August 6, 2010

Reviewer: Garett

High on Fire are good at what they do. So good in fact, that from a fan’s standpoint, progression is feared, rather than expected. There were plenty of reasons for concern in the months leading up to the release of Snakes for the Divine; a new record label, the band’s increasing popularity, and the addition of a big-name producer...to name a few. Thankfully, none of these factors seem to have had an effect on High on Fire. Snakes for the Divine is essentially another shade of the same color.

As a whole, Snakes for the Divine is probably High on Fire’s fastest album to date. The title track leads the way, starting with an unaccompanied melodic guitar lead that quickly gives way to the band’s signature style: pummeling drums, driving sludge caked riffs, and Matt Pike's hoarse, shouted vocals. The lead guitar is prominently featured at various points during this song, a theme that runs the course of the album, and the only real deviation from High on Fire’s established sound. As a whole, Pike’s lead work is similar to his work on previous High on Fire albums, but just a little more up front. The honest old-school feel of Pike’s solos fits nicely, and they provide a nice contrast to the thicker, more distorted tones that form the main body of the songs.

Snakes for the Divine is a bit front-loaded, with two of the album's more interesting tracks following the excellent opener. "Frost Hammer" is one of the more aggressive tracks in the band’s catalogue; sort of a chugging, lurching, down-tuned thrasher that hits you like a ton of bricks. This song is a good indication of the overall direction of the album. The next track, "Bastard Samurai", is classic High on Fire with a psychedelic twist, and works really well as a counterpoint to the faster songs that dominate the album.

The tail end of the album is notable for "How Dark We Pray", a flawed gem that could have been one of the band’s best. As a slower song, with an ominous vibe, High on Fire do a masterful job of building tension during the first 6 minutes. Unfortunately, the song peters out, coming to an unfulfilling end without ever capitalizing on the momentum that had been built. Despite my complaints, this is an enjoyable song that works well within the context of the album.

In the end, Snakes for the Divine is a good album and it doesn’t have a bad track on it. It showcases a faster more aggressive side of the band, but stays firmly within the boundaries of what you would expect from High on Fire. Although I don’t think that it is their best work, the increased speed and overall aggressive feel of the album set it apart from their previous releases and allow it to occupy its own niche within their discography.

Release Date: February 23rd, 2010
Label: E1 Music

TRACK LISTING

1.  Snakes for the Divine
2.  Frost Hammer
3.  Bastard Samurai
4.  Ghost Neck
5.  The Path
6.  Fire, Flood & Plague
7.  How Dark We Pray
8.  Holy Flames of the Fire Spitter

Total playing time:  45:56

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High on Fire - Snakes for the Divine