# Cometh the Storm
**Cometh the Storm** is the ninth studio album by the American stoner and [sludge metal](https://www.edgepedia.org/sludge-metal) band [High on Fire](https://www.edgepedia.org/high-on-fire), released on April 19, 2024 through MNRK Heavy. It is the band's first album since *Electric Messiah* (2018) and the first to feature drummer Coady Willis of Melvins, Big Business, and Murder City Devils, alongside founding guitarist/vocalist Matt Pike and bassist Jeff Matz.[1](https://www.mnrk.com/press-room/2024/04/high-on-fire-releases-new-lp-cometh-the-storm/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | April 19, 2024, MNRK Heavy; the band's ninth studio album and first new music since 2018[1](https://www.mnrk.com/press-room/2024/04/high-on-fire-releases-new-lp-cometh-the-storm/) |
| Length and format | 11 tracks, 57:42 total[2](https://www.metalmusicarchives.com/album/high-on-fire/cometh-the-storm) |
| Lineup change | First album with drummer Coady Willis, who replaced founding drummer Des Kensel[1](https://www.mnrk.com/press-room/2024/04/high-on-fire-releases-new-lp-cometh-the-storm/) |
| Recording | GodCity Studio, Salem, Massachusetts, with producer Kurt Ballou[1](https://www.mnrk.com/press-room/2024/04/high-on-fire-releases-new-lp-cometh-the-storm/) |
| Distinctive element | Turkish folk influences, including the instrumental "Karanlık Yol" with Jeff Matz on saz (bağlama) and Rich Doucette on dilruba[3](https://www.kerrang.com/album-review-high-on-fire-cometh-the-storm/) • [2](https://www.metalmusicarchives.com/album/high-on-fire/cometh-the-storm) |
| UK chart peaks | No. 24 on the Album Downloads Chart, No. 20 on the Rock & Metal Albums Chart, No. 10 on the Independent Album Breakers Chart (first chart date May 2, 2024)[4](https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/high-on-fire-cometh-the-storm/) |
| Artwork | Runic art and design by longtime collaborator Arik Moonhawk Roper[1](https://www.mnrk.com/press-room/2024/04/high-on-fire-releases-new-lp-cometh-the-storm/) |
## Background and recording
High on Fire formed in [Oakland, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/oakland-california), after the dissolution of [Sleep](https://www.edgepedia.org/sleep-band) in 1998, and won the [Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance](https://www.edgepedia.org/grammy-award-for-best-metal-performance) with *Electric Messiah* in 2019.[5](https://metalbite.com/album/58530/high-on-fire-cometh-the-storm) The six-year gap between *Electric Messiah* and *Cometh the Storm* was the longest between albums in the band's career.[6](https://thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/high-on-fire-cometh-storm/)
**A new drummer.** Bassist Jeff Matz told *New Noise* that drummer Des Kensel announced his departure shortly after *Electric Messiah* came out in the fall of 2018, and friends filled in on drums during 2019 and 2020. Some album material dated back to the *Snakes for the Divine* era, but the songs only took shape after Willis joined, with writing intensifying around late 2021 and early 2022.[7](https://newnoisemagazine.com/interviews/interview-jeff-matz-and-coady-willis-of-high-on-fire-talk-cometh-the-storm/) Willis, already known to the band from touring with his other projects, described the collaboration as liberating: "all bets are off and anything goes."[1](https://www.mnrk.com/press-room/2024/04/high-on-fire-releases-new-lp-cometh-the-storm/) Producer Kurt Ballou said a lineup change can take time to rebuild but called it an opportunity to reinvigorate the band.[1](https://www.mnrk.com/press-room/2024/04/high-on-fire-releases-new-lp-cometh-the-storm/)
The album was recorded at GodCity Studio in [Salem, Massachusetts](https://www.edgepedia.org/salem-massachusetts), with Ballou producing, during the band's 25th anniversary year.[1](https://www.mnrk.com/press-room/2024/04/high-on-fire-releases-new-lp-cometh-the-storm/) During the downtime before recording, Pike released a solo record as Pike vs. the [Automaton](https://www.edgepedia.org/automaton), remastered and reissued *The Art of Self Defense*, and published a book of illustrated lyrics, *Head on a Pike*.[8](https://www.guitarworld.com/features/high-on-fire-matt-pike-jeff-matz-cometh-the-storm)
## Music and lyrics
The album continues the band's blend of sludge, stoner, and thrash metal, and several reviewers heard a return to the sound of earlier records such as *Blessed Black Wings* and *Death Is This Communion* after the more thrash-oriented *Electric Messiah*.[9](https://heavymusichq.com/high-on-fire-cometh-the-storm-review/) • [10](https://ghostcultmag.com/album-review-high-on-fire-cometh-the-storm-mnrk-heavy/) Its most distinctive element is a set of Turkish folk influences. Matz, a student of Turkish music, leads the instrumental "Karanlık Yol" on the saz (bağlama), an instrument he studied in order to master, with guest Rich Doucette adding dilruba; the track echoes artists such as Selda Bağcan.[3](https://www.kerrang.com/album-review-high-on-fire-cometh-the-storm/) • [5](https://metalbite.com/album/58530/high-on-fire-cometh-the-storm) • [2](https://www.metalmusicarchives.com/album/high-on-fire/cometh-the-storm) Eastern-tinged elements also appear in the opener "Lambsbread".[11](https://echoesanddust.com/2024/04/high-on-fire-cometh-the-storm/)
