High On Fire--Surrounded By Thieves
Relapse 2002
With many of the best doom metal bands dropping like flies in the face of an increasingly poseur-filled, unsupportive scene, the genre has been in desperate need of something to breathe a little life into its community spirit. That need has been met with the release of Surrounded By Thieves, the second full length album from High On Fire. With this album, High On Fire have once again put their best foot forward to remind everyone why they are one of the true leaders in the doom form.
Most of the soundbytes bands get in widespread press are usually illfounded, but to say High On Fire are like a modern day Black Sabbath is pretty fair. On the surface, it seems like the riffs drive everything but it's the way all the instruments interact that makes High On Fire such a special band. The real truth of the matter is both the guitar and drums have starring roles in High On Fire's sound, with the tasteful and complimentary bass parts serving as the pendulum everything swings on. Matt Pike's lead work is absolutely sick on this album, creating a whirling dervish which layers perfectly over the already massive sound.
One difference between this album and the band's previous effort, The Art Of Self Defence, is the immediately apparent punk influence in some of the songwriting, most notably on "Speedwolf." Throughout it all, Surrounded By Thieves maintains its doominess, though. In fact, this album is a very refreshing reminder that music doesn't have to be played at a snail's pace to be doom. That being said, for the most part, this album doesn't stray too far from their first. Songs like "Hung, Drawn and Quartered," an enormous slab of inhumanly brutal doom sure to leave the walls of your bedroom in rubble, will certainly appeal to those who loved "Master Of Fists" from the previous CD. Hearing the thunderous drums of "Razor Hoof" at the end of the album, you'd swear the steeds of the apocalypse horsemen were on your doorstep, truly signalling the end.
Both in their sound and their approach to music, High On Fire have a distinct personality and originality--something that seems increasingly lost on many in the rapidly deteriorating doom scene. Here's hoping that Surrounded By Thieves will help a great deal in setting things straight within the doom community before it implodes much like the "stoner rock" scene has. It's unfathomable anyone who says they love doom could use adjectives other than "great," "brilliant," or "essential" when describing High On Fire or Surrounded By Thieves. An early candidate for album of the year.
Score this CD directly from RELAPSE
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