Released: Feb 23, 2010
Genre: Stoner Metal, Heavy Metal, Sludge Metal
Number Of Tracks: 8
High on Fire channel the spirit of a younger, angrier, burlier Motorhead on Snakes for the Divine and the result is 100% trend-free metal.
Snakes For The DivineFeatured review by: UG Team, on february 23, 2010 1 of 2 people found this review helpful
Sound: There is no denying that the hipster metal fans dig those sludge slingers known as High on Fire. The Nor Cal band doesn’t do anything hip on any of their albums, including Snakes for the Divine. Maybe it’s the fact that band completely and totally f--king slays like a warrior with a machete and without a conscience that makes them a favorite of longhairs and hipsters alike. Snakes for the Divine has sharp fangs, is played at near-punk speed, all the while dosing the mix with High on Fire’s signature sludge. Ultimately, the album is like Motorhead, only younger, angrier and nastier. But as vocalist/guitarist Matt Pike go deeper in their career, they keep surprising us by never staying stagnant. The title track, which opens the record, is nearly ten minutes long, but the band spikes the song with so many different dynamic elements that it feels like five mini song encased in one long song. About six minutes in, you’ll be bobbing your head to the riffs that the band is firing off. The Mastodon comparisons are inevitable, as High on Fire fashion their songs in a similar, artfully heavy way, but High on Fire are a lot dirtier, a lot less polished and much more happily underground than their former labelmates. “Frost Hammer” is probably the album’s most potent track, thanks to the utterly rippin’ solo that closes out the song. “Bastard Samuari” is the most bottom-feeding, swamped out tune on the record. It’s a band like High on Fire and an album like Snakes for the Divine that make people like me proud to hold metal horns high about my head. There may only be eight songs on the album, but each one is worth its weight in gold, thanks to the way the band flexes its dynamic muscles. Distortion, fuzz, noise. It’s all here in droves. But it’s the way the band ends each song that’s most compelling. “Ghost Neck” goes out with a thunderous roar, as do most of the songs. The endings don’t just fade out and complete the song and get you to the next one; they make a statement. // 9
Lyrics and Singing: Pike is as gruff as ever. He growls like he downed a fifth of moonshine whiskey, inhaled a few bong hits and gargled with vinegar before laying down his vocal tracks. I wouldn’t be surprised if he did some permanent damaged to his vocal folds, but he probably is reading, willing and able for the sake of the album’s potency. I am listening to an advance of the record, so I don’t have lyrics in front of my face, but I can tell you this: shit’s dark. High on Fire don’t pontificate on the lighter things in life, just another element that adds heft to Snakes For the Divine. // 9
Impression: Metal fans might have found an early candidate for their top 10 of 2010 lists already with Snakes For the Divine. There’s nothing but pure, brain-melting metal to define this Divine. // 9
Snakes For The Divine
Reviewed by:
unregistered, on september 29, 2010 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Sound: High On Fire are probably one of, if not the best metal bands that has been around in a long time. They incorporate so many styles and the riffs are HUGE. Matt Pike plays a nine string guitar and kills it. The music is somehwere between Slayer and Motorhead. Definitely a breath of fresh air. Great band. // 9
Lyrics and Singing: The lyrics and songs are excellent. There is an interview with the band on youtube explaining the lyrical content with the album. I find that the title track, Frosthammer, and Bastard Samurai are lyrically the best songs on the album. I am still absorbing all the lyrics and the their content. I can tell you Bastard Samurai is awesome! I love that song. // 10
Impression: I have been listening to metal for a long time and the genres are starting to collapse, but with bands like High On Fire taking thrash, stoner, doom or whatever you call, it to the next level I am very excited about this band and the music they make and hopefully continue to make. If this is the direction of metal, themn I will listen for another thirty years! // 10
This band is true metal but his voice is pretty messed up haha. It just doesn't work, seems like he tries too hard.
Everyone says that about anyone who adds grit to thier voice. tell that to the whiney generic alt/emo/screamo singers who sound like a bunch of piss ant college kids. Matt has ****ing WEIGHT to his voice- and that is undefiable. This album is cleaner, and contains alot more up-tempo stuff than HOF's earlier releases. Which I like- personally the greater production value makes me freaking love it. I never was one of those people who could get into say Bathory or Venom becuase the quality was just utter crap. This band BRINGS THE FUCKING PAIN!
I found a new band to listen to for a month straight
Trust me, you'll be listening to HoF a lot longer than that!
The Mastodon comparisons are inevitable, as High on Fire fashion their songs in a similar, artfully heavy way
More like Mastodon fashions their songs like HoF. *Mastodon was influenced by HoF, one of the guitarists even got a guitar similar to Pikes.* I love both bands the same though, loved that they toured together(greatest show ever IMO)
Mastodon even first got together at a High on Fire show. These guys are absolutely amazing. I saw them on Gigantour a few years back, they were the first opener but they pretty much blew me away. Great music, Death Is This Communion was ****ing awesome, and I can't wait to hear this album.
Does the cover art of this cd remind anyone else of Wolfmother's self titled cd?
My thoughts exactly. But I got the advance of this cd too at the ol' radio station, and I thought it was friggin' incredible.
Yup, it also reminds of of Bat Out Of Hell by Meatloaf.
Don't worry, I'm sure Coldplay will use it in a few months. That or Avril Lavigne.
^ It hasn't. The UG Team was saying that fans of hipster metal love stoner metal (and I wouldn't really call HoF stoner, they're much too fast-paced most of the time).
More like Mastodon fashions their songs like HoF. *Mastodon was influenced by HoF, one of the guitarists even got a guitar similar to Pikes.* I love both bands the same though, loved that they toured together(greatest show ever IMO)
I think their guitarists actually met at a High On Fire show.
Epic album! The sonic titan that is High on Fire has returned. Everyone should stop bitching about Matt's voice, it totally fits and sounds so much more genuine then any of those fake ass inhaling screamers/grunters these days. Pike's got ****ing style! Can't wait for the next time I see them live.
High On Fire=awesome. I really want to see them live again. "Devilution" being played live was one of the most insane, awe-inspiring, and beautiful five minutes of my life. I would love to hear "Snakes" live.
The songs are great. The sound is terrible. Matt Pike is a guitar monster... that's what he does... to mute his guitar sound in favor of bass / drums / vocals / whatever is self-defeating for a band like High on Fire. The production of this album ruins it for me. I'd rather listen to ANY of their other releases. Put in Death is This Communion or Blessed Black Wings and tell me this new album is better from a production perspective... no chance.
We've detected that you are using Ad Blocking software.
If you hate ads, but love Ultimate Guitar, how about subscribing to Ultimate Guitar's Ad Free Service? If you subscribe to this service, you won't see annoying banner ads, pop-up ads, text-link ads or video ads and will be helping to support your favorite site at the same time.
As you know, we provide you with a lot of great, free content like news, reviews, interviews, tabs and chords, but you see, ads are the way we generate revenue to run UG and pay royalties to the songwriters and music publishers of the songs that are posted here.
Was this review helpful to you? 