Pike's lyrics address what Kerrang! described as storm clouds brewing over the world, including nuclear war discussed casually rather than with fear.[3](https://www.kerrang.com/album-review-high-on-fire-cometh-the-storm/) Pike told Apple Music that one song calls out "people like the World Economic Forum and the billionaires who fly around in jets."[12](https://music.apple.com/us/album/cometh-the-storm/1729249506) "Sol's Golden Curse" was the first song he wrote with Willis, written during an initial visit to Los Angeles to feel out the new rhythm section.[12](https://music.apple.com/us/album/cometh-the-storm/1729249506)
## Track listing
All tracks as listed on Bandcamp and MNRK:[13](https://highonfire.bandcamp.com/album/cometh-the-storm?from=com-lr)
1. "Lambsbread" – 5:44
2. "Burning Down" – 6:12
3. "Trismegistus" – 5:36
4. "Cometh the Storm" – 6:11
5. "Karanlık Yol" (instrumental) – 3:46
6. "Sol's Golden Curse" – 4:51
7. "The Beating" – 2:28
8. "Tough Guy" – 3:43
9. "Lightning Beard" – 3:33
10. "Hunting Shadows" – 5:40
11. "Darker Fleece" – 9:58
## Release and reception
Two videos preceded and accompanied the release: a title-track video directed by Phil Mucci for Diabolik Films, and a live-style video for "Burning Down" filmed at GodCity during the recording sessions.[1](https://www.mnrk.com/press-room/2024/04/high-on-fire-releases-new-lp-cometh-the-storm/) The band began a U.S. headlining tour in support of the album on May 4, 2024, in [Orlando, Florida](https://www.edgepedia.org/orlando-florida), with support from Zeta and High Command.[1](https://www.mnrk.com/press-room/2024/04/high-on-fire-releases-new-lp-cometh-the-storm/)
**Critical response.** Reviews were largely positive. Kerrang! gave the album 4/5, calling it the band's best in years and praising Willis's drumming as "fearsomely filling the enormous shoes" of Des Kensel.[3](https://www.kerrang.com/album-review-high-on-fire-cometh-the-storm/) Anthony Fantano rated it 8/10, naming eight of the eleven tracks among his favorites.[14](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UEAtxacVvI) MetalBite ran two reviews, scoring it 7/10 and 8.9/10; the more critical of the two found the album taxing across a full hour but called Pike's vocals and guitar leads its highlights.[5](https://metalbite.com/album/58530/high-on-fire-cometh-the-storm) Echoes and Dust praised the long opening tracks and the closer "Darker Fleece" while finding some of the shorter back-half songs comparatively basic.[11](https://echoesanddust.com/2024/04/high-on-fire-cometh-the-storm/) AllMusic notes that the album appeared on several publications' best-of-2024 lists.[15](https://www.allmusic.com/album/cometh-the-storm-mw0004219436)
In the United Kingdom, the album spent one week on the charts from May 2, 2024, peaking at No. 24 on the Official Album Downloads Chart, No. 20 on the Rock & Metal Albums Chart, and No. 10 on the Independent Album Breakers Chart.[4](https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/high-on-fire-cometh-the-storm/)
## References
1. [High on Fire Releases New LP 'Cometh the Storm', MNRK Music Group](https://www.mnrk.com/press-room/2024/04/high-on-fire-releases-new-lp-cometh-the-storm/)
2. [High on Fire – Cometh the Storm, Metal Music Archives](https://www.metalmusicarchives.com/album/high-on-fire/cometh-the-storm)
3. [Album review: High On Fire – Cometh The Storm, Kerrang!](https://www.kerrang.com/album-review-high-on-fire-cometh-the-storm/)
4. [COMETH THE STORM – HIGH ON FIRE, Official Charts Company](https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/high-on-fire-cometh-the-storm/)
5. [Review: High On Fire – Cometh The Storm, MetalBite](https://metalbite.com/album/58530/high-on-fire-cometh-the-storm)
6. [Review: High On Fire 'Cometh The Storm', The Sleeping Shaman](https://thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/high-on-fire-cometh-storm/)
7. [Interview: Jeff Matz and Coady Willis of High on Fire Talk 'Cometh the Storm', New Noise Magazine](https://newnoisemagazine.com/interviews/interview-jeff-matz-and-coady-willis-of-high-on-fire-talk-cometh-the-storm/)
8. [Matt Pike: the redemption of the High on Fire and Sleep icon, Guitar World](https://www.guitarworld.com/features/high-on-fire-matt-pike-jeff-matz-cometh-the-storm)
9. [High On Fire – Cometh The Storm Review, Heavy Music HQ](https://heavymusichq.com/high-on-fire-cometh-the-storm-review/)
10. [ALBUM REVIEW: High On Fire – Cometh The Storm, Ghost Cult Magazine](https://ghostcultmag.com/album-review-high-on-fire-cometh-the-storm-mnrk-heavy/)
11. [Review: High On Fire – Cometh The Storm, Echoes And Dust](https://echoesanddust.com/2024/04/high-on-fire-cometh-the-storm/)
12. [Cometh the Storm – Album by High On Fire, Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/album/cometh-the-storm/1729249506)
13. [Cometh The Storm by High On Fire, Bandcamp](https://highonfire.bandcamp.com/album/cometh-the-storm?from=com-lr)
14. [High on Fire – Cometh the Storm ALBUM REVIEW, The Needle Drop (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UEAtxacVvI)
15. [Cometh the Storm – High on Fire, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/album/cometh-the-storm-mw0004219436)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musical works and recordings › Albums and recorded releases › Studio albums › Metal and hardcore albums › Traditional heavy and thrash metal albums › Thrash metal albums*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license