On March 8th, Oakland, California sludge metal trio HIGH ON FIRE will release their new album, Snakes For The Divine, in Europe via Century Media Records (under exclusive license from E1 Music).

The album is currently streaming in it's entirety at the band's MySpace page here.

BW&BK; recently received the following press release:

Electrifying Montreal-based hard rock band PRIESTESS has just released its long-awaited sophomore album, Prior To The Fire. Today, the band announces U.S. tour dates as direct support to Oakland’s HIGH ON FIRE on its just-announced spring headlining tour.

The three week trek will launch on March 31st in Minneapolis, MN and will also include BLACK COBRA and BISON B.C. A full listing of upcoming Priestess tour dates can be found below.

Priestess’ brand new music video – for the explosive track 'Ladykiller' can also be seen below. Filmed on location in the band’s hometown with director David Valiquette, the entrancing clip centers on “a slayer, an artist’s demesure and sacrifice for art’s sake” while a live human version of Les Demoiselles d’Avignon slowly comes “to life”.

Recorded in Los Angeles with producer David Schiffman (SYSTEM OF A DOWN, MARS VOLTA, NINE INCH NAILS), Prior To The Fire underlines Priestess’ hard-hitting songwriting, memorable hooks and earth-shaking ability to rock. With a sound built upon a resolute sense of purpose and shaped by hundreds of explosive live shows, Priestess’ Prior To The Fire is an electric recording, bringing to light a colorful pool of both creativity and innovation. The long-awaited follow up to 2006’s critically acclaimed debut Hello Master, Prior To The Fire has met to shining fan and critical acclaim in the weeks leading up to its release.

“It wasn’t the easiest record to make,” says Heppner. “But the hard work definitely paid off and we’re really, really proud of the end result. We’ve done so much touring and seen so much since our first record that it only galvanized our feelings of what the band is. The songs that make up Prior To The Fire were meant to be heard live and loud. We can’t wait to get out on tour again and really do them justice!”

Formed in 2003, Priestess has consistently garnered top notch praise for its dynamic sound and monstrous modern rock. The band has toured incessantly since its inception, sharing stages the world over with friends and peers such as MASTODON, THE SWORD, CONVERGE, DINOSAUR JR. and MOTÖRHEAD. The band’s song 'Lay Down' is currently featured in the video game Guitar Hero III; Legends of Rock and the new song 'Raccoon Eyes' (from Prior To The Fire) appears on the soundtrack to the wildly popular EA Sports game NHL 10.

Priestess features vocalist / guitarist Mikey Heppner, Dan Watchorn (guitar, backing vocals), Mike Dyball (bass) and Vince Nudo (drums, percussion, backing vocals).

Priestess tour dates:

European tour with Bigelf:

February

20 - Oxford, UK - Academy 2
22 - Glasgow, Scotland - Cathouse
23 - Manchester, UK - Club Academy
24 - Wolverhampton, UK - Little Civic
25 - London, UK - Underworld

March

13 - Brooklyn, NY - The Music Hall of Williamsburg

US tour with High On Fire:

March

31 - Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock Social Club

April

1 - Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon
2 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
3 - Columbus, OH - Skully's Music Diner
5 - Morgantown, WV - 123 Pleasant St
6 - Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
7 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East
8 - Milford, CT - Daniel St
9 - New York, NY - Gramercy Theater
11 - Washington, DC - Black Cat
13 - Charlotte, NC - Tremont Music Hall
14 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade
15 - New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jack’s
16 - Houston, TX - Walter’s on Washington
17 - Austin, TX - Emo's
18 - Dallas, TX - The Loft
20 - Boulder, CO - Fox Theater
22 - Tempe, AZ - Club House
23 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre
24 - Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit Bar
25 - San Diego, CA - Casbah