High on Fire
Formed: 1998
From:
Oakland,
CA,
United States
Last Known Status: Active
Latest High on Fire News
Below is our complete High on Fire news coverage, including columns and articles pertaining to the band. Some articles listed may be indirectly related, such as side projects of the band members, etc.
Note: We began associating news directly with bands in late 2003. Therefore, earlier band news may not be listed on this page.
Displaying records 1 - 20 of 172 1 2 3 ... 8 9 Last
OpEd
Greekbastard's 2024 Anti-List
Is there anything more annoying these days than someone else’s opinion? Stolen from quotes anonymous, I think the old adage goes… “Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one, and they all stink.” And if you’re not opinioned out yet regarding every bloggers 2024 top albums lists, It’s my turn to drop my top 5 albums for 2024 upon your bored and bloodshot corneas.
Before I begin, I need to point something out. I don’t check the release calendar with intense vigor to seek out new albums to listen to. My listening choices for the most part happen haphazardly. Quite often, it’s just a band I’ve always liked and happen to notice that they released some new material. Other times, there’s a buzz about an album and I want to see what the fuss is about. So, without further ado, this is my top five albums list for 2024.
Honorable Mentions:
Testament – The Legacy (Remaster 2024) and The New Order (Remaster 2024)
Testament’s first two albums were instant classics, I’m not going to review them because that’s old news. However, the remasters make them relevant again because they sound sonically superior to the original 1980’s releases. These re-releases reaffirm that Testament is one of the top thrash bands to ever exist and still sound relevant in today’s metal “metalverse.”
Electric Wizard – Black Magic Rituals & Perversions Vol. 1
Just dropped like free LSD in mid-December, this live album deserves a shout out. When it comes to contemporary doom metal, Electric Wizard is the benchmark and you can take your Black Sabbath comparisons and smoke them. That’s old news. “Black Magic Rituals & Perversions Vol. 1” is the ultimate Electric Wizard compilation album when it comes down to track selection. In fact, it was actually a live setlist from 2020 when live music was put on pause in order to keep their live chops up to par. The sound of this album is deliciously raw and lo-fi for fans of unpolished Doom and Stoner Metal
The Actual Top 5 List:
5. Necrot – Lifeless Birth
If you ask me, this is the best Death Metal album of 2024, not that trendy Blood Incantation album. Necrot makes THAT band sound like Celtic Frost did during their Cold Lake era. “Lifeless Birth” is guttural, grisly and induces grave digging. That other band makes me want to take a nap. This is TRVE Death Metal!
4. Shining – The Helsinki Tapes
When not popping up in not so favorable click bait headlines on other metal blogs, Shining has consistently put out excellent releases. “The Helsinki Tapes” is another example of this. Shining pushes the boundaries of Black Metal musically and this album is no different. As unstable as Niklas Kvarforth may seem at times, his musical prowess should never be discredited.
3. Cavalera Conspiracy – Schizophrenia
Before you start your insolent complaints that this release was a money grab and was stolen from the original members of Sepultura, let me stop you right there. This release in actuality prolongs their legacy. The original “Schizophrenia” was way ahead of its time. The masses finally took hold of the badassery of Sepultura during “Arise” and the albums leading up to it never inherited the respect they deserved. “Schizophrenia” 2024 gives the original release a much-needed makeover and prolongs the legacy of early Sepultura. More...
Report
High On Fire Sets Islington Alight
Often when it comes to metal gigs in London, we hop on the Northern line and head to Camden for a show at The Underworld, The Black Heart, The Electric Ballroom or if we're being fancy, The Roundhouse. There are other areas in capital's north which frequently host heavier acts though, such as Tufnell Park, Kentish Town or more commonly, Islington, which is where we find ourselves tonight. Only a day after an excellent performance from Crypta in Bristol, it was off to the Smoke to catch another bucket list band of mine, High On Fire, who were set to bring their European tour to the Islington Assembly Hall.
It's a fairly grand venue, with balcony seats, clean hallways and a large stage, which emanates a degree of class, so of course this reporter fit right in with his "Fuck the Tories" badge displayed proudly after being gifted it from the socialists outside the tube station. Following the traditional scramble at the merch booth, it was through to the hall to catch tonight's support, Silverburn, a project from Hark and Taint frontman Jimbob Isaac. Their debut release, "Self Induced Transcendental Annihilation" was unleashed last August and immediately garnered praise, leading to a spot at this year's Desertfest London. It was clear to see that most of the crowd were in agreement. Silverburn offers a meaty sound, very modern metal in its approach and performs with a strong presence, delivering their music in powerful fashion. They're certainly not for everyone, but overall this was a solid performance which would have won them some new fans. More...
