Matt Pike has made quite a transition. The original inception of SLEEP was dismissed by some as a mere SABBATH clone band. Since that time, he and drummer Des Kensel brought HIGH ON FIRE to life, clobbered metalheads worldwide with three monolithic records, broke noise ordinances in every dive bar with a stage, and sharpened the band's sound, combining the raw evil of VENOM, the power of SLAYER, and the brute force of stampeding rhinos.

There have been some subtle changes in the HIGH ON FIRE attack. "Death Is This Communion" includes the contributions of former ZEKE bass player Jeff Matz, and legendary producer Jack Endino, the sonic mad scientist that could make an ancient, crackling Hank Snow record sound like "Masters of Reality".

Endino's impact on HOF is immediate, especially with regard to drum sounds. Des Kensel's tribal thundering has never sounded this sharp or bruising. Headbangers worldwide will be singing the praises of bashers like "Headhunter" and "Turk" sooner than you can say, "Dave Lombardo".

"Cyclopian Scape" begins with a clean acoustic intro that recalls KREATOR's "Choir of the Damned" before settling into a mesmerizing crunch-riff, complete with Pike's uncompromising vocal gravel. Instrumental "DII" will surprise and delight HOF junkies with some tasteful melodic guitar lines and even some orchestration, set against the bands apocalyptic midpaced riffage. The title track is a black, bubbling slow-chugger that clocks in at about 8 ½ minutes, and "Rumors of War" sounds remarkably like MOTÖRHEAD's classic "Overkill".

The combination of HIGH ON FIRE and Jack Endino has labored to create the penultimate hellraising metal experience. Surely, those who enjoyed "Blessed Black Wings" will find plenty here to keep fists pumping and heads bobbing. Perhaps Pike says it best in "Return to NOD": "No one can stop what's already begun. Follow the footsteps and unlock the door. The giant you face has awakened!" Spec-fucking-tacular.

- Marchman

OFFICIAL SITE: www.highonfire.net

RELATED ITEMS: HIGH ON FIRE - "Blessed Black Wings", 2005