Oakland metal juggernaut High On Fire brings its current tour promoting the band's latest acclaimed effort Luminiferous to the Regency Ballroom Saturday, topping a stellar bill of bands that includes doom giants Pallbearer, rising hard rockers Lucifer and headbangers Venomous Maximus.
Founded by renowned Sleep guitarist Matt Pike in 1998 after his seminal San Jose stoner-rock outfit imploded over label issues, Oakland-based outfit High On Fire gave Pike a chance to continue exploring his Sabbath obsession in a power trio format with monster drummer Des Kensel and original bassist George Rice.
Crafting aggressive riff-powered songs that nod equally to the classic-era thrash of Metallica and Slayer and the grinding crunch of Motorhead (Pike's growling vocals bear a distinct resemblance to Lemmy's gravelly voice), High On Fire established itself as one of the modern era's true metal powerhouse bands with its recorded material and furious live shows.
While Melvins/Thrones bassist Joe Preston stepped in for the band's acclaimed Steve Albini produced effort Blessed Black Wings in 2005, his departure later that year led to the addition of former Zeke bassist Jeff Matz to establish arguably the band's strongest and most stable line-up yet. Since that change, High On Fire has issued a string of celebrated albums including 2007's brutal Death Is This Communion produced by Jack Endino and three successive gems for E1 Music: the commercial breakthrough Snakes For Divine, the heady, concept-driven De Vermis Mysteriis and this year's Luminiferous.
The latest salvo from High On Fire includes the kind of heroic, locomotive metal riffs and intricate drumming from Kensel (who seems to up his technique with each release) that fans expect, but Luminiferous further expands the trio's sonic palette with the soaring track "The Falconist" and "The Cave," an epic but still monstrously heavy ballad that features one of the most powerfully emotive solos Pike has ever recorded.
For their current tour, High On Fire is traveling with a stellar bill of bands. Little Rock, Arkansas-based doom band Pallbearer ended up on numerous year end "best of" lists with the group's melancholy and often beautiful sophomore effort Foundations of Burden, while rising European heavy rockers Lucifer features singer Johanna Sedonis (who came to fame in the short-lived band the Oath) and former Cathedral guitarist Gerry "Gaz" Gennings. Houston metal band Venomous Maximus opens the show.
High On Fire
Saturday, Aug. 1, 7 p.m. $20
Regency Ballroom