles into a nice, wah-coated rhythm, carrying over subtle backing layers from “Gather Flame” with semi-harmonies worthy of headphones, and doesn’t necessarily represent the whole of V but showcases its tones and performances well, a balance between live energy and studio clarity brought to bear by Trevor Vaughan in the band’s native New Bedford, along the south coast of Massachusetts, Buzzards Bay, an old whaling town remade — when last I was there; a few years ago now — into an antiparadise of opiates and wanna-gentrify intent. MA, and New England as a whole, has never wanted for heavy, but High n’ Heavy share no more with the likes of Roadsaw than they do with Pentagram or The Sword, and their refusal to cower makes the march that caps side A in “Onward to Oblivion” even more righteous.

Does side B dig in further? Yes, yes it does. “Screaming Moon” is a molasses-thick tonal highlight, Sabbathian in its roll, lyrics of mammoth tusks and warhammers and the like, all nod and grooving tempo and Dudley playing the Geezer role in the setup to the arrival of the appropriately grandiose keyboards. The subsequent “Rise” is faster, as it inevitably would be, but still thrilling in its tonal depth and catchiness, and it serves double-duty as a transition into the 2:43 “Death in the Unknown,” which is the point at which High n’ Heavy go full The Action is Go in their rush. No complaints as they rip it up in the penultimate moment; the structure of the song holds up to the force with which it’s delivered. For the closer, the turn to nylon-string acoustic guitar and keyboard brings us back to Dio-era Sabbath medievalism — in my head I hear, “I think about closing the door…” — but the drama that ensues is modern in its lumber and patient in its unfolding.

Here too, High n’ Heavy bask in doom for doom’s sake, a grand finale that shows class while adhering to genre tenets, again unwilling to be anything other than the band’s own despite the familiarity of the setting in which their tale takes place. This is V in summation, but the adventure doesn’t have to end there. As the band marches out to the bookending acoustic and keys, one gets the sense that, while they’ve come a ways from “Attack the 30 Rack” on their 2015 self-titled debut — “I may be a wizard/I may be from space/The rules are the same/Now I’m shitfaced” — and “Sex Potions Rock ‘n’ Roll” from 2017’s From the Flames, finding their way to where they are now is by no means a conclusion unto itself. Warriors, wizards, whathaveyou, they may be, but High n’ Heavy are songwriters too, and V demonstrates the best aspects of that as well as a heaping dose of personality.

Enjoy “Power of Arachnid” on the player below, followed by preorder links and all that other good stuff from the PR wire:

High n’ Heavy, “Power of Arachnid” premiere

PRE-ORDER:
http://electricvalleyrecords.com/products (Vinyl)
https://evrecords.bandcamp.com/album/high-n-heavy-v (Vinyl + Digital)

Electric Valley Records is proud to present the 5th LP of High n’ Heavy, entitled V. The album will be available on different variants of vinyl (Black, Transparent Purple, and Ultra LTD “Moon Edition”) and digital formats on 28th May 2021. On the same day, the Italian label represses the doom quartet’s last album, Warrior Queen, on vinyl (Red, White, and Ultra LTD “Shield Edition”).

Out of the depths of Massachusetts, High n’ Heavy continue to bring the fire. Formed in 2014, under the influence of The Stooges and Black Sabbath, this quartet have put together a formidable blend of dirty 70’s style rock, doom, and blues that’d make the devil blush. They go one better with each of their studio work, outstripping the caliber of the previous albums. Their live shows come with an energy that leaves the audiences with their brains tingling and knees weak. They were fortunate to play RPM Fest ’19 and open for The Obsessed.

High n’ Heavy’s upcoming release, V, sees the band continue their ascent towards the rock n’ roll mountain top. Going back into the studio with Trevor Vaughan at the helm, their sound is larger than ever before. The songwriting and performance on this album prove yet again that they are a band that’s found its groove, but is also just getting started. The Eight massive tracks of the LP eventually turn out to be their greatest offering to the gods of rock n’ roll!

“High n’ Heavy are beyond excited to continue working with Electric Valley Records on our second release with the label,” the band says. “The support from EVR, along with the bands that make up their amazing family, has helped bring this album’s vision to fruition.”

TRACKLIST:
A1. Cleansed with Blood
A2. Gather Flame
A3. Power of Arachnid
A4. Onward to Oblivion
B1. Screaming Moon
B2. Rise
B3. Death in the Unknown
B4. We Will Burn

All songs written by High n’ Heavy.
Recorded & Engineered by Trevor Vaughan Recorded at The Coliseum.
Produced by Trevor Vaughan and High n’ Heavy.
Artwork & Layout by John Steele.

High n’ Heavy:
Kris Fortin: Vocals
John Steele: Guitar/Keys
Michael Dudley: Bass
Nick Perrone: Drums

High n’ Heavy on Thee Facebooks

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Electric Valley Records on Bandcamp

Electric Valley Records website