High on Fire performs at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco on March 29, 2016. Photos: Derek Tobias. BERKELEY — Local heavy metal champions High On Fire returned to The UC Theatre from a year-long limbo Friday night. Following the appropriately gruesome partial amputation of guitarist Matt Pike’s toe, the band was…

Sleep performs at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco on Dec. 29, 2018. Photos: Gary Chancer. SAN FRANCISCO — The legendary stoner-doom band Sleep took the stage Saturday night at Great American Music Hall to a recording of NASA’s mission control as puffs of marijuana smoke rose…

In their tribute to metal god Lemmy Kilmister, Oakland’s High on Fire may have discovered the primordial energy that drove Motörhead into the rock and roll annals. Frontman Matt Pike, every metalhead’s favorite uncle, recently gushed that Electric Messiah is by far the best record that he has made.…