High On Fire

High On Fire is an American metal group from Oakland, United States, active since 1998. Its sound is associated with doom metal, heavy metal, sludge metal, stoner metal and stoner rock. The band operates on High on Fire Music.

Formation and early line-up

High On Fire forms in 1998 in Oakland, California, led by guitarist and vocalist Matt Pike, who also plays guitar in Sleep. The original line-up includes Pike, drummer Des Kensel and bassist George Rice. Rice previously plays in Dear Deceased and initially auditions to be the band’s vocalist.

Recording and releases

The band records a three-song EP in 1999, released on 12th Records. Those songs are later re-recorded for its first full-length album, The Art of Self Defense, which appears on Man's Ruin Records in 2000 and is reissued by Tee Pee Records the following year with two bonus tracks after Man's Ruin becomes defunct.

In 2001, High On Fire signs to Relapse Records and records Surrounded by Thieves, released in 2002. After George Rice leaves, former Melvins and Thrones bassist Joe Preston joins the group. The next album, Blessed Black Wings, follows in 2005 and is largely written by Pike and Kensel before recording; Steve Albini produces it, and the song “Devilution” receives a music video.

Jeff Matz, previously of Zeke, replaces Preston on tour and becomes a permanent member during the recording of Death Is This Communion, released in 2007. The band then tours North America and appears on the 2008 Gigantour, followed by another North American run with Opeth, Baroness and Nachtmystium.

High On Fire signs with Koch Records in 2008 and records the follow-up to Death Is This Communion with producer Greg Fidelman. Snakes for the Divine is released in 2010, and the band supports it with a North American headline tour. It also opens for Metallica on eight European shows and appears on the soundtrack for the 2010 remake of Splatterhouse.

De Vermis Mysteriis is released in 2012. Luminiferous follows in 2015 and is the second consecutive High On Fire album produced by Kurt Ballou of Converge. The band later wins the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2019 for “Electric Messiah”.

Drummer and co-founder Des Kensel leaves in 2019 and is briefly replaced by Chris Maggio. Coady Willis, formerly of Big Business and Melvins, becomes the new drummer in 2021. With this line-up, the band records a cover of Motörhead’s “Iron Fist” for the tribute album Löve Me Förever: A Tribute to Motörhead in 2022.

High On Fire’s ninth studio album, Cometh the Storm, is released in 2024. The band’s discography also includes nine studio albums in total.