Pike’s joined in the band by the rhythm section of bassist Jeff Matz and drummer Des Kensel. “My band is a lot tighter these days,” Pike says. “We’re making better music generally. Our new songs are more melodic. The shows are better – we put on a good show. Our sets are longer now.”
High on Fire’s sound is commonly referred to as sludge metal; an ambiguous label at best. “It sounds like another term for something,” Pike says. “Metal people are always inventing new terms to explain certain differences. [All the sub genres are] derived from Sabbath. It all comes from rock’n’roll.”
When pressed, Pike prefers to describe High on Fire’s sound as “unorthodox metal.” More significantly, he’s satisfied with the direction taken on Luminiferous. “I like all of it,” he says. “I don’t have a personal favourite – I like all the tunes. It’s hard to explain this new album. It’s more involved, more in depth, a little more melodic. We are getting better at our art, keeping it fresh, experimenting with new things, trying new things. I’ve tried lots of cool things, new stuff, have had a go at everything I’ve wanted to try. I know people in the instrument making department and they present me with new things to try: pedals, amps, guitars. I’ve experimented a lot with sound. I’m a pretty lucky guy. I’ve tried everything.
“My whole life is about making loud noises sound cool. Heavy metal is great for exorcising your demons, for letting out your frustration and anger. Being grounded, being good at your instrument means you’re creating a physical relationship with sound. It’s a great career choice. But it kicks your arse sometimes.”
High on Fire evolved out of the ‘90s stoner doom band Sleep. In 2009 Sleep reformed, which means Pike is currently a member of two bands at the same time, playing in two different, though related genres. “I’m jumping from one band to another,” he says. “They’re apples and oranges. I have to switch gears; it takes time to concentrate. I’m at Al [Cisneros, Sleep]’s house right now. We have shows in Canada, in Calgary, coming up.”
Pike’s listening tastes extend beyond the metal realm. “I listen to jazz stuff. Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Chick Corea. When it comes to proggy bands, I listen to Rush, Audio, to Tragedy, Black Sabbath. I always go back to Pink Floyd. I look at their back catalogue, retrace their steps from their career highlights, and I always learn something new. I listen to classical stuff – Beethoven’s Ninth is the most brilliant piece of music ever put together. You always learn things from people who are better than you. ”
Anyone that’s seen him on stage will attest that Pike was born to rule. “I’ve known what I wanted to do since I was about eight years old. I knew I was meant to be on stage performing. Touring and playing is part of my being; I wasn’t cut out to do anything else. I don’t do well at life if I’m not on tour. Idle hands are not that good for me. I stay out of more trouble by being on tour.
“I’ve been sober for a while now. It’s hard, at moments in life. Every now and again you fall off your bike but you pick yourself up and get back on. Self-medication is the easy way out, but you end up paying for it later.”
BY LIZA DEZFOULI
