Release Date: April 3rd, 2012
What if Jesus had a twin? What if said twin died at birth, and then was reincarnated? (Hold that thought: it’s not as Rasputin, though we love that storyline as well). What if Jesus-deux then went on some crazed turbulent adventures through time? What would that be like?
Such ponderings aren’t the makings of some hallucinogenic-fueled sci-fi fantasy, but the underlying story of De Vermis Mysteriis, the latest offering from Bay Area thrash outfit High on Fire. What reads like a C-movie knock off of The Passion of the Christ meets Primer meets Heavy Metal is actually the so-crazy-it-works concept behind an incredibly solid sixth album. Whatever was in the kool-aid that Kurt Ballou of God City Studio and band leader Matt Pike were drinking, De Vermis Mysteriis will have listeners lining up to do keg stands of the stuff.
Opening track “Serums of Liao” is the sounding call to High on Fire’s return. It is powerful and commanding, featuring Des Kensel’s drumming at the forefront. Followed by the classic-metal tinged “Bloody Knuckles,” it’s hard to recall the last High on Fire album that stuck this close to the basics while still sounding so fresh. Matt Pike’s vocals sound as rugged and animalistic as ever, shaking the bowels of listeners. Does this man eat microphone heads as a savage dog would shred its prey? The drum-circle inflected “Fertile Green” is the cherry on top of this trio, driving the pace forward into the surprisingly psychedelic down-tempo noodling of “Madness of an Architect” perhaps a subconscious tribute of sorts to Pike’s other life in Sleep.
Without losing any steam, the track glides seamlessly into “Spiritual Rites,” a no frills banger that focuses on what High on Fire do best: thrash. The onslaught of bass, drum, and guitar all pitch in to keep the chugging energy, and even Pike’s guitar solo sounds inspired and rejuvenated. Giving the listener 7 minutes of reprieve (we’re talking Hunger Games-like reprieve, here.) is “King of Days,” a sludgy foray into guitar riffs that would sound at home on an Electric Wizard album. But rather than sounding out of place here, it’s a welcome change up, reminding us that High on Fire is no one trick magician.
In its entirety, De Vermis Mysteriis accomplishes more than just providing an extremely intense narrative of bizarre, pseudo-religious sci-fi metal. It takes that signature sound that the trio have made so very much their sound, and yet avoids stagnation or predictability. More notably, they’ve done this without the bells and whistles that other maturing metal acts resort to. This is straight, in-your-face exciting; a reminder why we enjoyed Death Is This Communion and Snakes for the Divine, but longed to have that core sound on Surrounded by Thieves return. Get lost in time with Jesus-Deux. Drink the kool-aid.
High on Fire – De Vermis Mysteriis tracklist:
- “Serums of Liao”
- “Bloody Knuckles”
- “Fertile Green”
- “Madness of an Architect”
- “Samsara”
- “Spiritual Rights”
- “King of Days”
- “De Vermis Mysteriis”
- “Romulus and Remus”
- “Warhorn”
