TODAY WE LOVE

Listen on Spotify

Today's playlist

Click that iPod play button


FUNKED UP

2117¬Montreal's foremost exponenents of Prince-inspired dirty funk are back with their new album. Critics so far are impressed, Rave Magazine seeing the album as an affirmation of the band's unique style.¬False¬

Middle of the Trail

2101¬Rootsy folkster Ray Lamontagne continues his career as a Radio 2 botherer with his new album. Critics see it as competent but hardly revolutionary, scores coming it at around 6 or 7.¬False¬

Towering achievement?

2098¬There's a very rare 10/10 from The Skinny for the rapper, pianist and producer's album, released to accompany a feature film also written and produced by the maverick Canadian. Such enthusiasm is not shared by the BBC or music OMH, who regard it as interesting but only partially successful.¬True¬
Snakes for the Divine

High On Fire

Snakes for the Divine

Fifth installment of speeded-up stoner metal from the Californian trio

Critics average rating

7.1

Label
Century Media
Release date
08/03/2010
  1. 8.0 |  Pitchfork

    Shows that metal, in its most basic and elemental forms, still has plenty of visceral thrill left in it - as long as it's done right. And High on Fire do it right
    Read Review

  2. 8.0 |  Pop Matters

    High on Fire embody everything that is fun about heavy metal ... we’ll always know that there’s no such thing as a bad High on Fire album
    Read Review

  3. 8.0 |  The Music Fix

    Their progressive yet aggressive approach to their music is one that pays dividends
    Read Review

  4. 8.0 |  Blurt

    HOF play solely to their strengths and deliver an album that's a glorious step backward indeed
    Read Review

  5. 8.0 |  No Ripcord

    Snakes For The Divine is fast and comes out swinging from its first few notes
    Read Review

  6. 7.0 |  Drowned In Sound

    As ambassadors for metal, they remain near-peerless
    Read Review

  7. 6.0 |  Rave Magazine

    ...tracks like the album stand-out Bastard Samurai are molten dirge epics that make this record hard to totally dismiss
    Read Review

  8. 6.0 |  Q

    Print edition only

  9. 6.0 |  The Line Of Best Fit

    For a band that can be overpowering live, [producer] Fieldman has managed to EQ as much goodness out of the band as possible
    Read Review

  10. 6.0 |  Uncut

    Print edition only

Roll over video for more options

Track preview & download

High On Fire: Snakes for the Divine

  • Download full album for just £7.99
  • 1. Snakes For The Divine £2.29
  • 2. Frost Hammer £0.99
  • 3. Bastard Samurai £0.99
  • 4. Ghost Neck £0.99
  • 5. The Path £0.99
  • 6. Fire Flood And Plague £0.99
  • 7. How Dark We Pray £2.29
  • 8. Holy Flames Of The Firespitter £0.99
  • Service provided by 7Digital

Back On Top?

2114¬The Manic Street Preachers have had something of a critical rebirth with their last two albums, and that trend looks set to continue with their latest offering. The Line of Best Fit call it a "wonderful album", while The Fly reckon they "are in the form of their life". With only a few reviews in so far, it seems we could have a contender for the higher echelons of our chart.¬True¬

Pain and pleasure

2105¬Can the third of the three Mancunian electro-ish bands which featured in the BBC's Sound of 2010 list emulate the success of their counterparts, Delphic and Everything Everything? The jury's still out so far. NME is a big fan of the duo's 80s-inspired synthpop anthems, but The Guardian is far from convinced, and others find the album stylish but unremarkable. ¬True¬

Dream team?

2070¬You would imagine that one revered master of popular music working with the material of another revered master of popular music would result in something quite special. However that doesn't appear to be the case, according to many critics. Some find the album partially successful, others are seriously underwhelmed, such as The Guardian, which describes it as "horrible". ¬True¬

Mixed reactions

2106¬Very mixed views around on the fourth album from New York's prime purveyors of post-punk gloom, now back at their old label, Matador. Most critics accept they've moved on from the danceable rhythms and singalong hooks that leavened their earlier work. The reaction to what remains is very varied: some, such as Uncut, regard it is refined and elegant; others such as Spin regard the new material as dull rather than hypnotic. ¬True¬