Death Is This Communion Review

Release Date: Sep 18, 2007
Label: Relapse
Genres: Alternative Metal, Stoner Metal, Heavy Metal
Number Of Tracks: 11
Death Is This Communion is a step up from Blessed Black Wings, and just may be the band's finest and most focused moment yet.

Sound:	9
Lyrics:	9
Impression:	9.5
Overall rating:	9.2
Users rating:	9.9
Comments:	17

overall: 8.7

Featured review by: stonersandwich, on february 23, 2008

Sound: A warning to all fans of watered-down pop-metal: there is nothing catchy on this entire album. What it lacks in mainstreamness, however, it makes up for in heaviness. HOF don't need hooks, the music is so intense and brutal that you won't be able to press stop. This record is an aural steamroller, pounding it's way into your subconscience and never letting you get away. While this album is insane, it really isn't anthing that they haven't done before. It features the same thunderous drums, courtesy of master skinsman Des Kensel, gutteral bass and pummeling riffs that fans have come to expect from the Oakland trio. The only thing that I have heard people complain about is the length of the songs. Seven of the eleven tracks are upwards of five minutes, but that is a common thing in stoner metal. // 8

Lyrics and Singing: The lyrics on this album are about the same caliber as the last record. Fantasy, demons, religion, and views on the current state of the world are just some of the many topics covered. Though these aren't anything new, Matt Pike and the gang have managed to write about these things in a way that is new and fresh. The lyrics also go along perfectly with the music. As far as epicness goes, they can't be beat. Think what it would be like if J.R.R. Tolkien did a bunch of meth and wrote some sick poems. And as far as the singing goes, you can tell that Pike has come a long way since HOF's creation. While he still uses his signature sandpaper-scraping-across-cement growl more than anything, he also employs the help of some more melodic lines here and there. // 9

Impression: This record is not like anything any other artist has recorded before. But, like I said, it is one of those prototypical HOF records that their fans have come to expect. The songs that left the biggest impression on me were the title track and the massive "Headhunter". While "Headhunter" clocks in at a mere 1:24 and features only a single instrument, it is easily the most moving song on the whole album. Be sure not to listen to this track while there is a spear in the room, as it may provoke you to impale someone. Overall, I personally could not find anything about this album that I didn't like, but like I said, some people have a problem with long songs. If I were to lose this album, I would certainly buy another copy. Happy listening everyone, hope this helped. Hesh hard! // 9

Reviewed by: unregistered, on december 22, 2008

Sound: the sound on this album is just incredible. it's one of the heaviest and dense albums I have ever heard. it's not particularily fast, but anyone who knows of high on fire our matt's other work knows this is to be expected. the drums pound, the bass rumbles, and the guitars are massive. this album is a lesson in sludge riffage. matt is a great, very unique guitar player, and he just does an incredible job on this album. the 9 string guitar he use on this album (the g b and e strings are doubled like a 12 string) adds a lot to some of the solos, and the clean part in waste of tiamat.the song writing is prettty interesting aswell. like 2 consecutive tracks chanel the album quite well overall, is rumours of war and die. rumours of war was the first single and sees the band channeling they're inner motorhead, while dii is an incredible insturmental track, that has some of the sludgiest riffs I've ever heard. kirk windstein has nothing on matt pike lol. this record is great, and I would encourage anyone to buy it. // 10

Lyrics and Singing: he lyrics are nothing inovative, but are fairly diverse, covering mythical stories aswell as problems in our world today. the way they are presented that is a highlight. they are presented in the same way over pretty much the entire album, but the vocals lock in so well with the music, and just sound so awssome it dosent get boring. while the insturments are more the highlight of this album ( how else could you have 8 minute tracks) the vocals are great, and without them the music would not quite be as good as it is // 9

Impression: this album is just epic. that is really the only way to describe it. the songwriting is epic, the riffs are epic, the lyrics are epic. it's just a great album, and I would encourage any metalhead to go buy it. my favourite tracks on the album are rumours of war, waste of tiamat, turk and fury whip, but they are all great. seriously, just get up right now and go buy this album, you will not regret it. in the words of matt describing this album in revolver "if you don't get this one, I'm sorry, but you're just an idiot". well it was something like that, but you get the point. // 10

Comments

[smb]

Go and see them live...go and see them live...go and see them live...they are seriously the best live band I have ever seen and Matt Pike is such a great guy if you meet him

[The_Seventh_Sin]

i want to see them with Megadeth and everyone else at Gigantour. i hope its not too late to get tix

[12KoRn12]

i have the album and it is great. heavy as hell. i wanna see them on Gigantour!

[Fendenburgen]

Heard some fantastic reviews of this album so went out and got it and was blown away by....how outstandingly average it was!!!! Not the album of the year contender that everyone is making out.

[Fendenburgen]

Have heard so many great reviews of this album that I went out and got it and was blown away by.....how outstandingly average it is. Don't believe the hype!

[Soul-Monger]

Fendenburgen wrote:

Have heard so many great reviews of this album that I went out and got it and was blown away by.....how outstandingly average it is. Don't believe the hype!

You don't have to be such a dick about it by putting the same, grammatically incorrect message twice.

High on Fire is a pretty damn good album.

[Soul-Monger]

Rather, "made a".

[DonCorleone72]

this album is great...why is it not on UG's "Top 10 Metal Albums of 2007"?

[mattj2192]

I was pissed off when I showed up a little late to Gigantour and their set was already over...the show started out on a bad note cuz i had to deal with Blowjob for a Cowboy

[lilboisX3]

they arent that good on CD but live is ****ing amazing

[Menzaine]

MAn this album is unbelievable!
Khanrads Wall is pretty cool and I love Fury Whip.

[NorfIrIon]

One of the best albums ever. I could probably listen to it for eternity and be happy. High on Fire is about as good as it gets.

[Shread_6009]

The_Seventh_Sin :
i want to see them with Megadeth and everyone else at Gigantour. i hope its not too late to get tix

you are so far off, tickets sold out half a year ago, and 08 gigantour wrapped up a few months back ( or at least in north america

[restless_thrash]

man, i saw them at gigantour, and i really didn't enjoy them. extremely similar songs and about a 3/10 on stage presence. but, they are a decent metal band.

[GR1NG0_SU4V3]

restless_thrash wrote:

man, i saw them at gigantour, and i really didn't enjoy them. extremely similar songs and about a 3/10 on stage presence. but, they are a decent metal band.

see them in a club venue.
much better.

[Tedward]

mattj2192 wrote:

I was pissed off when I showed up a little late to Gigantour and their set was already over...the show started out on a bad note cuz i had to deal with Blowjob for a Cowboy

same here. Except i actually like Job For A Cowboy. But i just caught the end of High On Fire and from what i saw (like 2 songs) they were pretty ****in hectic. They werent like super "show-y" but i could tell they were gettin into their music.

very original band IMO. ive never heard anyone like them. Pike plays a pretty sick guitar too, 9 strings..

[Tedward]

Seven of the eleven tracks are upwards of five minutes, but that is a common thing in stoner metal.

dude i heard a song by Matt Pikes original band Sleep, and im pretty sure it was a 60 minute single song.

just puttin it out there. Sorry for double post