For the record, this is a biased review. I believe High on Fire best represents the essence of contemporary heavy metal (that is "heavy metal" without need for a prefix).The best thing about High on Fire is their strict adherence to the metal standard. Call it the Slayer or Motorhead ethic. Their ethic is this; never water it down. Matt Pike delivers the riffs and primordial howls. Des Kensel and Jeff Matz deliver a thunderous and fluid foundation. The subject matter is always arcane and provocative. Their work ethic is hardcore. They deliver the goods and the goods are badass. This is what makes metal, metal. They've maintained the ethic since "The Art of Self Defense" issued in 2000.De Vermis Mysteriis shows the full breadth of HoF's power and surprisingly strives to expand Matt Pike's vocals. Pike's voice is "interesting" to begin with, but his style of shredded throat/rumbling growl/apocalyptic scream is perfectly matched with the riffage and perfectly suited to the subject matter. He stretches his vocal range on tracks "King of Days" and "Warhorn" more than on any previous effort. Des Kensel is simply a thunderous beast. He has managed to introduce more texture and ripping fills to his already cacophonous tribal beats. Jeff Matz is solidified on bass after his third HoF recording with Pike and Kensel. He alternately provides sweeping plateaus and a driving backbone for Pike's riffs.Out of the gates, HoF delivers a trio of rippers in the narcotic "Serums of Liao," the pugilist pummeling of "Bloody Knuckles" and the weed-worshipping "Fertile Green." "Madness of the Architect" begins with a Sleep-like swoon which gives way to searing acid vocals and a relentless Stygian groove which spirals into chaos buried in a titanic riff and swirling drums. The push and pull of the track sequence is perfect, with "Samsara" providing a Sabbath-like instrumental interlude and slow burns "King of Days," "Romulus and Remus" and "Warhorn" filling in the cracks. "Spiritual Rites" is vintage "Surrounded By Thieves" and it gels seamlessly into De Vermis as Pike threatens "Deny my power and I'll burn you as the dead is". The title track lives up to billing, as Pike's warbled vocals hint at the unholy secrets enclosed in the cryptic tome, Mysteries of the Worm.This album is High on Fire's 6th full length album and they show no signs of slowing down. De Vermis Mysteriis reeks of all the best elements of High on Fire and sees the band at its utmost power. Maybe now High on Fire has achieved the Slayer/Motorhead ethic. I hope the steamroller keeps on rolling.All I know is when High on Fire decides to stop making music, I'll want to cut my ears off.