High on Fire to Tour with Metallica

Just because I'm super stoked about the show tonight here's more High on Fire news:

"HIGH ON FIRE ANNOUNCES SPRING TOUR DATES WITH METALLICA

AWARD-WINNING OAKLAND TRIO TO SUPPORT HALL OF FAME METAL BAND THIS MAY

World renowned power trio HIGH ON FIRE will tour Europe this May with Hall of Fame metal band METALLICA. HIGH ON FIRE has been hand-picked by the legendary group to support it on a number of just announced live dates set to launch on May 11 in Belfast, Ireland.

HIGH ON FIRE and METALLICA will pair up for a slew of concerts over an almost two week span including live performances in Hungary, Croatia, Portugal, Israel and France.

“High on Fire is ecstatic to join Metallica on its upcoming tour,” said the band in a statement. “We are honored to be chosen by James, Lars, Kirk and Robert and look forward to introducing their loyal crowds to our brand of heaviness.”

The announcement of the tour dates with Metallica comes hot on the heels of the launch of the band’s U.S. headlining tour, which kicked off Wednesday evening in Minneapolis, MN. Presented by Decibel and Stereogum, the massive trek includes support from Priestess, Black Cobra and more. Referred to as “one the best live bands you will ever see” by the Chicago Tribune, HIGH ON FIRE will headline Chicago’s Lincoln Hall this evening and will play NYC’s Gramercy Theater on April 9."

May 11 Belfast, Ireland Odyssey Arena
May 12 Belfast, Ireland Odyssey Arena
May 14 Budapest, Hungary Puskas Ferenc Stadium
May 16 Zagreb, Croatia Hippodrome
May 18 Lisbon, Portugal Pavilhao Atlantico
May 19 Lisbon, Portugal Pavilhao Atlantico
May 22 Tel Aviv, Israel Ramat Gan Stadium
May 23 Lyon, France Halle Tony Garnier

And because I am lazy here's an article about High on Fire from Timeout Chicago:

"Long the domain of glue-sniffing heshers, brooding D&D players and inked-up outcasts, metal has lost some of the edge that once distinguished the genre from milder forms of entertainment. In fact, not only is it safe for white collars to dig Mastodon and Baroness, it’s as de rigueur to indie fandom as folk or hip-hop, and impossible to overlook when surveying the underground. Yet despite a scene that mutates unabated—encompassing everything from metalcore to crust—plenty of groups continue to stick with tradition.

On the boss new Snakes for the Divine, former Sleep shredder Matt Pike fearlessly leads Oakland’s High on Fire through thunderous, thrashing licks with a nod to Motörhead. An onslaught of furious double-kick drum attacks fuels Beelzebub-beckoning titles like “How Dark We Pray” and “Holy Flames of the Firespitter.” Merciless as a Viking’s call to arms, Pike fearlessly leads the power trio as it fights for heavy-metal hegemony.

Priestess had its own war to wage, recently back from the majors after a frustrating fling with RCA. Thankfully, the Canadian band has emerged fresh and newly ready to kick its industry detractors in the balls with lean licks and hooky headbanging on the group’s second album, Prior to the Fire. Frontman Mikey Heppner spares his voice from the throat-shredding abuse prized by Pike, instead favoring a melodic Ozzy howl that soars over vintage, admirably unadorned cock-rock. In a perfect world, it would be these acts, not Dokken, opening for Judas Priest in Heavy Metal Parking Lot."

High on Fire Website: http://highonfire.net/

High on Fire/Metallica Tickets on Sale now through Ticketmaster