Report
The First Full Day Of Mystic Festival Was Fire!
You couldn’t have asked for better weather on the first full day of this year’s Mystic Festival. The forecast called for zero chance of rain and the temperature was in the middle 60’s Fahrenheit. There was a noticeable increase in the number of attendees at the festival today and there was a reason for it. Today’s lineup was stacked from top to bottom. I had already penciled in eight bands to catch today and there could have been more. There were other bands I wanted to check out, but due to conflicts, the schedule made it all but impossible to do so.
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Mystic Festival’s Entrance
I’ve been wanting to see Gutalax ever since I missed them at their infamous Brutal Assault set in 2019. Just do a search on YouTube for that specific show and you’ll be enlightened., Although there was no Toi Toi crowd surfing (the festival organizers moved the portable toilets farther away from the stages this year, a smart move on their part I must say…), today’s show at Mystic Festival did not disappoint. There were plenty of rolls of toilet paper, inflatable pool toys and balloons flying all over the place throughout their set.
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Gutalax
Gutalax’s sound may not be everyone’s jam, but the atmosphere at their shows can be likened to a circus on crack. I haven’t laughed so much at a concert in years. My wife and I brought some blow-up pool toys from home for the show, and at one point, our giant pink donut with sprinkles ended up on stage with the band. They had some fun with it for a minute before “singer” Martin Matoušek threw it back into the crowd. Gutalax took a crowd photo at the end of their set and you can see our donut clearly within the elated crowd. That donut did us proud.
Can you find the donut???
The next band Nakkeknaekker is so young that I’m pretty sure they’re still in high school. There’s not a lot of information available online about this teenaged Death Metal band, but I can tell you that they’re going to be a force to be reckoned with in the near future. They play brutal, old school death metal similar to the early Earache Records roster (think Entombed/Morbid Angel) of Death Metal bands. Their energy level was off the charts and they played like they had a chip on their shoulder. If they stick together, they’ll be destined for remarkable things. Check them out.
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NAKKEKNAEKKER
The next band on my list was a last minute, fill in the gap type band before my actual next penciled in band. Black Gold is a Nu Metal band that wasn’t as popular as their contemporaries during the height of the genre’s popularity. I’ll be honest here. I can’t stand Nu Metal and Black Gold didn’t change anything in that regard, but I thought the costuming and their stage look was cool. At least it made for some great photos.
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Black Gold
Sodom was next on the list and even though I’ve seen them three times within a year’s span not including today’s set, I’m still not burned out on them. They played a different set-list for Mystic Festival from the last time I saw them on 70,000 Tons Of Metal, a deeper dig into their forty years’ worth of thrash classics.
What else can I say about Tom Angelripper and Frank “Blackfire” Gosdzik? These two have been keeping Sodom afloat for over forty years. Sodom are at the pinnacle of the German Big Four and only Destruction can rival them in my opinion. If you’ve never seen them live, need I write more to convince you to catch them before it’s too late and they call it a day?
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Tom Angelripper and Frank “Blackfire” Gosdzik of Sodom
The next band, LIK, was slated to play at the smallest indoor venue at the festival (Sabbath Stage) and by the time I arrived, I had to shove my way through the already packed venue towards the photo pit. When this happens, it’s usually a good sign that the band is going to be good. Like Nakkeknaekker, LIK play an old school Death Metal style. LIK are several years older, so there was a certain “battle hardened” feel to them.
This was my first time seeing LIK and I have to say I was impressed. They have a very Swedish Death Metal sound to them and that should come as no surprise due to the fact they’re actually from there. I’ve been listening to Death Metal since its inception, so the fact that I’m impressed by any “newish” band within the genre, is a rarity. I immediately downloaded a couple of their albums after their set.
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LIK More...
Column
What's So Great About Mystic Festival? Read This.
1. Certain bands that hardly come stateside but are easier to see if you’re in Europe. The bands I’m specifically referring to for this article are Gutalax, Asphyx, Furia, Satyricon and Blasphemy. Gutalax are actually going to be playing a couple of dates in the U.S. come September, but I didn’t want to wait that long to see them live for the first time. Asphyx, well…it was 2017 when they were stateside and Furia, I bet never. Satyricon has played some scattered dates here and there but are definitely more active in Europe. Mystic Festival has all of them this summer!
