Some names simply seem destined for greatness no matter what. Every style across the entire spectrum of all that music has to offer has a particularly potent group that always delivers when the chips are down, and the people are utterly squirming for new material from the best that the style has to offer. For some time now, High on Fire has been such a beacon of magnificence for many. Having made their mastery known the world over for decades now, they need no introduction of any sort. Now, with their ninth full-length album since that fateful debut at the turn of the century, High on Fire is ready yet again to reassert their overwhelming dominance.

Success should not come as a surprise whatsoever when we’re dealing with acts like High on Fire. There are many reasons why they’ve become household names that are true pillars of the sound, but it still always tickles the senses from top to bottom to witness them come back around for another victory lap. In essence, that’s precisely what “Cometh the Storm” is with all the heaviness, groove, smoked-out approach, and tastefulness that we could ask for out of these masters. Eleven tracks clocking in just under an hour, this is a spectacular beast of a record that holds nothing back while managing to not just live up to the standard that High on Fire has meticulously crafted for itself over the years, yet it’s even in knowing that simple fact that this album seems to take on a life all its own. Even taking into great consideration much of the landmark efforts that have come over time, “Cometh the Storm” feels as much as continuation of mastery as much as it is the transition into a new age of High on Fire. It’s the sort of thing that I can’t quite put my finger on with it entirely possible that the raw splendor of the record has put me in some sort of trance, but I cannot help but feel as though High on Fire has tapped into something particularly special with this release.

“Cometh the Storm” was already up for consideration for one of the most anticipated works in metal for this year the moment it was announced, and it would be a damn shame if we weren’t to give this album the credit it so clearly deserves. Reviews like this almost feel pointless with High on Fire always deliver on such a high level that cannot be denied, but to not properly herald excellence like this would be a tragedy in of itself.

LISTEN to “Cometh the Storm” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE High on Fire on Facebook here.