Labels: Relapse – Skin Graft
Review by: Chris Bress
High On Fire proved that they could be an excellent live band as well as great on record last week. This new single, a split with the mighty Ruins, goes to show they’re not slowing down. Their side is an excellently recorded storming rock number. It lacks a lot of the aggression shown on their three LPs and mellows out a little but it’s still great (even the solos sound good on record). ‘Brother In The Wind’ rocks hard, but it lacks the excellence of some of their other material, but as with all other High On Fire material it sounds amazing when your getting fucked up. These should put together a drinking compilation with Orange Goblin, Turbonegro, Satyricon, Dragonforce, Taint, The Pogues, Trencher, Napalm Death, Gorilla Biscuits, Knuckledust and Snuff and I’d be a drunken man every time that bad boy went on the stereo.
The Ruins side is also a bit held back (maybe both groups didn’t want to distance the other band’s fans too much?!). Their usual brand of crazy Magma meets Lightning Bolt nuttiness is replaced by some pretty wacky left of centre rock music. It’s very average for them I have to say.
I’m sure that the promise of two good bands and a comic will mean this selling fairly fast!