2. The cooler temperatures! This is my third Mystic Festival in a row and because it kicks off the metal festival season in early June, you can still comfortably wear a jacket at night. In fact, in 2022, the temperatures at the end of the first night of the festival were in the 40’s Fahrenheit. The Polish attendees are used to these types of temperatures but for someone that splits their time between Phoenix, Arizona and Athens, Greece, that’s called winter! The days, however, are beautiful. No complaints there.
3. The festival foods. It’s Poland, but this festival offers more than just pierogi and kielbasa. In fact, they are both more difficult to find at Mystic Festival than everything else available. There’s really good pizzas, hamburgers, some Mexican, Portuguese (!!!), lángos (think frybread with sour cream) and plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. The prices are fair for festival food but the lines can be long at times. There’s an actual indoor food court with plenty of seating if you need to get away for a bit. More...
High On Fire Premiere New Single & Music Video
The title track to High On Fire's highly anticipated ninth studio album, "Cometh The Storm" has just premiered online, streaming via YouTube and Spotify for you now below. The GRAMMY Award-winning band will then release the full album next Friday, April 19th. The accompanying video for this second track was directed by Phil Mucci, known for his work with Metallica and Disturbed.
Bassist Jeff Matz shared his thoughts: More...
High On Fire Premiere New Music Video
High On Fire, the GRAMMY Award-winning metal outfit, has released a music video for their latest single titled “Burning Down.” This track marks the debut release from the band's upcoming studio album, “Cometh The Storm,” due out on April 19th via MNRK Heavy.
Bassist Jeff Matz shared his thoughts on the track prior to its release:
High On Fire Premiere New Single "Burning Down"
High On Fire's highly anticipated follow-up to 2018's GRAMMY Award-winning "Electric Messiah" is set to be released on April 19th via MNRK Heavy. Produced by Kurt Ballou, the album is titled "Cometh The Storm." Ahead of its release, the band has unveiled the first single, "Burning Down," which you can listen to below.
“Cometh The Storm” track-list: More...
High On Fire Announces 2024 Europe/UK Tour
Oakland, California stoner metal favourites High On Fire has announced that they will be embarking on a headlining tour of Europe this Summer, including shows in the United Kingdom. Tickets will go on sale this Thursday (February 1st.)
The band has reportedly finished work on a new studio album, which will be their first since 2018's, "Electric Messiah" and is expected to be released relatively soon through MNRK Heavy.
The tour dates are as follows:
June 4th - Brno, Czechia
June 6th - Gdansk, Poland
June 8th - Norje, Sweden
June 10th - Hamburg, Germany
June 11th - Cologne, Germany
June 12th - Nijmegen, Netherlands
June 14th - London, England
June 15th - Manchester, England
June 16th - Glasgow, Scotland
June 17th - Leeds, England
June 18th - Bristol, England
June 20th - Wasquehal, France
June 21st - Dessel, Belgium
June 22nd - Copenhagen, Denmark
June 25th - Toulouse, France
June 26th - Bilbao, Spain
June 27th - Viviero, Spain
June 30th - Clisson, France
July 2nd - Aschaffenburg, Germany
July 3rd - Dudingen, Switzerland
July 4th - Torino, Italy
July 5th - Slunj, Croatia
July 6th - Vienna, Austria
Matt Pike Posts New Music Video Online
From rewriting the hard rock rulebook with his Grammy award-winning trio High on Fire, to reverse engineering doom metal with his genre-defining trio Sleep, Matt Pike has channelled his natural talents and chiselled a steely path straight to the heart of modern-day metal’s molten core.
On 18th February, Pike will release his debut solo LP, "Pike vs The Automaton," via MNRK Heavy.
Today, 10th February, Pike releases a video for the new song 'Land' which he describes as, "totally different, like an old blues song". The track and clip each feature Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds. You can check it out below.
