High on Fire

Infobox musical artist
Name = High on Fire


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Origin = Oakland, California, U.S.
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Genre = Doom Metal, Sludge metal [ [http://www.rockdetector.com/artist,4129.sm Rockdetector: High on Fire biography] ]
Stoner metal
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Years_active = 1999-Present
Label = Relapse
Man's Ruin
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Notable_songs =
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URL = [http://www.highonfire.net/ www.highonfire.net]
Associated_acts = Sleep Om Thrones The Melvins Zeke Asbestos Death Kalas
Current_members = Matt Pike
Jeff Matz
Des Kensel
Past_members = Joe Preston
George Rice

High on Fire is a heavy metal band from Oakland, California that formed in 1999. Matt Pike, the band's frontman and founder, previously played guitar for the influential stoner metal band Sleep.

History

Matt Pike founded the band in 1998 with drummer Des Kensel and bassist George Rice (from Dear Deceased, who originally auditioned to be the band's vocalist). The band's first recordings were released on 12th Records, with a full-length entitled "The Art of Self Defense" released later on Man's Ruin Records. (That album would later be re-released by Tee Pee Records as Man's Ruin Records had become defunct.) The band then signed a deal with Relapse Records and recorded the album "Surrounded by Thieves", released in 2002. After a vigorous touring cycle promoting that album, bassist George Rice left the band. The band's next album, 2005's "Blessed Black Wings", was largely written by Pike and Kensel before recording took place, and ex-Melvins/Thrones bassist Joe Preston joined them later in the studio. After about a year of touring to promote their latest release, the band again lost their bassist. Zeke bassist Jeff Matz joined up to help the band finish touring, later becoming a full-time member and contributing to the recording of their next album with famed producer, Jack Endino (Nirvana/Mudhoney). The new record entitled Death Is This Communion was released in September 2007 after a small string of Northwest shows to promote new material on the album. The band did a headline tour of North America in September and October 2007, with support from the Japanese post-rock band Mono, along with Panthers and Coliseum. [http://www.relapse.com/splash/HOFsite2_splash.html]

The band were featured on the Gigantour 2008 North American tour with headliners Megadeth, Children of Bodom, In Flames and Job for a Cowboy. [Gigantour 2008 lineup. [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=87190] ] The band will support Opeth in their upcoming US tour, where it is believed they will debut at least one new track.

Members

Current members

* Matt Pike - guitars, vocals
* Jeff Matz - bass
* Des Kensel - drums

Former members

* Joe Preston - bass
* George Rice - bass
* Karl Larson - guitar
* Ron Crockett - bass

Discography

=EPs=

* "Early Recordings" (promotional EP; 12th Records)
* Split 7" with Ruins (Skin Graft Records 2005)

=LPs=

* "The Art of Self Defense" (Man's Ruin Records 2000)
* "Surrounded by Thieves" (Relapse Records 2002)
* "Blessed Black Wings" (Relapse Records 2004)
* "Death Is This Communion" (Relapse Records 2007)

Limited edition

* "Live from the Relapse Contamination Festival' (limited to 2000 copies; released by Relapse Records 2005)-contains cover of Venom's "Witching Hour". The entire album was recorded live at the Trocadero in Philadelphia, PA.

Press

* "Revolver Magazine October 2006" Matt Pike interviewed rock legend Lemmy of Motörhead

References

External links

* [http://www.amoeba.com/live-shows/videos/high-on-fire.html/ Live Performance from Amoeba S.F]
* [http://www.highonfire.net/ Official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/highonfireslays High on Fire] at MySpace
*http://www.lastplanetojakarta.com/2008/02/we_hold_these_truths_to_be_sel.html High on Fire praised by John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats
* [http://www.rockmidgets.com/features.php?page=3&id=1165&page=3 High On Fire interview on Rockmidgets.com]
* [http://www.latenightwallflower.com/site/2007/10/22/an-interview-with-high-on-fires-des-kensel/ Late Night Wallflower Interview with Des Kensel]