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Track Listings
| 1. Bloody Knuckle |
| 2. King of Days |
| 3. Serums of Liao |
| 4. Spiritual Rites |
| 5. Romulus and Remus |
| 6. De Vermis Mysteriis |
| 7. Madness of an Architect |
| 8. War Horn |
| 9. Fertile Green |
Editorial Reviews
High On Fires new album, De Vermis Mysteriis. Produced by Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou at God City Studios in Salem, MA, the record marks the next devastating chapter in High On Fires gloriously unhinged metal saga. I think its kind of a cross between the experimentation of Death Is This Communion and the driving darkness of Blessed Black Wings. There is plenty of thrashy stuff, but there is also a lot of Sabbathy doom-type stuff. Matt Pike enthuses.
We didn t try to plan it all out this time, he adds. We kind of waited til we were on the spot and had to do something. We had the basic skeletons of the songs we were prepared but there was a lot of improvisation. There s a lot of soul on this one, and it s got a rollercoaster kind of feel.
The album s title (translation: The Mysteries of the Worm, ) is a nod to a fictional grimoire conceived by the late, great Psycho author Robert Bloch in 1935 and later incorporated into horror master H.P. Lovecraft s renowned Cthulu Mythos. Its a concept record, a little bit, Pike offers. I got this idea about Jesus Christ and the Immaculate Conception: What if Jesus had a twin who died at birth to give Jesus his life? And then what if the twin became a time traveler right then? He lives his life only going forward until he finds this scroll from an ancient Chinese alchemist who derived a serum out of the black lotus which is actually in Robert E. Howards Conan stories and then he starts traveling back in time. He can see the past through his ancestors eyes, but his enemies can kill him if they kill the ancestor that he is seeing through at the time. Basically, he keeps waking up in other peoples bodies at bad times. It s kinda like that old TV show Quantum Leap. Kurt actually pointed that out to me after I told him the idea. But whatever time travel is a killer concept.
We didn t try to plan it all out this time, he adds. We kind of waited til we were on the spot and had to do something. We had the basic skeletons of the songs we were prepared but there was a lot of improvisation. There s a lot of soul on this one, and it s got a rollercoaster kind of feel.
The album s title (translation: The Mysteries of the Worm, ) is a nod to a fictional grimoire conceived by the late, great Psycho author Robert Bloch in 1935 and later incorporated into horror master H.P. Lovecraft s renowned Cthulu Mythos. Its a concept record, a little bit, Pike offers. I got this idea about Jesus Christ and the Immaculate Conception: What if Jesus had a twin who died at birth to give Jesus his life? And then what if the twin became a time traveler right then? He lives his life only going forward until he finds this scroll from an ancient Chinese alchemist who derived a serum out of the black lotus which is actually in Robert E. Howards Conan stories and then he starts traveling back in time. He can see the past through his ancestors eyes, but his enemies can kill him if they kill the ancestor that he is seeing through at the time. Basically, he keeps waking up in other peoples bodies at bad times. It s kinda like that old TV show Quantum Leap. Kurt actually pointed that out to me after I told him the idea. But whatever time travel is a killer concept.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
For the record, this is a biased review. I believe High on Fire best represents the essence of contemporary heavy metal (that is "heavy metal" without need for a prefix).
The best thing about High on Fire is their strict adherence to the metal standard. Call it the Slayer or Motorhead ethic. Their ethic is this; never water it down. Matt Pike delivers the riffs and primordial howls. Des Kensel and Jeff Matz deliver a thunderous and fluid foundation. The subject matter is always arcane and provocative. Their work ethic is hardcore. They deliver the goods and the goods are badass. This is what makes metal, metal. They've maintained the ethic since "The Art of Self Defense" issued in 2000.
De Vermis Mysteriis shows the full breadth of HoF's power and surprisingly strives to expand Matt Pike's vocals. Pike's voice is "interesting" to begin with, but his style of shredded throat/rumbling growl/apocalyptic scream is perfectly matched with the riffage and perfectly suited to the subject matter. He stretches his vocal range on tracks "King of Days" and "Warhorn" more than on any previous effort. Des Kensel is simply a thunderous beast. He has managed to introduce more texture and ripping fills to his already cacophonous tribal beats. Jeff Matz is solidified on bass after his third HoF recording with Pike and Kensel. He alternately provides sweeping plateaus and a driving backbone for Pike's riffs.