Of the single, Pike comments: "'Land' was written after I had just come home from a tour. It's like an old blues song. I was thinking of it as like a bunch of old dudes in a subway doing a doo-wop thing. It has the feel of a two-step like my Mom used to dance to, like Country Western. It’s totally about depression and leading a hard life. Later, I was playing the song for Brent Hinds from Mastodon who had come out to Portland to jam with me and he laid down this smokin’-ass Billy Gibbons kind of solo! I did one solo and then he did his solo and I’m like, “You’re a dick,” (laughs). The bass player from Brent’s other band West End Motel, Steve McPeeks, played some stand-up bass – both plucking and with a bow – and it really brought out this depth to the song. I’ve never written a song like that and recorded it and made it as cool as it is. It’s totally different." More...
Matt Pike (High On Fire/Sleep) Premieres Video
High On Fire's Matt Pike will be releasing his debut solo release “Pike Vs. The Automaton” on February 18th via MNRK Heavy. You can stream a new official music video for the album’s first advance track “Alien Slut Mum” via YouTube below.
Pike wrote and recorded the album with ex-Lord Dying drummer Jon Reid, while Billy Anderson (Sleep, High On Fire) took over the recording duties. The album featuresnumerous guest appearances, including his High On Fire bandmate Jeff Matz (playing electric saz), his own wife Alyssa Maucere-Pike (Lord Dying/Grigax), Brent Hinds (Mastodon), etc.
Explains Matt Pike: More...
Red Fang Premiere New Music Video
A new music video has premiered online for Red Fang‘s song “Rabbit In Hives“. This video depicts the group’s own funeral and was directed by Ansel Wallenfang. Members of High On Fire, YOB, Lord Dying and more guest in the clip.
Tells Red Fang guitarist/singer Brian Giles: More...
Hjelvik Premiere New Song & Animated Music Video
Norwegian blackened viking metal unit Hjelvik premiere a new song and music video for their third single from the upcoming album "Welcome to Hel", which will be out November 20th 2020 via Nuclear Blast. Watch the animated video for the track 'Glory of Hel' from it via YouTube below. The song also includes a guest performance by Matt Pike (High on Fire, Sleep).
Comments mainman Erlend Hjelvik: More...
Emily Hingle Details New Book "Bandroom"
In February 2015 on a cold Carnival night, Emily Hingle got the idea to document the practice spaces of the bands and musicians of New Orleans. She had already visited some spaces where bands spend hours upon hours practicing and perfecting their craft, and she was inspired by the amount of hard work that goes into creating the music that is eventually performed on stage in front of dancing fans. These spaces and the massive effort that happens within them, she believed, deserved part of the glory garnered by the music itself.
"I feel like people love the aesthetic of music: going out to the show, grabbing drinks at the bar, dancing with your friends. That’s obviously an important aspect of music. But not as many people want to hear about how it gets made. I find the creation of it to be enthralling. Where it’s made, how long it takes, all of the emotion, arguments, and relationships that goes into it. Music isn’t made in a vacuum or out of nothing. It takes a lot of life."
Over the course of the next five years, Emily and her photographers visited nearly 50 distinct rehearsal spaces, jam rooms, studios, and homes to photograph the spaces and interview those who work there. In Band Room: New Orleans, the reader will be a visitor in 35 such spaces speaking with the likes of Tarriona Ball from Tank & The Bangas, Big Freedia, Sweet Crude, Kumasi, The Lost Bayou Ramblers, Robin Barnes & Pat Casey, Flowtribe, and many more.
Band Room: New Orleans is 296 pages of photography and text. It is self-published and available in hardcover and softcover versions. Emily Hingle is a Louisiana native; born in Lafayette, raised in Mandeville, and living currently in New Orleans. She has always had a passion for her state’s culture, especially music. She began interviewing bands while in college at the University of New Orleans for various websites, then she started writing for Where Y’at Magazine in 2010.
"I really want Band Room to be the beginning of something bigger. I feel like it is already. New Orleans, however, will always be the best because it’s home."
"Band Room: New Orleans" is currently available for purchase at Emily’s website https://culturecreep.net/, and it will be available in local retailers beginning in November just in time for gifting season.
2020 Roskilde Festival Sold Out
The 2020 Roskilde Festival has sold out sooner than most prior years. While full festival tickets are gone, single day tickets remain. Wednesday features Deftones and Old Man Gloom. Thursday includes Elder, Faith No More, High On Fire, and Svalbard. Friday may have the most metal bands with Bersaerk, Conjurer, Heathe, Helms Alee, Nyredolk, and ORM. Saturday is slim on metal with just Amenra and Oozing Wound.
