If you don’t own a pair of earplugs before attending the High On Fire, Mono, Panthers, and Coliseum tour that is currently wrecking the country, I highly suggest you buy a pair. In fact, buy several. This show is loud. Like ear shattering, glass breaking, raise the dead loud. Opening acts Panthers and Coliseum certainly brought the noise early on, but it wasn’t until Japan’s own Mono took the stage, that the night really got started. With their gorgeous, instrumental post-rock, the band swayed through an hour long set with highs and lows, full out bombast and total silence, and no words what so ever. The group effortlessly builds epic crescendos and cranks up the intensity slowly but surely throughout. The group kept everyone on the edge by maintaining these peaks backed by exploding cymbals and distorted guitars. Although it may seem like they are the odd man out on such a heavy bill, Mono demonstrate that just because they don’t have screamed vocals or double-bass breakdowns, they can still rock just as hard.

Matt Pike is a gnarly looking dude with a great reputation. Having a band like Sleep under your belt certainly sets the bar high, but Pike’s newest group High On Fire have done just fine on their own. After nearly a decade, the group has made a name for themselves as one of the premier metal bands in the world and with good reason. Pike’s trademark raspy, growled vocals sound even more evil live and his 9-string (!) guitar is a sight to see with your own eyes. Drummer Des Kensel slams away on his set, interjecting fills and double bass notes like it’s second nature. The group’s sound is freakin’ loud and Pike’s solos still sound a million times more massive live than on your wimpy computer speakers. High On Fire played some new material their latest, Death Is This Communion, like “Furey Whip” and “Cyclopian Scape”, as well as crowd favorite “Devilution”, all while slowly wearing away the ear drums of those in attendance. The group’s live show certainly does not disappoint and the “Freakin’ Loud Tour”, as I am dubbing it, of High On Fire, Mono, Panthers, and Coliseum is definitely not to be missed.

Photos of opening acts Coliseum and Panthers can be found here.
Photos of High on Fire and Mono can be found here.

More photos and High On Fire’s setlist after the jump.

High On Fire Setlist:
Fury Whip
Waste of Tiamet
Eyes & Teeth
Hessian
Death is this Communion
Speedwolf
Rumors of War
Face of Oblivion
Turk
Cyclopean Scape
Bagdad
Devilution

Mono:

High On Fire:

Tags: coliseum, high on fire, mono, panthers, photos, show review //