Battling Titans: Pallbearer and High on Fire at UC Theatre

Metalheads are no strangers to the concept of giving up sleep in order to see their favorite bands live. However, there is something beautiful about a concert on a Saturday night. Everyone is able to let go of the worries of the week and the outside world, even if just temporarily. On November 4th, a legion of devoted metalheads gathered at the UC Theatre for a night that would leave ears ringing and hearts pounding. The lineup for the evening featured three powerhouse bands, each delivering their unique brand of heavy music. 

Before the music even started, the atmosphere was electric. Fans had lined up eagerly outside the venue, forging a sense of camaraderie among those waiting. The efficient staff created a welcoming environment while a sea of band tees produced a fitting prelude to the musical onslaught that lay ahead. One of my favorite pastimes before a concert is to track all the different band merchandise that I see. These fans came prepared, representing stoner rock and metal acts like Uncle Acid, Boris, Electric Wizard and Bongzilla, just to name a few. 

The crowd was a mix of generations. Friends, couples, and music enthusiasts, all gathered in the UC Theatre, a venue whose elegant chandeliers and high ceilings contrasted with the impending musical mayhem of High on Fire.

The night kicked off with a local underground sludgy stoner metal band called Glowing Brain. The trio delivered a wall of sound that transitioned from slow and steady to fast riffs and slamming drums. The first song was a headbanging, groovy masterpiece, with the guitarist melting faces via an epic solo across multiple octaves. The bass, crushing and all-encompassing, hit the audience like a battering ram, establishing a sonic foundation that anchored the entire set. The slow and steady rhythm transformed into a ferocious blitz of fast-paced, earth-shaking drumming, leaving no doubt that Glowing Brain was here to deliver a musical punch to the gut. As the night progressed, the band took the audience on a rollercoaster ride, blending elements of stoner metal, doom, and more, and leaving the still-growing crowd in awe.

Pallbearer, a band hailing from Little Rock, Arkansas, brought a haunting and impassioned experience to the stage that captivated the crowd. With their unique flavor of doom metal, Pallbearer proved that they are not just another band in the metal scene; they are an extraordinary force that deserves widespread recognition. Though I consider myself a doom metal fan, this was my first time experiencing the music of this genre live. I cannot overstate how impressed I was with the quartet’s technical skills, stage presence, and bravado.

As they took the stage, the mood shifted, and the venue was bathed in a sea of red lights. The opening song, “Endless Place,” set the tone for a performance that was equal parts melancholic and majestic. Pallbearer’s sound filled every crevice of my brain, not in an overwhelming sense but rather in the immersive and emotionally charged manner that enveloped the audience like a warm embrace.

What immediately struck the listener was the incredible clarity of the vocals, which rang out with a vibrato that cut through the darkness. Pallbearer’s vocalist, Brett Campbell, exhibited vocal control that was nothing short of astounding. His emotional delivery and high-pitched peaks lent an ethereal quality to their performance, making it a powerful and poignant experience.

Pallbearer’s instrumentals were equally impressive. The drumming was intense, with the drummer playing his heart out, skillfully punctuating the music with perfectly timed pauses. He took on the role of the trunk of a mighty tree, providing a steady foundation for the rest of the band to branch off into their own sonic adventures. It was this level of precision that showcased Pallbearer’s tightness as a band, with each member intuitively understanding the others’ contributions. 

Throughout the set, Pallbearer showcased their versatility, transitioning from slower, more contemplative tracks to faster and more powerful compositions. “The Quicksand of Existing” stood out for its relentless pace, demonstrating the band’s ability to deliver faster, more intense songs without compromising on emotion and technicality. A particularly memorable inclusion was their brand-new song, “With Disease.” It was before this song that Campbell announced the band’s upcoming fifth album, set for Spring 2024. The new track was a masterclass in dramatic singing, a new high in Brett Campbell’s vocal delivery. His ability to sing while also playing guitar only hammered home the band’s exceptional musicianship and their dedication to pushing the boundaries of their craft. Pallbearer’s final song, “Devoid of Redemption,” was a fitting climax to their set. The pink lights, combined with the band’s relentless energy, created a headbanging anthem that guided the audience towards the inevitable. The song masterfully transitioned from anger to pain, sorrow, and finally, death and decay, capturing the essence of doom metal in all its glory.

High on Fire, the local heroes of Oakland, took the UC Theatre’s stage with a level of fervor and intensity that only they could muster. The crowd erupted with cheers as Matt Pike, the band’s shirtless frontman, unleashed a raucous crowd call, setting the tone for a night of unadulterated sonic mayhem.

Unlike Pallbearer’s melancholic doom, High on Fire delivered a high-octane, pummeling style of metal that spawned pure pandemonium. The blue lights illuminated the stage, casting a chaotic ambiance that perfectly matched the band’s ferocity. The contrast between the two bands was striking; while Pallbearer enveloped the audience in a sonic embrace with their melancholic, harrowing doom, High on Fire assaulted them with an aggressive kick to the face. It was a tribute to the diversity within the metal genre and showcased how bands can carve their own unique paths. 

High on Fire’s set was marked by a relentless pace that left no room for contemplation. They kicked off their performance with “Turk,” launching into a campaign of fast and ferocious rhythms. The aggression in the drums was palpable, delivering short bursts that suffocated the audience until the guitar and bass exploded onto the scene. The trio, comprised of Pike, drummer Coady Willis, and bassist Jeff Matz, showcased an uncanny ability to create a sound that seemed to require four or five musicians rather than three. The band moved seamlessly from one track to the next, with Matt Pike’s growling vocals reverberating throughout the venue. His screams seemed to serve as a catalyst for the drummer and bassist, igniting a fiery jam session that only intensified as the night went on. Pike’s shredding guitar work was a standout feature of their performance. He delivered one blistering solo after another, showcasing his remarkable virtuosity. As the crowd moshed and headbanged, it was clear that High on Fire’s uncompromising performance was having a profound impact.

The audience’s engagement with High on Fire was unmistakable. They eagerly accepted Pike’s calls for a mosh pit, and as the night progressed, the pit grew larger, fueled by the band’s unrelenting energy. Each song in High on Fire’s set was a hurricane of persistent intensity. Tracks like “Spewn From The Earth” and “Rumors Of War” showcased the band’s knack for delivering fast-paced metal that precluded any respite. High on Fire’s performance felt like an adrenaline rush, an auditory assault that drove the crowd to a fever pitch. As they played fan favorites like “Fury Whip” and “Snakes For The Divine,” the crowd’s enthusiasm reached its zenith. The band threw dozens of guitar picks into the audience, a gesture of appreciation that was met with deafening cheers.

High on Fire’s set was a monument to their enduring presence in the metal scene. With their decades of experience, they demonstrated a level of confidence and stage presence that left no doubt about their status as legends of the genre. All in all, Saturday night in Berkeley will be remembered as a celebration of heavy music in all its forms, a testament to the enduring power of the metal community, and a showcase of the incredible talent these bands brought to the stage. I, for one, will not forget this experience any time soon, and I hope to see the exceptionally talented metal acts from near and far get all of the appreciation that they deserve. 

Written by Joshua Morse