NINE ARTISTS TO WATCH IN '99
ISSUE #557
APRIL 23, 1999 - PAGE 16
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HOMETOWN : OAKLAND , California
FORMED: 1997
BAND MEMBERS : Matt Pike, Guitar/Vocals - Desmond Kensel, Drums - George Rice, Bass
MOST RECENT RELEASE : Self Released 3 Song CD on 12th Records. [Matt's own label]
ORIGIN OF NAME: The Almighty's Flight
WHAT"S HAPPENING IN 1999: First full-lengh record coming out late this year on MANSRUIN and some tours to be had.
DREAM OPENING GIG: Me, Myself & Eye, Jimi Hendrix.
It can be said with some measure of confidence that no BAY AREA BAND can match HIGH ON FIRE for sheer brutality or brain burning volume. These guys play high-octane Sabbath-ian stomps gone slightly prog-booming, blistering and sinister but not so warp speeed or packed with those indecipherable growls as to doom them to the silly death-metal-clone bin.
Featuring MATT PIKE, late of cult thrasher band SLEEP, the recently formed HIGH ON FIRE have already earned heaping praise from local headbangers [including pop artist FRANK KOZIK who promptly swiped them up for an album on his MANSRUIN label] awed by their driving potency and hurricane noise Rumored forthcoming pairing with producer Billy Anderson [Melvins, Seven Year Bitch, L7] could produce a landmark of metallic thud and roar.