Death Is This Communion
by High on Fire
  • Record Label: Relapse
  • Release Date: Sep 18, 2007
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 29 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 29
  3. Negative: 2 out of 29

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. TomS.
    Oct 4, 2007
    10
    Holy crap. Their best so far, in my ears. Album of the year - along with Om's Pilgrimage, I expect. Sleep still rules, by proxy.
  2. KyleZ
    Feb 1, 2009
    9
    Very good! Love the atmosphere it creates, can't wait for more!
  3. JoeS
    Aug 31, 2009
    10
    Very original...very in your face. Hard core metal at its finest. The entire album, from start to finish, can turn a wimp into a fearless warrior. Matt Pike is the real fucking deal.
  4. johnp.
    Oct 2, 2007
    10
    HOF get better and more refined with time. All of their albums are mind blowing. This one, however is their masterpiece. The best riffs since classic Black Sabbath, bar none. Add elements of Celtic Frost, Motorhead(most notably on the old school thrasher "Rumors of War'') and Slayer. Matt Pike has outdone himself as the stoner metal god of the riff.This trio could very well be HOF get better and more refined with time. All of their albums are mind blowing. This one, however is their masterpiece. The best riffs since classic Black Sabbath, bar none. Add elements of Celtic Frost, Motorhead(most notably on the old school thrasher "Rumors of War'') and Slayer. Matt Pike has outdone himself as the stoner metal god of the riff.This trio could very well be the best metal band on the planet.… Expand
  5. cherylA.
    Dec 30, 2007
    9
    High on Fire tears it up live, but up to now, their LP's have left me wanting. This album sees them ascending from craftsmen to majestic. Inhale the rock all ye who dare!
  6. HenryH.
    Oct 23, 2007
    10
    Better than the World Series, Desmond Kensel pounded a homerun in Boston at the Underground. Rain and old weather did not keep the public wanting to see HighonFire! The line of people would not leave after the full sign came on. The vibrations of Desmond's Drums could be heard over MIT campus that night! E=mc2 was the message pounded on the drums that dark and dreary night and Better than the World Series, Desmond Kensel pounded a homerun in Boston at the Underground. Rain and old weather did not keep the public wanting to see HighonFire! The line of people would not leave after the full sign came on. The vibrations of Desmond's Drums could be heard over MIT campus that night! E=mc2 was the message pounded on the drums that dark and dreary night and student just echoed in their dorms the beat on their desks at 11:00PM. The Soundcraft K2 mixing board only reinforced what everyone could hear in Boston - -Fenway park was quiet that night, but the dull and rentless sound of the raindrops acted as background music to Desi's drums. The humidity was perfect too since a drought had come to an end and Desi's drums only echoed in Boston at 472 Massachuestts Ave.… Expand
  7. HT
    Nov 16, 2007
    9
    Not as impressive as "bless black wings", but an awesome album too.
  8. MikeP.
    Oct 25, 2007
    10
    This album kicks ass. Their best one yet. I would highly recommend it to anyone who truly loves heavy metal. There is no fake kid shit here.
  9. ChrisC
    Sep 29, 2007
    10
    Uhh...if you actually *read* the part of the website that talks about the formula, you'll see that all scores are moved away from the average to increase the spread. Some people, you know, actually do research before they act like dicks about something.

Awards & Rankings

69
#69 Best Album of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. Blender
    80
    It's sharp and in your face, like a scimitar. [Oct 2007, p.110]
  2. Spin
    60
    The Bay Area band increase their stylistic range, with flashes of psychedelia, and creatively druggy overtones to balnce out the epic pummeling. [Oct 2007, p.104]
  3. The New York Times
    80
    The deeper you go into the record, the more reassured you become that these musicians know what they’re great at.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »