Surrounded By Thieves

Surrounded By Thieves
Studio album by High on Fire
Released	May 28 2002
Recorded	January 2002 at Prairie Sun Recording Studios in Oakland, California
Genre	Sludge Metal, Doom Metal
Length	40:38
Label	Relapse Records
Producer	High on Fire, Billy Anderson
High on Fire chronology
The Art of Self Defense (2000)	Surrounded By Thieves (2002)	Blessed Black Wings (2005)

Surrounded by Thieves is the second studio album by American heavy metal band High on Fire. The band's debut for Relapse Records, it would be a continuation of the band's mix of sludge, doom and heavy metal as established on their 2000 debut. Surrounded By Thieves would notably receive critical acclaim from several major publications, along with a music video for "Hung, Drawn & Quartered" which aired on Uranium and MTV's Headbangers Ball.

Background

In September 2001, High on Fire would sign a deal with Relapse Records following significant buzz and touring in support of their 2000 debut The Art of Self Defense. Following a short tour of the West Coast United States, recording would begin in January 2002 at Prairie Sun Recording Studios with Billy Anderson, Mixing would take place at Different Fur Studios and lastly, mastering at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland. Notably "Eyes & Teeth" had been performed prior to even the recording of the first album. "To Cross The Bridge" had also been recorded by the band in the same sessions, appearing on the compilation High Volume - The Stoner Rock Collection and later re-recorded for the band's next album Blessed Black Wings. Notably this would be the last High on Fire album to feature original bassist George Rice, who would leave the band in 2004.

To promote the album "Hung, Drawn and Quartered" was utilized as the album's single. It was featured on a 7" split with Mastodon's "March of the Fire Ants" and had a music video which aired on Uranium and MTV's Headbangers Ball. Surrounded By Thieves would be released on CD and Vinyl on 28 May 2002.

Surrounded By Thieves would garner critical acclaim at the time of it's release. AllMusic's Brian O'Neill awarded the album 4.5 out of 5 stars, calling it "relentless" and suggesting that every song was "an epic that rolls like sinister thunder across the landscape." O'Neill noted that there was "not much variation" on the album but added that variety isn't necessary "when you get locked into a groove this good.". Exclaim! would highly praise the album, noting the sheer ferocity and describing the album as an "aural tour de force".

Notably, Pitchfork Magazine would award the album an 8.8/10. Reviewer Isaiah Violante would praise the album's "nihilistic theme and all-encompassing walls of drone". He went on to praise the band for being able to "only operate according to its own whims" while also making "organic and monstrous music".

Surrounded By Thieves would rank at #2 on Stonerrock.com's Top 22 Albums of 2002. In August 2013 Surrounded By Thieves would be inducted into Decibel Magazine's Hall of Fame.

Tracklist

All songs written by High on Fire.

• 1. Eyes & Teeth (5:03)
• 2. Hung, Drawn and Quartered (4:27)
• 3. Speedwolf (4:36)
• 4. The Yeti (7:08)
• 5. Nemesis (3:35)
• 6. Thraft of Canaan (8:07)
• 7, Surrounded By Thieves (4:20)
• 8. Razor Hoof (3:26)

Personnel

• Matt Pike - Guitar, Vocals
• Des Kensel - Drums, Percussion
• George Rice - Bass
• Billy Anderson - Engineer, Producer
• Justin Lieberman - Assistant Engineer
• Mark Keaton - Mastering
• Orion Landau - Artwork

External Links

• Surrounded By Thieves on Discogs
• Surrounded By Thieves on YouTube
• Hung, Drawn and Quartered Music Video
• Surrounded By Thieves on Relapse's Bandcamp