CONCERT REVIEW: High on Fire - Spirit Adrift - Dysrhythmia: Live at Le Poisson Rouge

In certain circles, some might say “so goes Matt Pike, so goes the entire metal scene.” As the co-founder of two of the most iconic bands of the last two generations of die-hard metal fans, Pike’s mighty riffs laid down with SLEEP and later with High on Fire has led him from the underground to mainstream love from critics and fans alike. With his debut book about to drop, and a solo album tentatively due in 2022, Pike is on a roll and a High on Fire show, playing their first concerts in a few years now, is a necessary ritual for fans.

The show, which took place at Le Poisson Rouge (LPR) in New York City, started out with a killer set from the Philly instrumental mathcore powerhouses Dysrhythmia. They are known for their ecstatic playing style, these dudes did a great job getting the crowd warmed up.

Next up were Arizona’s Spirit Adrift who got heads bobbing and bodies moving with their dignities brand of stoner metal. A highlight of the night was when the band crushed through their groove-laden track “Forge Your Future.”

Both Dysrythmia and Spirit Adrift contributed to set the tone perfectly for the Grammy-winning headliners, so when these legends took the stage it’s no surprise that all hell broke loose. When Matt Pike, bassist Jeff Matz, and new drummer Coady Wlliis (Big Business, Melvins) come to town, you know what to expect: a heaping helping of stoner doom metal excellency tossed right in your face. The crew did not disappoint, pulling out tracks like “Spewn From The Earth,” “Rumors of War,” and “Carcosa.” The set closers “10,000 Years” and “Snakes of Divine’ ‘left the crowd screaming for more yet happily satisfied. A stellar performance from a truly special band.