High on Fire

High on Fire — Cometh the Storm Review

By Ferox on April 22, 2024 in Reviews, Sludge, Stoner Metal, 80 comments

“This site suffers from a High on Fire appreciation deficit. Staffers from the prog-and-scones salon brush them away like so much dandruff from the shoulder of their tweed blazers. The caveman contingent, meanwhile, sends no love to this sludge institution. We’ve only reviewed them one time! The oversight heaps discredit on snobs and slobs alike. With the release of their ninth slab Cometh the Storm, I, Ferox, pounced on the opportunity to acknowledge these facts and correct the record. Cometh the Storm just needs to deliver the groceries one more time so I can cram it in the face of my fellow staffers.” High on fanboying.

Temple of the Fuzz Witch – Apotheosis Review

By Dear Hollow on April 12, 2024 in Reviews, Black Metal, 20 comments

“The act’s history is one associated with Sleep worship. Fuzzy riffs, croons thick with weed, and mammoth drums did little to distinguish from the masses, and their moniker became a comical reflection of the music contained within. Both Temple of the Fuzz Witch’s 2017 self-titled debut and 2020 follow-up Red Tide followed this Black Sabbath but haze-filled, orange amp- and MountainKing Megalith-fueled weight.” Fuzz is the new buzz.

Howling Giant – Glass Future Review

By Dear Hollow on November 12, 2023 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Stoner Metal, Stoner Rock, 17 comments

“Last we met Howling Giant they were dueling with Somerset’s Sergeant Thunderhoof in groovy stoner split Turned to Stone Chapter 2: Masamune & Muramasa, which deserved a word, not a numerical score, to describe its quality. Howling Giant strung together a fun-loving single track with multiple movements, their meat-and-potatoes approach slightly outdueling da Hoof’s bombastic and flashy performance.” Howling at stones.

Mutoid Man – Mutants Review

By Saunders on July 27, 2023 in Reviews, Hard Rock, Hardcore, Heavy Metal, Noise Rock, Progressive Metal, Punk, 38 comments

A new Mutoid Man release means a larger-than-life double review is necessary. Why? Because we said so!

Allfather – A Violent Truth Review

By sentynel on April 2, 2023 in Reviews, Sludge, 33 comments

“Nobody panic, but I’ve picked up Allfather, a band previously reviewed by the illustrious Mark Z. Awarding his 2018 AotY to the fantastic And All Will Be Desolation, he wrote “big burly riffs, gruff vocals, and rhythms that deftly shift to ensure heads will always be banged … the most purely metal thing I heard this year. Every moment feels like one you want to show your friends, while the lyrics are empowering, mature, and all too applicable to today’s world.” You know it’s good when it appeals to both me and Mark, and a description like that is a tough act to follow to say the least. After five years where everything has gone just great, A Violent Truth finds Allfather more pissed off than ever.” Angry dad.

Coffin Torture – Blennoid Review

By Kenstrosity on October 7, 2022 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Sludge, 12 comments

“South Carolina duo Coffin Torture deal in an especially heavy and deadly brand of sludge—reminiscent of the slower cuts from High on Fire, and Dopethrone minus the blues influences—and specialize in the art of The Riff™. In fact, I daresay the band injected a fair amount of straight-up death metal into Blennoid, such is the devastating nature of its groove and verve.” If the coffin’s a-rockin’…

In Grief – An Eternity of Misery Review

By Felagund on September 6, 2022 in Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 10 comments

“I have a complicated history with doom metal. While there are groups like Electric Wizard or High on Fire that I tend to turn to for my fuzzy, morose fix, I have more trouble with the deathened doom variety. Sure, you can’t shake a stick at the likes of Asphyx (and why would you? They’re old men and so very brittle), but executed poorly, you mix doom’s plodding passages with DMs unrelenting barrage, resulting in a bloated, brickwalled concoction that leaves your eardrums ringing and your watch over-checked. Be that as it may, I’ve been proven wrong before (except for our split review of Temple of Void’s latest) and there’s always something new to discover.” Good grief?

Neker – Slower Review

By GardensTale on June 25, 2021 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Sludge, Southern Metal, 20 comments

“Hailing from Italy, Neker is the brainchild of… Wait a second. Neker? That’s… You’re sure that’s what you want to go with? Okay, so if any of you want to recommend this band to any friends or family, say it slowly and enunciate clearly. Maybe over-pronounce the K a little, just for safety’s sake. Neker is the brainchild of vocalist/bassist Nicola Amadori, with help from Daniele Alessi on drums and Alessandro Eusebi on guitars. The rest is all Amadori, and his passions lie with the roots of southern metal and sludge, speaking loftily of such renowned acts as Down, Pantera, Crowbar and Melvins.” Let’s get Neker!

Olde – Pilgrimage Review

By Grymm on March 17, 2021 in Reviews, Sludge, 12 comments

“Ontario’s Olde have been banging around the sludge scene for an unknown period of time, formerly as Corvuss until around 2014 when they decided to change their name to what it is today. I’m usually pretty good at keeping an ear out for quality sludge and doom releases, but I will admit I’ve never heard of Olde until the accompanying one-sheet bio claimed that they’re for fans of High on Fire, Trouble, The Melvins, and Entombed How do I say no to that?!” Olde and slowe.

Somnus Throne – Somnus Throne Review

By Steel Druhm on October 8, 2020 in Reviews, Doom Metal, 5 comments

“The mysterious and unidentified crew that make up Somnus Throne are said to hail from New Orleans, Texas and L.A., and on their eponymous debut they are content to allow their music to make the introductions for them. Listeners can expect to be greeted by psychedelic stoner doom in the vein of Sleep, High on Fire, and Mastodon, heavy on the massive riffage and song-lengths and light on innovation or originality.” Thronesmoker.