Out of the gates, HoF delivers a trio of rippers in the narcotic "Serums of Liao," the pugilist pummeling of "Bloody Knuckles" and the weed-worshipping "Fertile Green." "Madness of the Architect" begins with a Sleep-like swoon which gives way to searing acid vocals and a relentless Stygian groove which spirals into chaos buried in a titanic riff and swirling drums.... Read more ›
The best thing about High on Fire is their strict adherence to the metal standard. Call it the Slayer or Motorhead ethic. Their ethic is this; never water it down. Matt Pike delivers the riffs and primordial howls. Des Kensel and Jeff Matz deliver a thunderous and fluid foundation. The subject matter is always arcane and provocative. Their work ethic is hardcore. They deliver the goods and the goods are badass. This is what makes metal, metal. They've maintained the ethic since "The Art of Self Defense" issued in 2000.
De Vermis Mysteriis shows the full breadth of HoF's power and surprisingly strives to expand Matt Pike's vocals. Pike's voice is "interesting" to begin with, but his style of shredded throat/rumbling growl/apocalyptic scream is perfectly matched with the riffage and perfectly suited to the subject matter. He stretches his vocal range on tracks "King of Days" and "Warhorn" more than on any previous effort. Des Kensel is simply a thunderous beast. He has managed to introduce more texture and ripping fills to his already cacophonous tribal beats. Jeff Matz is solidified on bass after his third HoF recording with Pike and Kensel. He alternately provides sweeping plateaus and a driving backbone for Pike's riffs.
Out of the gates, HoF delivers a trio of rippers in the narcotic "Serums of Liao," the pugilist pummeling of "Bloody Knuckles" and the weed-worshipping "Fertile Green." "Madness of the Architect" begins with a Sleep-like swoon which gives way to searing acid vocals and a relentless Stygian groove which spirals into chaos buried in a titanic riff and swirling drums.... Read more ›
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm finding it impossible to aim while head banging. This album is every bit as vicious as their previous ones.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I don't think I there is another working metal band putting out records today that I enjoy as much as High on Fire. I had been anxiously awaiting the release of De Vermis. This album seems to have merged the greater elements of Thieves, Death and Snakes into one fiery dose. Des Kenzel's signature pounding reaches a new level, perfectly paired with the Matz's masterful bass, forming the perfect rhythm section to keep pace with the Celtic tuning mastery of Pike. I can't imagine anything knocking this off the mantle of record of the year. Unlock the Mysteriis for yourself, you won't be disappointed.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Another brilliant slap of Metal from the modern day warriors High On Fire. All the trade mark sounds are there but with some new wrinkles to boot. Listen closely and you'll hear the melvins influence, also they seem to loosen up abit and jam with serious groove. Don't get me wrong they still do their death march stomp most of the time, with Des doing his best tazmanian devil drumming to date. Screw neil peart and his 100 piece drum kit, give me Des and a 5 piece any day. Buy this album, crank it up and enjoy the trip.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Chancey
Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase
De Vermis Mysteriis and Death Is This Communion are really great albums, solid all the way through. The production is great and differs from earlier albums.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
We may have to rename the power metal genre, which is populated by Iron Maiden, Sabaton and other more conventional and musical metal bands. This is all due to one band that redefines the word power and makes said term all its own. High On Fire is beyond just being heavy. This three piece outfit has so much energy and crushing riffs it can cause earthquakes under the homes and vehicles that their CD's are playing over. Start with the heaviest Motorhead ever, around the "Overkill" through "Ace of Spades" era, add Matt Pike's whiskey drenched voice that does resemble Lemmy's gutteral drawl but with much more menace and his astonishing guitar attack and a ferocious rhythm section in bassist Jeff Matz and monster drummer Des Kensel and you get a sound that is so powerful it could level neighborhoods if a large enough system was playing it.
"De Vermis Mysteriis" is a concept album that asks what would happen if Jesus' long lost twin brother were to reincarnate from time to time in different parts of the world at different times, and what he would report to his brother. Conceptual albums are not particularly a strong selling point for me personally, but it is an interesting concept. Matt Pike is nobody's fool and writes intelligent and informed lyrics for those who care about that stuff.
