High on Fire give off a very pleasant vibe while not exactly fitting into the traditional doom metal mold. The trio of San Francisco musicians formed the band in 1998, and their fifth studio album, Snakes for the Divine, manages to keep the genre fresh while attempting to emphasize the ""stoner"" elements. As always, guitarist/vocalist Matt Pike's shredding skills remain at the forefront of the album and overshadow most of the other compositional aspects of this release.
The classification of the band as doom metal can throw the listener; the construction does not sound like traditional doom at all. More akin to bands like Baroness or Mastodon, a metalhead going into the album expecting Doom may be disappointed. There are slower-paced songs like ""Bastard Samurai,"" which provide a much-appreciated break from the crunching pace at which Pike's playing drives most of the songs. However, I am glad this does not fall into the genre of funeral doom, à la the Danish band Nortt or Oakland's own Asunder; Pike's skills are much better served playing this style. One of the best points in the album is the intro to the first track, where these skills are put on display.
There's not a bad track on the release, something quite rare for metal albums. My only qualm with the album is the enjoyable but seemingly unnecessary minute-and-a-half-long track ""The Path."" Sure, it's fun and has a decent riff, but for the overall sound of the album, it does not do much to further the theme. The best tracks on the album are ""Frost Hammer"" and ""Fire Flood & Plague,"" if only for the overly fantastical lyrical themes, great guitar and Pike's vocals.
His vocals are yet another departure from traditional doom. They sound like a mixture of traditional death growls and a sort of stoner drone. This is not to say they detract from the listening experience; going into the album, it's just not what one would expect after reading the band's description on Metal Archives. The case for his vocals being a standout aspect of the release also falters to screams of ""FROST HAMMER!"" during the track, which seem over the top to the point of making the listener giggle. The band's fantastical themes are chuckle-worthy on their own, but being able to laugh at these little details is actually enjoyable. It felt like an inside joke between the band and the listener, something that creates a bond during the listening experience that can be appreciated.
Overall, High on Fire pull off the creation of a very enjoyable soundscape with Snakes for the Divine. For a first impression of the band, this release definitely strikes me as an upfront statement of what the band is all about and hits you in the gut with a no-holds-barred metal assault on the eardrums. As if the album were not enough, High on Fire will appear as a guest at the upcoming Mastodon/Between the Buried and Me show at the Orpheum in May, which, from the lineup alone, will be a spectacular show.
