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It's like a really spiritual thing for me. It's a release of anger. I'm just expressing myself through my instrument. -Matt Pike |
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Photo of Matt Pike Dirt Junior
"For me, it's like I'm kind of pissed but having fun. Just look out and get out of my way because for the next 60 minutes I just want to blow you away," says Kensal. "Now, being 34, I've got to prepare myself, mentally and physically, for the hour and fifteen minute workout that I get."
 High on Fire by Jason Bergman |
Pike considers his inspiration and tells us, "It's like a really spiritual thing for me. It's a release of anger. I'm just expressing myself through my instrument."
The lion's share of Communion's tracks were road tested over six months before High on Fire retreated to Seattle with producer Jack Endino's (Nirvana, Soundgarden) for three weeks to "tighten them all up," according to Kensal. Pike laughs about how Endino encouraged them to "not be lazy," adding, "I think we found a very good chemistry. I've worked with Billy [Anderson] and [Steve] Albini before. I had good chemistry with them but this was something a little different, like he really was into the project he was doing."
"We really try to capture what we sound like live but in the studio, just kind of detail it. Polish it up but get the live, raw grit sound to it [too]," Pike says. "We work on guitar tones really hard, and on how we'd exactly like the drums to sound [as] if we were playing live but polishing it so it sounds like a good record."
 High on Fire's Matt Pike |
Every good record is made up of good songs, and Death Is This Communion is no exception. Much of the lyrical symbolism pertains to Pike and his bandmates' life of nonstop touring. "Half my life I spend on tour and most of the shit I write is pretty much about my life in some sort of metaphorical way or not. It definitely goes into my playing, and I could say the same for the other guys," he comments.
Prior to and during recording Communion Pike was reading writer David Icke, whose work is riddled with conspiracy theories about who and what manipulates societies, including shape shifting reptilian humanoids that have been roaming and covertly ruling the Earth since the era of Atlantis. Icke is clearly the inspiration behind the sloping guitar fog of "Cyclopian Scape." However, the industrial punk meets Motorhead charge of "Rumors of War" was spawned by America's penchant for fear mongering to justify its actions. "It's very much about the state of our country and how we're starting shit with the rest of the world," points out Pike.
While High on Fire can't quite be labeled as black metal, they still reign supreme to the fans whenever they make a tour stop in Denmark, Norway, or Sweden. "It's really weird," laughs Pike. "All the black metalers and Viking dudes and shit fucking love us. Every time we go to Scandinavia we definitely have seen the crowd get bigger and bigger."
High On Fire will spend the bulk of 2008 on the road bringing the fury to their fans across the globe. While no details have been released for the next album, Pike assures us they'll keep things interesting.
"It's supposed to jar you a little and make you think," says Pike. "It [should] draw you in and make you love the whole record and not just love one song or the hit flavor of the month. I don't write music like that."
High on Fire tour dates available here...
JamBase | Oakland
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