Oakland, CA-based HIGH ON FIRE has entered Salem, Massachusetts' GodCity Studios to begin tracking their as-yet-untitled new album. The world renowned group featuring drummer Des Kensel, bassist Jeff Matz and guitarist / vocalist Matt Pike (also of legendary stoner metal trio SLEEP) is collaborating with producer and CONVERGE guitarist Kurt Ballou on the new effort; the band's sixth studio recording and follow up to 2010's Snakes For The Divine, which debuted at #62 on the Billboard Top 200.

A mid-2012 release date is expected via eOne Music.

"We are really stoked about recording this album," said Jeff Matz when asked for comment. "The new songs are turning out absolutely punishing; there are some seriously sledgehammer riffs on this one! Working with Kurt has been awesome as well. He's super easy to work with and is full of good ideas. The sounds that the guy gets are ridiculous and raw as f*ck but also clear and HUGE. I think this album will capture the essence of the band really well. It's still early in the process, but so far it's sounding amazing."

High On Fire's work on the new album follows more than a year and a half of world touring in support of Snakes For The Divine, which included multiple North American headlining jaunts and international festival appearances as well as tours alongside friends and peers in METALLICA, SLAYER, MASTODON and THE MELVINS, the latter of which saw the trio caught in both the February 22nd, 2010 6.3 magnitude earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand and the powerful earthquake and resulting tsunami in Tokyo, Japan on March 11th.

The popular US group was unharmed, but shaken after surviving its second natural disaster in sixteen days and was able to return to its native Oakland a few days later. NBC Bay Area spoke with High On Fire frontman Matt Pike following the Christchurch earthquake. That interview can be seen below:

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Tentative song titles from the new album include 'Serums of Liao', 'Madness of an Architect', 'De Vermis Mysteriis', 'Spiritual Rites' and 'Warhorn'. Early reports mark the new record as "direct, eye-opening and powerfully supernatural."

More details on the album will be made available in the coming weeks.