Stoner/doom metal legends High On Fire have announced that they plan to commence recording for their seventh studio album in late January at Salem, Massachusetts’ GodCity Studios with producer Kurt Ballou. Ballou, who is also the guitarist in legendary hardcore/metalcore band Converge, is currently one of the most critically acclaimed and sought-after producers in extreme music. In addition to producing HOF’s most recent album, 2012’s De Vermis Mysteriis, he has helmed numerous classics from the likes of Nails, Baptists, All Pigs Must Die, Code Orange Kids, Trap Them, Skeletonwitch, Vallenfyre, Black Breath, Kvelertak, and countless others.

High On Fire wrote the material for the new disc over the past year in both their hometown of Oakland and in New Orleans. The songs have been described as “epic” and “sonically huge.”

According to drummer Des Kensel:

“Everyone is asking what the new HIGH ON FIRE music sounds like. Chew on some mescaline and listen to side B of SABBATH’s ‘Master Of Reality’ backwards at 78 RPM and it might give you an idea.”

To prepare for the sessions, High On Fire will play a series of U.S. dates starting January 6 in Birmingham, Alabama. The trek will wrap up on January 14, 2015 in Providence, Rhode Island.

The new, as yet untitled album is scheduled for a mid-year release via eOne Music. Stay tuned here at GoD for further details. Meanwhile, here’s something to appease you while you wait, the official video for “Rumors of War” from the album Death Is This Communion.

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