High On Fire Album Review
High On Fire – Snakes For The Devine – Album Review
Words by Brendan Monteiro
Snakes For The Devine is the 5th offering from Oakland sludgers High On Fire and this time around Matt Pike and co have enlisted the efforts of established producer extraordinaire John Fidelman (Metallica, Slayer, Slipknot) and the metal elite are already dropping their heads in disbelief. Alas there is definitely a reason to be happy with this choice, as with every High On Fire album Snakes For The Devine comes off differently from where Death Is This Communion left off.
Opening and title track is a monstrous chronicle as to what awaits the listeners on the following 7 tracks, it’s breaks the still air with a nimble riff that cracks open into a bludgeoning thrash-a-thon. Pike’s lyrics and rhythm riffs drive the record with the help of Kensel but it’s Pike’s spasmodic solo’s that peel off his fret board at searing speeds that really distinguishes this album. Bastard Samurai brings in the doom and gloom, with brooding vocals and balderdash lyrics like
Count my fingers ten
Dressed to kill and think again
Count my fingers nine
Do the math your sacrifice
Son of a bitch should bleed awhile
it’s a the cohesive combination to accompany the thick despairing guitars tones that flood this track. Ghost Neck brings back the tempo and from here on it seldom drops. If your worries lie with the production side of things, Snakes For The Devine is not the Fidelman record that you were dreading. It’s glossy, crisp and clean with all the dirt and gripe that Matt, Jeff and Des could possibly throw at it, just what the doctor ordered in my opinion.
