Mars Exploration - High On Fire - Death Is This Communion

[Marsallah]

Doom week, continued...

High On Fire - Death Is This Communion (2007)


Members
Matt Pike - Vocals/Guitar
Des Kensel - Drums
Jeff Matz - Bass

Style
Stoner/doom metal

Tracklisting
1. Fury Whip 06:14
2. Waste of Tiamat 05:44
3. Death is this Communion 08:35
4. Khanrad's Wall 02:27
5. Turk 05:03
6. Headhunter 01:24
7. Rumors of War 02:51
8. DII 03:45
9. Cyclopian Scape 07:29
10. Ethereal 06:57
11. Return to NOD 06:17
Total playing time58:13

Yeah, you heard me. Stoner/doom is the style represented by the Californians according to Encyclopedia Metallum. Great, cause I've felt like reviewing Death Is This Communion for some time and I have now the opportunity to do it during the doom metal week. Let's see it as a completely different doom than Sunno))) - not only the music on DITC consists of songs rather than audio tracks, but it's also...pretty fast.

Depending on where you're coming from musically, you'll hear different influences in High On Fire's music. For me, they're a strange crossover between Motorhead and Kyuss with harsh vocals sometimes verging on death metal growl. The Lemmy element is heard especially in faster parts, when Motorhead's raw power shines through riffs and straightforward and concrete rhythmic section, vocals are also often Lemmy-esque, with tobacco tar and liquor having taken its toll on Matt Pike's throat. Sound is typically stoner (but then we'd have to assume Kyuss were stoner, too), low key and muffled, rather warm. Just like the memorable Welcome to Sky Valley...

But the doom element is indeed present throughout. Fast songs are never fast from beginning till the end. Massive slowdown occurs in the middle of the title track and the song stays in low tempos till the end. Instrumental Khanrad's Wall and the closing epic Return to NOD are also too slow for liking of an average Motorhead freak. Quick pace is the driving element of the opening Fury Whip (what a great choice for an album opener!), Rumors of War (the shortest non-instrumental song on DITD) and Turk (with a great, addictive chorus and radio potential).

At first I had a problem with this album: I listened to it a few times and I couldn't tell one song from another. Then I concentrated on the overall atmosphere of the album and I no longer cared I didn't know which song was currently playing. And now I can actually tell them apart, maybe not all, but oh - who cares. I dig the record anyway. Take this into consideration when listening to something new, not necessarily High On Fire.

Death Is This Communion is a perfectly balanced album, it's got it all, as you can see. As long as you're not prejudiced against muddy sound and junkie vocals, you're going to like at least some of it. And if you're also musically open-minded enough, you may be onto discovering a jewel that has perhaps not received the recognition it deserves. But this is the problem of many ambitious and eclectic bands - they may have created a niche for themselves, but fail to attract a wider audience barricaded in musically kosher camps.

P.S. If you heard earlier HoF albums and didn't like them, don't let it discourage yourself from giving DITC a chance. This band actually got better with every album.

[Dane]

I really liked reading your review. I thoroughly enjoyed this album and describing it as Motorhead meets Kyuss is spot on!

[About2Crash]

High and Fire are one of those bands that I am always hearing being praised by am always unimpressed whenever I see or hear them. I'm pretty sure I saw them open once and heard nothing but generic metal. I'll have to give them another listne.

[locusmortis]

Originally Posted by About2Crash

High and Fire are one of those bands that I am always hearing being praised by am always unimpressed whenever I see or hear them. I'm pretty sure I saw them open once and heard nothing but generic metal. I'll have to give them another listne.

yea i agree completely,ive seen them live and it was pretty bad....they didn't even sound close to doom

[N00bs]

I think these guys are more like Stoner Doom which really isnt my thing.

[Amok]

Like the density of their sound, don't like the songs.

[Marsallah]

Originally Posted by N00bs

I think these guys are more like Stoner Doom which really isnt my thing.

That's what I wrote

Originally Posted by Marsallah

Style
Stoner/doom metal

[Dane]

They're a good band, people should read this review and check out the album. Its a good listen and I'm dissapointed not as many people have read and replied to this.

[N00bs]

Originally Posted by Marsallah

That's what I wrote

Yea, i wasnt pointing out anything negative to you just that it isnt my thing.