Customer Reviews

Art of Self-Defense

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Black Sabbath may generally be credited with inventing sludge, but High On Fire are doing a highly commendable job of bringing Sabbath's sound into the new millenium. "Art Of Self-Defense," their debut album, sounds sort of like the Sabbath classic "Master Of Reality," except with the heaviness multiplied a few dozen times for one of the most punishing assaults in recent memory. For about an hour, vocalist/guitarist Matt Pike and company rain down the musical equivalent of fire and brimstone on the listener, leaving little choice but complete submission. Catchy music this is not: these songs are typically ponderous, doomy, and downright frightening. At bottom, "Art Of Self-Defense" is about one thing: achieving the ultimate guitar sound from hell. And it's a smashing success. I might even go so far as to say this album has the heaviest guitar sound I've ever heard; it's certainly up there at any rate. Every song here is a mountainous epic, filled with massive Iommian riffs that will pummell you upside the head and leave you woozy. The rhythm section brings to mind a herd of lumbering dinosaurs, and Pike's strangulated vocals and screaming guitar solos only add to the general insanity on display. So if you like it heavy, be sure to check this one out, and pick up their followup "Surrounded By Thieves" while you're at it.

Imagine watching a huge, roaring title wave rolling in from the ocean and come crashing down right at your feet. Listening to High On Fire is a lot like that.
They are basically a little faster version of Matt Pike's old band, Sleep. Take Black Sabbath and a little Motorhead and then add about 500 lbs. of weight on the guitar and you'll get an idea of what they sound like.
On "The Art of Self-Defense", the first three tracks are the strongest, which draw you in and never let you out. The momentum is established by guitars never let up. The heavy, driving riffs lift you up and carry you away. Listening to them may make you feel dazed and confused.
The vocals, guitar, bass, and drums all fit together making the overall sound united. All the musicians seem to be on the same wavelength.
High On Fire is the progression of pure metal without any influence from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal of the late `70's and early `80's ( except for the singers voice that sounds like Lemmy of Motorhead ). It's nice to hear a purified form of metal in a time when it's been watered down and fused with every form of music known to man.

High on Fire are credited with ressurecting the sound of Sabbath, but I find that they bring back the sound of too often overlooked bands like early COC, the Accused, Black Flag, early Melvins, etc but much slower and more precise. It's the awesome raw power of the afformentioned bands combined with a sludge death hammer that will kill "stoner" and "doom" bands and send all of them home to read their copies of MAD magazine at their mother's house. Fans of old HARDcore, not the comedy stuff that gets pushed today will freak over High on Fire. Anybody will freak over this stuff, it's just awesome.

Many of you may know Matt Pike from his days with the legendary band, SLEEP. After they disbanded, Matt went on to form High on Fire, another monster that will most definately appeal to fans of bands like SLEEP. I bought this CD after reading a little about it and Surrounded by Thieves (HoF's second release). I fell in love with it. The second those opening chords on "Baghdad" hit your ear-drums, you know you're in for a treat. This album is slow and heavy, just the way I like it. I won't go so far as to call it Doom Metal, but if you like bands like Electric Wizard, Acid King, and Sleep, you'll love High on Fire. I can't praise them enough, and I can't wait to see them live. Best tracks include "Baghdad", "10,000 Years", and of course, "Last". Buy it. Learn it. Live it.

Classic debut from one of the most critically acclaimed metal bands of the last ten years, High On Fire. The album is only six tracks in length but these six tracks are some of the heaviest songs in their back catalogue. Just listen to 'Last' and you will see what I mean, pure fuzzed out stoner blizz! They might have better albums than this but if your curious about the band, it's the best album to start of with. Actually just buy any one of their albums, they seriously need your attention and respect!

Makes in feel like 1971 in your mind.

Highlights amongst an pack of highlights include "Fireface" "10,000 Years" and especially "Master Of Fists"

After Sleep tripped into legal and personal problems, the band ceased to exist, and Matt Pike slumped into a period of depression and no musical output. For whatever reason Pike decided to give the music world another shot, and hooked up with a few like-minded fellows to create High on Fire. This is their debut outing into Sabbath-worshipping, monumentally heavy stoner metal. It should be noted that this album continued Pike's plague of legal problems as it was originally released on the now defunct Man's Ruin label, but was thankfully re-released by Tee Pee with new art and some new cover material, including a lovely Celtic Frost number.

As one might expect from Pike, the guitar tone is very loud, fuzzy and completely engulfs the mix. This really isn't a bad thing as his playing is quite superb and the riffs here are top-notch. Riffs such as the blissfully simple lead to "Baghdad", the monumental power of the main theme to "10,000 Years" and the brooding intro to "Fireface". High on Fire also show their ability to craft riffs into good and compatible songs, with most songs showcasing discernable structure (something some of Sleep's more wandering songs lacked), and melody sections combining with straightforward riff jams. All of this makes a great metal album, and one that carries the Sleep and Sabbath style into a more modern and heavy sound. An excellent debut and highly recommended for fans of the genre, and anyone who loves a bit of old fashioned amp worship.

This album is classic, ear shattering, speaker blowing metal. This is one the the best albums every recorded.