INTERVIEWSListen to High on Fire's Savage 'Bloody Knuckles'

Bludgeoning perfection from the metal vets

Bludgeoning Bay Area trio High on Fire have seemingly entered a permanent state of metal flow. Fourteen years into its career, the band has mastered its woozy, pummeling music. Growler-guitarist Matt Pike yowls about violence and esoterica and riffs like he's engulfed in flames while the rhythm section of bassist Jeff Matz and drummer Des Kensel pitch and yaw as if playing aboard a Viking longship. It's perfect. So is "Bloody Knuckles," from the upcoming De Vermis Mysteriis, out April 3 on eOne Records.