| Spitting Fire | ||
|---|---|---|
 The cover for the 2LP set | ||
| Live album by High on Fire | ||
| Released | June 18 2013 | |
| Genre | Sludge Metal, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal | |
| Length | 40:13 (Vol. 1) 41:39 (Vol. 2) | |
| Producer | Kurt Ballou, High on Fire | |
| High on Fire chronology | ||
| De Vermis Mysteriis (2012) |
Spitting Fire (2013) |
Luminiferous (2015) |
Spitting Fire is a collection of two live albums by the American heavy metal band High on Fire. Recorded on two nights in New York in late 2012, Spitting Fire is a career-spanning set featuring songs from the band's first studio album (2000's The Art of Self Defense) to their latest at the time (2012's De Vermis Mysteriis).
Background[]
Following canceled tours in 2012 and a stint in rehab for Matt Pike, High on Fire would return in late 2012 for two marquee shows in New York. Tracks 1-4, 6-7 and 14-15 would be recorded on 30 November 2012 at The Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY. Tracks 5 and 8-13 recorded December 01, 2012, at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY. Mixing would take place at Earhammer Studio Oakland, CA and Mastering would take place at West West Side Music. In an interview with Exclaim!, Matt Pike would speak about recording a new live album, sobriety and playing in New York:
| “ | “I figured it was time for a live album. We're a really good live band so we wanted to give our fans the same energy you get from live shows that you can't really put on an album. We chose New York because we always do two shows there and our New York fans are always really crazy and it's a lot of good energy.
I remember those shows being a lot of fun, and that tour was the beginning of me and my sobriety, so there was lots of excitement, but also lots of nervous energy going on. And I was really proud that we recorded on the nights we did. There's a lot more clarity [when you're sober]. It's a little scarier because you don't have your stage buzz to go on. The liquid confidence, you know? I really wrestle with my confidence level and with a lot of anxieties and I'm learning how to deal with those as I go, and it's getting easier and easier. When you're sober everything's way clearer when you're up there on stage, and you're your worst critic, so you're always going, 'Oh my god, oh my god, did I fuck that up?' when in reality no one else notices, it's just you. You have this little voice in your head telling you that you suck, but at the same time you have another little voice telling you, 'It's alright because you're sober, dude (laughs).” |
” |
— Matt Pike, Exclaim! [1]
|
Spitting Fire would be released on separate CDs for each volume, separate volumes and as a 2LP set on 18 June 2013, via eOne and Century Media. Due to a mastering error, "Hung, Drawn & Quartered" would be omitted from the vinyl edition, to which the band would offer a MP3 of the song as an apology.
Attaining a 72/100 score on Metacritic,[2] Spitting Fire has attained mostly positive reviews, with most reviews discussing both albums together though many reviews would cite that the two live albums would cater more to diehard fans. Writing for PopMatters, Sean McCarthy would praise the album, stating that Spitting Fire "has the power and the subtlety of a piledriver.[3] Louder Sound, awarding a 4/5, would also praise the live albums, stating that "Spitting Fire Live perfectly captures the band in all their grizzled glory, without any overdubs or studio trickery.".[4]
Other notable reviews of Spitting Fire would come from the likes of The Sludgelord (positive),[5] Exclaim! (7/10),[6] The Austin Chronicle (Three Stars),[7] Ghost Cult Magazine (6/10)[8] and Pitchfork (5.9/10).[9]
Tracklist[]
Spitting Fire Live Vol. 1[]
- 1. Serums of Liao (6:21)
- 2. Frost Hammer (6:21)
- 3. 10,000 Years (7:37)
- 4. Devolution (4:27)
- 5. Last (6:29)
- 6. Fertile Green (4:31)
- 7. Speedwolf (4:27)
Spitting Fire Live Vol. 2[]
- 1. Rumors of War (3:23)
- 2. DII (3:31)
- 3. Fury Whip (6:21)
- 4. Madness of an Architect (7:01)
- 5. The Face of Oblivion (4:14)
- 6. Hung, Drawn and Quartered (2:37)
- 7. Blood From Zion (5:02)
- 8. Snakes For The Divine (9:30)
Personnel[]
- Matt Pike - Guitar, Vocals
- Des Kensel - Drums
- Jeff Matz - Bass
- Kurt Ballou - Additional Engineering
- Greg Wilkinson - Mixing
- Alan Douches - Mastering
- KR - Vinyl Mastering
- Jammi York - Live Photography
- Andrew Kelley - Art Direction, Design
- Paul Grosso - Creative Director
External Links[]
References[]
- ↑ Exclaim! High on Fire's Matt Pike Talks 'Spitting Fire' Live Albums, Hints at "Amazing" New Project and Sleep's Return to the Studio, accessed 12 April 2021
- ↑ Metacritic
- ↑ Pop Matters
- ↑ Louder Sound
- ↑ The Sludgelord
- ↑ Exclaim!
- ↑ The Austin Chronicle
- ↑ Ghost Cult Magazine
- ↑ Pitchfork
| V·T·E High on Fire | |
|---|---|
| Current Members | Matt Pike • Jeff Matz • Coady Willis |
| Past Members | George Rice • Joe Preston • Des Kensel • Nick Parks • Christopher Maggio |
| Studio Albums | The Art of Self Defense • Surrounded By Thieves • Blessed Black Wings • Death Is This Communion • Snakes For The Divine • De Vermis Mysteriis • Luminiferous • Electric Messiah |
| Extended Plays | High on Fire • Speak In Tongues • Bat Salad |
| Live Albums | Live From The Relapse Contamination Festival • Spitting Fire |
| Associated Bands, Artists, Etc. | Sleep • Kalas • Dear Deceased • Earth • Melvins • Harvey Milk • Zeke • Mutoid Man |