Equalling the brazen aggression and haunting visions that encompassed 2005s Blessed Black Wings could have been a daunting task for doom metallers High On Fire. However, singer/guitarist Matt Pike and crew clearly werent through with the nightmare, as latest effort Death Is This Communion indicates. The chaotic nature of tracks such as "Waste Of Tiamat, "Cyclopian Scape and "Fury Whip find Pikes apocalyptic themes matched by stunning, hypnotic rhythms. On that lyrical note, Pike maintains his preferred Lovecraft-ian imagery. Brimstone and hellfire reign supreme, only serving to escalate the anxiety and foreboding atmosphere. Quite possibly whats most impressive though is the barbed, raspy production values of Jack Endino (Nirvana, Supersuckers), which create a creepy ambiance akin to sitting inside the basement of an Evil Dead film. Propelled by the masterwork of this otherwise raw rocknroll producer, Death Is This Communion is a slice of thrash, gloom and morbid curiosity thats meaner, more intimidating and raucous than its demonic predecessor.
(Relapse)High On Fire
Death Is This Communion
BY Keith CarmanPublished Sep 18, 2007