The Oakland, California band formed in 1998 and released 'The Art of Self Defense' on Man's Ruin Records, in March 2000. After Man's Ruin Records folded, the album was re-released via Tee-Pee Records on CD and vinyl with new artwork and two bonus tracks: Steel Shoe (an original) and The Ursurper (Celtic Frost).
Following, the band signed with Relapse Records and released 'Surrounded by Thieves' in 2002, with production help from Billy Anderson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Anderson_%28music%29). Founding member and bass player George Rice, would leave the band shortly before recording the next album.
In 2004, Relapse and Throne Records released the 'Live from the Contamination Festival' CD and LP (respectively) which was recorded in Philadelphia, PA. The CD is limited to 2000 copies and the LP only 1000.
'Blessed Black Wings', produced by Steve Albini, was released in early 2005, and was their first and only to feature Joe Preston (Earth, Melvins, Thrones) on bass. The vinyl version as well as the Japanese CD version of this album had the Judas Priest song Rapid Fire as a bonus track.
In early 2006, Joe Preston left the band and was replaced by Jeff Matz of Zeke. High On Fire then went on to release the Jack Endino (Nirvana, Soundgarden) produced and recorded album, 'Death is This Communion,' in September 2007. To celebrate this release, and the start of their tour for the album, the band played a free show at San Francsico's Amoeba records.
The band released their fifth full-length album Snakes For The Divine in February 2010 through E1 music. The album was produced by Greg Fidelman and stripped away much of the acoustic textures and layering of the previous album, leaving a monolithic heavy sound to the record.
On April 3rd, 2012, High on Fire released their sixth studio album, De Vermis Mysteriis.
The Yeti
High on Fire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Exists a creature of frost
His secret lies in the skies
Eternal legend survives
His powers unknown by man
To catch a glimpse if he can
Wandering deep polar caps
Abominable nomad
The ancient monks know his clan
The time of yeti will rise
Because his ways have been wise
The yeti's feet take flight, upon the tundran ice
Carries the saucer's key, upon the space bound seed
The yeti's feet take flight, upon the tundran ice
Carries the saucer's key, upon the space bound seed
"The Yeti" by High on Fire is a song that speaks to the existence of an elusive creature residing in the remote and wintry regions of the world. The first two lines of the lyrics describe the nature of this being, whose existence is surrounded by mystery and myth. The third line of the song reveals that the creature's secret lies in the skies, signifying that it is closely tied to celestial forces. The fourth line of the song emphasizes the eternal nature of this legend - it has existed for a long time and will continue to exist for generations to come.
The lyrics go on to describe the yeti as a creature whose powers are not known to man, creating a sense of curiosity about it. People who wish to catch a glimpse of the yeti must journey across the polar caps, a dangerous and grueling journey that only the most determined individuals are capable of undertaking. The next line suggests that the yeti communicates with a saucer, adding another layer to its mystical nature. The ancient monks are said to be privy to the clan of the yeti, implying that this creature has been around for centuries and has been the subject of numerous legends.
The final lines of the song reveal that the yeti's feet take flight on the tundra ice and it carries the saucer's key upon the space-bound seed. This brings a sense of closure to the song, alluding to the fact that the yeti is a being that has access to otherworldly forces and is significantly more powerful than anyone had previously thought.
Line by Line Meaning
Beyond the mountains of ice
The yeti can be found in a far-off, icy land.
Exists a creature of frost
The yeti is a cold creature of legend.
His secret lies in the skies
The yeti's power is a mystery and seems to come from above.
Eternal legend survives
The legend of the yeti has persisted across time.
His powers unknown by man
Human beings cannot comprehend the yeti's abilities.
To catch a glimpse if he can
If someone is lucky, they might see the yeti.
Wandering deep polar caps
The yeti roams the ice-covered regions of the world.
Communication with saucer
The yeti may have some sort of contact or communication with extraterrestrial beings.
Abominable nomad
The yeti is seen as a monstrous, wandering figure.
The ancient monks know his clan
In some cultures, wise monks have knowledge of the yeti's origins and customs.
The time of yeti will rise
The yeti's presence will become more apparent in the future.
Because his ways have been wise
The yeti has been successful in adapting to his harsh environment.
The yeti's feet take flight, upon the tundran ice
The yeti moves swiftly and gracefully on the slippery surface.
Carries the saucer's key, upon the space bound seed
The yeti may have possession of a valuable treasure or mystical artifact.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
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