This was my third time at Hickory's Wizard Lounge. I was very happy to see that more people were there this time than the previous times I went. Everyone was really into to the music which was also nice to see, and with a few exceptions, everyone in the crowd and the bands were very cool and friendly. The one thing you really have to like about The Wizard is that it is a stripped down venue, it's just you and the band, right there together, the stage is only about a foot off the ground, and the band right in your face. I was also happy to see that the audio problems I noticed at the other shows I went to there seemed to be worked out and the sound was just fine, in you don't mind waiting through a full sound check for each band. All the bands were great, and it seemed everyone had a good time. So on to the bands...       The night started with Hickory's D-Lab. They did a good job. It was kinda funny when the really drunk guy just walks up on stage and sits at the drum set (D-Lab has no drummer). Next up was another local band U.S. Christmas. They were very cool. An interesting mix of stoner and space rock with rough vocals. I was very impressed with them, they are much better than a lot of bands on some of the good labels. The music is laid back enough to please the stoner rock fans but heavy enough for the metal fans too.       Next up was Savannah, Georgia's Kylesa. Wow, I had heard some of their music, but sometimes you need the full visual/audio experience for the full effect. It also doesn't hurt when the band has a nice (and attractive...) woman who plays some killer guitar and can belt out some feminine yet aggressive vocals (and as Warrel Dane once said, "Aggression, isn't that why we're here?"). Not to put down the other guys, they were great too, but I'll definitely say I was fixed more on Laura then the rest of the band. Kylesa is very high energy metal with a groove at times that you just have to move with. They are a very good band, and I would expect big things to come from them in the future.       Next up was Planes Mistaken for Stars. This is the band that probably got the biggest crowd reaction, at least with the fans up front. Their music is kinda hard to place, really metal at times, a bit more mellow at others, but in general good for what it is. Not really the type of thing I'm into a whole lot. The singer has very good stage presence. He was into the vocals and knew how to get the people up front into it, even jumping into them at one point. So that was good.       So up until about halfway through Planes Mistaken for Stars� set High on Fire hadn't shown up. We had been told that they had some van trouble but they were on their way, but I wouldn't believe it till I saw it. But they did show up and I immediately recognized Matt Pike and Joe Preston (having seen Joe several years back doing his Thrones thing). So once they were able to set everything up and do a sound check, which involved Joe yelling at his equipment, Matt took off his shirt and we were ready to go. They started up with Devilution, with that little intro then it all broke loose. I had heard very good things about High on Fire shows, but you can't put into words how awesome it really is. They very well may be the best right now at performing this type of stuff, it's very heavy but the guitar work is top notch and Matt's screams just remind you this isn't your average stoner/metal band, this is a force, a wall of sound. And you just have to get into it, I was up front and I got quite a workout (my neck is still sore a day later). They played a good number of tracks off the new album (Blessed Black Wings) but some of the old ones too. And when they finished their set Joe had broke a bass string so Matt said after he fixes it they'd do an encore. So after a few minutes they ripped through a few more songs. After the show all of the guys were very cool and talked with everyone in the crowd and couldn't have been nicer. Without a doubt anyone who likes heavier music should check out High on Fire if they have a chance.