74 More Bands Confirmed For Graspop 2020
The organisers of Belgium's premier metal festival, Graspop Metal Meeting have confirmed a further 74 bands for next year's edition of the event. Among the newly confirmed bands joining previously announced headliners Judas Priest and Iron Maiden will be hard rock pioneers Deep Purple, nu metal favourites Korn, Chicago stars Disturbed, the recently reunited Mercyful Fate, California's own, Deftones and pop punk stars The Offspring. The festival will take place across four days from 18th-21st of June.
The lineup (in alphabetical order) is now as follows: More...
Des Kensel Leaves High on Fire
After 21 years, and playing on all of High on Fire's albums, founding drummer Des Kensel has called it a day. Kensel posted the following statement on High on Fire's Facebook page.
"As a founding member of High On Fire, I feel blessed to have spent the last 21 years traveling around the world pursuing my childhood dream to write and play music. After eight albums, countless tours, and a Grammy win, I am very thankful for what we have been able to accomplish as a band.
Being a full time professional musician can have its challenges. One gets through those challenges with patience, hard work and perseverance. After much consideration, it is time for me to announce that I will no longer be performing with High On Fire. I will now be focusing on new opportunities and spending time with my family.
I would like to sincerely thank all of our fans for your support throughout the years. Without you, none of this would have been possible.
Lastly, I would like to wish my band-mates the best of luck in the future." More...
High On Fire: Hear Full-Album Stream Of New EP
A full-album stream of High On Fire's brand new 12'' "Bat Salad", which hit stores this past weekend on vinyl, can be streamed below. The EP also features covers of Celtic Frost‘s “Into The Crypts of Rays” and Bad Brains‘ “Don’t Bother Me“.
High On Fire Announces North American Tour
California based heavy metal trio High On Fire has announced that they will be embarking on a headlining tour across North America in January in support of their latest album, "Electric Messiah," which was released last month through E1 Music. These dates will be the first time the band has played live since the cancelation of their tour with Municipal Waste earlier this year due to the partial amputation of Matt Pike’s toe. Additionally, High On Fire will be performing at 2019 Psycho Las Vegas taking place August 16-18, 2019 in Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay Resort. Frontman Matt Pike also spoke with Metal Underground recently about the new album, Sleep and much more, which you can check out below.
The tour dates are as follows:
January 10 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade
January 11- Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle
January 12 - Richmond, VA - Broadberry
January 13 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage
January 15 - Philadelphia, PA - TLA
January 16 - Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw
January 18 - Boston, MA - The Sinclair
January 19 - Montreal, QC - Fairmount
January 20 - Toronto, ON - Opera House
January 22 - Chicago, IL - Metro
January 23 - Minneapolis, MN - Skyway
January 25 - Denver, CO - Oriental
January 26 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown
January 27 - St. Louis, MO - Delmar Hall
January 29 - Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey Bar and Grill
January 30 - Austin, TX-Barracuda
January 31 - Houston, TX - White Oak
February 1 - New Orleans, LA - House Of Blues More...
High On Fire Pulls Out Of Municipal Waste Tour
High On Fire has announced that they have had to pull out of the Speed Of The Wizard tour, alongside Municipal Waste, Toxic Holocaust and Haunt.
The band has provided a statement: "(Guitarist, vocalist) Matt (Pike) has a medical emergency culminating in the partial amputation of one of his toes. The scheduling of this procedure is immediate and the recovery time will overlap our intended tour with MW. We will unfortunately be unable to participate in this tour but will be back stronger than ever in 2019!"
The tour itself will continue on without High on Fire as scheduled. Municipal Waste has provided a statement: "First and foremost we wish our friend Matt the best of luck with his recovery. We need him, the metal world in general needs him. We would much rather have him miss a tour to heal up rather than not having any more Matt Pike music in the future. High On Fire‘s new album is amazing and we love him and his band mates so much. That being said after much discussion us Toxic and Haunt are still going to do the tour. It just makes sense, why make something negative worse? Get better Matt we love you."
Earlier this month, High On Fire frontman Matt Pike was interviewed by Metal Underground, where he discussed the band's new album, "Electric Messiah," Lemmy and more. You can check it out below. More...
High On Fire Debut New Song “Spewn From The Earth"
High On Fire‘s new studio effort “Electric Messiah” will be out this Friday, October 05th. Below you another new track off it called “Spewn From The Earth”.
Comments frontman/guitarist Matt Pike of the song: More...