The 1½ minute long rolling drum-beat that kicks off album opener 'Devilution' should give you a clear indication that High on Fire are something different... Something special. When 52 minutes later, the pummelling 'Sons of Thunder' finally grinds the album to a close there'll be no trace of doubt left in your mind.

Try for a brief second to imagine Motorhead and Mastodon gang banging Slayer in a dark, damp alley and you still won't get close to envisioning the amount of sheer evil oozing from Blessed Black Wings filthy pores. With nine sprawling tracks spanning almost an hour in length, Blessed Black Wings is a colossally ambitious opus and undoubtedly an early contender for metal album of the year.

With legendary producer Steve Albini at the helm, High On Fire fans could have been forgiven for being a little apprehensive, given his tendency to strangulate a bands guitar sound. However their fears will be more than allayed with Albini giving one of his best performances to date (which is quite something given his illustrious past) with the bludgeoning guitars at the head of the aural assault. An assault that for all its fierceness is by no means ungainly, take the likes of 'The Face of Oblivion' which perfectly combine a rhythmic galloping groove with vocalist / guitarist Mike Pike's half Lemmy half (Planes Mistaken For Stars) Gared O'Donnell guttural growl.

Considering the intense media spotlight recent touring partners Mastodon are currently being afforded, my guess is you'll soon be hearing a lot more about High On Fire. Nonetheless with a number of distinctly average NWOAHM also clambering for your attention, why wait that long? You'd be a fool to miss out.

Rating: 5/5 by Dan Jones

Tracklisting

1. Devilution
2. The Face of Oblivion
3. Brother in the Wind
4. Cometh Down Hessian
5. Blessed Black Wings
6. Anointing of Seer
7. To Cross the Bridge
8. Silver Back
9. Sons of Thunder

Further links

Relapse.com

Official label of Dillinger Escape Plan, Burst, and many more...

High On Fire.net

Webular home of US metal lords High on Fire