High On Fire - Blessed Black Wings
2005 Relapse

Track Listing:
1. Devilution
2. The Face Of Oblivion
3. Brother In The Wind
4. Cometh Down Hessian
5. Blessed Black Wings
6. Anointing Of Seer
7. To Cross The Bridge
8. Silver Back
9. Sons Of Thunder

Line-Up:
Vocals:  Matt Pike
Guitar:  Matt Pike
Bass:  Joe Preston
Drums:  Des Kensel

Website:  www.highonfire.net

Scoot's Rating:  A-
Overall Album Rating:  A-

Scoot's Review:
High On Fire are often (somewhat unfairly) compared to '90s stoner/doom legends Sleep.  To a certain degree this is unavoidable due the fact that Matt Pike played guitar for both bands but, to these ears at least, the comparison is not all that useful in describing High On Fire's sound.  Certainly there is a heavy doom element, but when stacked up next to Sleep's looong and slooow compositions, it is easy to see where the similarity ends.

High On Fire's third album comes to us stretched over 4 sides of a gatefold packaged double lp in glorious 180 gram vinyl (heavy wax for heavy music, dig?).  The blistering "Devilution" kicks it off and you can tell right from the start this ain't no meandering dirgey doom record, someone broke into doom's house and threw a load of dirty thrash all over the walls.  The band unabashedly flaunts their influences:  Celtic Frost, Venom, Motörhead.  Aggressive vocals and destructive riffs are the order of the day.  They solved the problem of the second album's weak production by bringing in Steve Albini, who finally gives the band the huge, crushing sound this music demands.  As much as I would love to slag a major label act (I'm an unapologetic supporter of underground music and the DIY ethic), this album seriously delivers the goods.  Top shelf punishing noise.
Scoot's Rating:  A-