High on Fire are set to unveil their new album, Cometh the Storm, via MNRK Heavy on April 19th, 2024. Alongside the release announcement comes the reveal of their newest single and accompanying video, Burning Down.
Recorded at GodCity Studio in Salem, Massachusetts, with acclaimed producer Kurt Ballou, the album marks the band's first release since 2018's Electric Messiah and introduces drummer Coady Willis (Big Business, Murder City Devils) to their lineup, joining bassist Jeff Matz and guitarist/vocalist Matt Pike. The eerie and nightmarish visuals for Burning Down are brought to life by director Lars Kristoffer Hormander.
“Burning Down kicks off with a classic Pike riff,” comments Jeff Matz. “I think this song harkens back to the early High On Fire sound, but infused with fresh, new elements. It has a killer groove that you can really sink into. The body of the song took shape in our PNW rehearsal space, and we came up with the bridge/solo section and finalized the arrangement while we were at GodCity. Kurt Ballou’s input as a producer was also hugely helpful. His keen ears and fresh perspective were invaluable in making this album.”
“I think this band’s always had a really good drive,” says Matt Pike. “It’s a different entity. It’s its own thing. Which, I think, makes all of us very proud to be a part of it. It’s not an average band.”
“Being a fan of each other’s bands for a long time, it feels like all bets are off and anything goes which is a liberating feeling,” Willis adds. “That feeling of making something out of all of these imperfect parts and it becomes this magical, weird, new idea that none of us ever anticipated. Against all odds. That’s the joy of it.”
“It’s interesting, whenever there’s a lineup change in a band,” comments producer Kurt Ballou. “It can take a little while to rebuild. But it’s also an opportunity to reinvigorate the band and I think that’s what’s happened here.”