High On Fire - Death Is This Communion (2007)
Requested on the last.fm group.
"High on Fire is a heavy metal band from Oakland, California that formed in 1998. Matt Pike, the band's frontman and founder, previously played guitar for the influential stoner metal band Sleep. High on Fire is more aggressive with fewer slow passages and is part of the musical style referred to as southern sludge, which developed mainly around the metal scene in Louisiana (also known as the NOLA scene for New Orleans, Louisiana) from the late eighties with bands such as Down, Eyehategod and Crowbar as some of its main exponents.
This isn't an album with any ready pop or instantly hook-y songs. And I love it for that very reason.
I don't know how guitarist/vocalist Matt Pike (with constant drummer Des Kensel and new bassist Jeff Mattz) does it, but every song on this album is consistent, quality craftsmanship(not that is new to High on Fire). I wouldn't take away a minute from the lp.
I don't want to infer this album is a one trick pony, it isn't. It may not be readily apparent, but there are some nice spices of varied instrumentation, from the acoustic intro to "Cyclopian Scape" to the drums beats of "Turk", this is album to switch on and dive in. It fits the album cover, a pack of weary, battle bitten monsters on a descent into madness. Wonderful.
My own personnel favorite song is "Return to Nod" because it is a fitting conclusion to an album that is so heavy metal to it's bone that I can't help but smile. This what I got into music for; the feeling, the passion, the weirdness, the dedication to craft. This isn't old school, this is just great.