Me, I'm sold on the music. It's just incredible. For HOF long time fans, "De Vermis Mysteriis" is less polished than its predecessor "Snakes For The Divine" and stylistically falls in between "Blessed Black Wings" and "Death Is This Communion", meaning it's smart, brutal and has great playing amidst the barrage. This will be a major contender for metal album of the year. Pity any band that has to share a stage with these guys.... Read more ›
"De Vermis Mysteriis" is a concept album that asks what would happen if Jesus' long lost twin brother were to reincarnate from time to time in different parts of the world at different times, and what he would report to his brother. Conceptual albums are not particularly a strong selling point for me personally, but it is an interesting concept. Matt Pike is nobody's fool and writes intelligent and informed lyrics for those who care about that stuff.
Me, I'm sold on the music. It's just incredible. For HOF long time fans, "De Vermis Mysteriis" is less polished than its predecessor "Snakes For The Divine" and stylistically falls in between "Blessed Black Wings" and "Death Is This Communion", meaning it's smart, brutal and has great playing amidst the barrage. This will be a major contender for metal album of the year. Pity any band that has to share a stage with these guys.... Read more ›
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
of a cd this is boys and girls. high and fire are one of those bands that when i hear a date of release i literally count down the days and get it the day it comes out. then when i saw the album cover i knew this was gonna be one hell of a cd. when i popped it in for the first time i already got the sense it was one of my favorite high on fire cds. after i few more listens it very well may be the top one. the production is top notch here. u can hear everything clearly yet it isnt overly produced which is a good thing.its got that old feel to it. i dig it. the intro to track number 4 reminds be alot of sleep. high on fires frontmans first big band he was in if u didnt know. contender for best album of 2012 along with meshuggah, mars volta, and lamb of god. and again the cover work is absolutly amazing to me. one of my favorite covers of all time. long live real metal
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Matt pike is a barbarian
Great album. Total respect Mr. Pike. In inter views he is humble and self depricating. In his music he makes no apologies. Read more
Published 13 days ago by c e
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great album
This is a really solid offering by High On Fire, I loved snakes for the divine, and I think De Vermis Mysteriis is even better. Read more
Published 1 month ago by C. Drouganis
4.0 out of 5 stars
Almost as good as their past products
High on Fire have amazed me and opened my eyes to a truly awesome genre of metal. I'm typically a Slayer & Cannibal Corpse kind of person (oh yeah, and some Godflesh). Read more
Published 4 months ago by Kevin Shanholtzer
5.0 out of 5 stars
High On Fire Remains The Best
Regarding this record and its place on a best of 2012 list, a reviewer on metalsucks.net wrote something to the effect of "how many times in a row can a band make an amazing record... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Francis
4.0 out of 5 stars
High On Fire are on fire!
Few heavy metal bands can match the same legacy of great albums that High On Fire have. The California-based sludge/doom/stoner metal (by way of speed metal and groove metal) trio,... Read more
Published 6 months ago by A. Stutheit
5.0 out of 5 stars
Matt Pike: King of Days
I've listened to all their albums, and I like them all. This one may be their best. It's got a ferocity about it that only early High on Fire albums have but it also has the strong... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mr.PaulCaruso
5.0 out of 5 stars
post-arcane sonic sledgehammery at it's finest
High on Fire wield the sonic equivalent of a fully armed and operational death star and they're not afraid to use it. I, admittedly, didn't grok de vermis first listen. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Augmantus
3.0 out of 5 stars
Well...
I've liked HoF for years now, I don't think this is a great of a release. I think the music is good, surprisingly so given the problems their front man has been going through for... Read more
Published 12 months ago by B-Rock
5.0 out of 5 stars
Skull-Shatteringly Loud, Mythologically Epic, Crushingly Heavy
Heavy Metal music and grandiosity mingle quite often. This is no secret. In fact it's such a common quality that it's part of the stereotype. Read more
Published 12 months ago by L. Ricciuti
1.0 out of 5 stars
A Travesty
Cantopop Sensation HIGH ON FIRE Expetectly Arrives With This New Release. It Is Permit With Unexpect
" New Wave Flourises", And We Abided By Old Past Triumphs. Read more
" New Wave Flourises", And We Abided By Old Past Triumphs. Read more
Published 12 months ago by A Dinosaur-Shaped Car
