Frost, faith and fire

Many years ago I bought High On Fire's debut album on Man's Ruin. It was definitely one of the most hard-charging metal albums I'd heard. Shortly thereafter they came to town for a show at Babylon with Voivod that didn't get the audience it deserved - I think the promoters, who were also starting up a tattoo parlour, were kind of new to the concert promotion business. Also it was a cold night in a cold month. More than a decade has passed, and it's widely recognized that HOF is one of the hottest metal combos around. Thus, they were the headliners instead of the openers at an all-round kickass show at Capital Music Hall.

Opening act was Athens, Ohio metal combo Skeletonwitch. They were just starting to crank things out as I walked up the stairs at the Capital Music Hall. These dudes obviously like bands like Mercyful Fate and Exodus, and get some of their growl from black metal as well. They really motored through their set, stopping only to recommend the consumption of beer, pot and pussy between tunes.


Skeletonwitch at Capital Music Hall, July 23, 2010

Priestess filled the middle slot with their relatively more melodic metal take. I've already seen these guys a bunch of times ... I think they may be the out-of-town act I've seen the most of - heck, I've seen more of them than some local acts of similar vintage. They just keep on touring! This was a pretty hot set from them, and their projection backdrop was also working a bit better than it was at their Mavericks show with Early Man and Trigger Effect in November 2009.Unfortunately it was not such a boon in terms of photography.


Priestess at Capital Music Hall, July 23, 2010

Finally High On Fire appeared to steamroller everyone's eardrums with selections from their extensive catalogue of heavy metal thunder. Axeman Matt Pike kept up a never-ending barrage of his trademark sliding riffs while his mighty rhythm section served up a pounding backdrop. Unfortunately they didn't play an encore. Still, a mighty hot show. I'm hoping we don't have to wait another decade until they come through town again.


High On Fire at Capital Music Hall, July 23, 2010

Skeletonwitch and High On Fire are now off to Montreal for their inaugural Heavy Metal Fesival.

• Show reminder: Bloomistry, and Oceans are at the Raw Sugar Cafe; Horses, Orphan Choir, The Mudplots and Jersey Hurtt & the Skidkids rock the basement at 443 Kent St.; Danny Rebel & The KGB and The Living Sound System pop in to The Rainbow; Sandman Viper Command, The Panama, and Ornaments play Cafe Dekcuf; Captain Firebutton reunites at Mavericks; Irene's hosts Rudeboy; Uncle Sean and the Shifty Drifters and Marie-Josee Houle perform at the Elmdale House. Ska boys The Sidewalks and Dame Alexander are at the Avant-Garde.