High on Fire
Residence: Oakland
Style: Bay Area stoner metal too heavy for Satan himself to toke by
Members: Matt Pike (guitar, vocals), Des Kensel (drums), George Rice (bass)
By Erik Fong

Stone ‘em all
High on Fire has done for stoners what Metallica's Kill ‘Em All and Ride the Lightning did for metal. Loud, angry, sonically ferocious and a step higher on the ladder of stoner evolution, High on Fire combines the methodical sludge of the Melvins and the throaty, raspy, gruff vocals of Motorhead with a less obvious musical foundation built upon such influences as Neil Young, Frank Zappa, John Coltrane, Johnny Cash and [snicker] Bob Seger.

Oakland heartthrobs
Originally from Denver, singer/guitarist Matt Pike eventually found his way to the Bay Area and lived in San Jose, where he met drummer and Connecticut native Des Kensel and Ukiah-born George Rice. The three later relocated to Oakland and recorded a demo. Based on the solid reputation of Matt’s previous work with his former band Sleep, labels everywhere combed the Earth hoping to hear his new material - sadly, they ended up "ain’t finding shit." Outlasting the enticement of a label bidding war where lear jets, limousines and bottomless pits of loose women were offered to the trio at its disposal, High on Fire decided to release its first CD through renowned artist Frank Kozik’s label, Man’s Ruin. All this before even performing their first live show. Wow. The hype machine can create positive results.

Accolades
Yes, even stoners can earn critical acclaim and recognition. High Times Magazine hailed Surrounded By Thieves as the “Stoner Rock Album of the Year” and Time Out New York declared that High on Fire “...displays an uncommon power that makes all other hyperbolized bands seem puny.” (Say it in your best Arnold Schwarzenegger voice and it sounds much more authoritative and official.)

Oh, Canada
Believe it or not, live shows don’t always go as smoothly as planned. Matt shared a horrible-at-the-time-but-funny-as-hell-now incident that occurred during one of their live excursions: “I got really drunk in Toronto. I was having guitar problems, and I fucking trainwrecked a whole set. I got pissed off and was screaming at everybody – bandmates and fans – and it was just, kind of, bad. Probably the worst show I’ve ever played in my life. I was just depressed and homesick. It happens to everybody now and then.” [Editor’s note: You guys should see my office after I trainwreck an article. Damn.]

Coming soon
After completing its current tour, High on Fire will take a couple months off to write and record its next album. Expect to see it hit stores in February 2004. Until then, you can find High on Fire’s music video for “Hung, Drawn and Quartered” on MTV2’s reincarnation of Headbanger’s Ball.

Witness: Saturday, July 19 @ Great American Music Hall (with Dirty Power, Erase Errata)
Albums: Surrounded by Thieves (2002), The Art of Self-Defense (2000), available through Amazon.com
Website: www.highonfire.com