Search - Himsa :: Hail Horror

FINALLY, relief from 3-chord one-hit wonders. The Resurrect

C. Ramirez | Stony Brook, NY | 02/08/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For those of us who grew up appreciating metal in its prime (~83-~94), nothing has been more frustrating and disappointing than the last 15 years in the music industry. We have been forced to watch our favorite bands sell out, our favorite genre become nothing more than a footnote in history (and a misnamed VH1 special), and our favorite labels suddenly cater to either fringe subsects of metal or to baby-faced bubble-gum poppers who unconscionably replaced face-melting guitar solos with weak chorus-driven ditties. The final nail in the coffin of heavy metal was driven by all the *rock* stations in town who - almost simultaneously - replaced their rock-and-metal formats with the same aurally abusive playlist-driven "Classic Rock" format. Heavy Metal seemed to have seen its day, and many of us long ago stopped mourning the Infinity and ClearChannel-sponsored holocaust of Metal.



I stopped buying CDs by the dozen long ago. Not because I didn't have the money, and certainly not because I was downloading albums (insert anti-piracy pitch here). Metal simply did not exist. There is a definite demarcation line between the last Metal age and today... It began with Nirvana, and the gap between Metal and "in-music" just broadened from there. Seattle killed heavy metal.



Well, Seattle has finally offered its penance for years of polluting the airwaves with poisonous, uninspired grunge in the form of Himsa - and I accept.



I first heard Himsa last year on a REVOLVER magazine "Bootleg Series" free download - and I was hooked. What was this? Is that a *riff*? Is that a *scream*? Did that song really begin with something other than a little boy complaining about his daddy issues over the same retarded fifth chords? "Rain to the Sound of Panic" single-handedly restored my faith in Metal. I immediately ordered the CD on Amazon, and it didn't leave my car for months. That was "Courting Tragedy and Disaster" - and that is a different review altogether.



With "Hail Horror", Himsa continues to improve on a brand of Metal the likes of which I haven't heard in years: heavy drums, thick guitars and some of the best solo work I've heard since the golden age of Heavy Metal. "Anathema" starts up politely enough, then marches right through your gray matter with a pulse-quickening riff, stomping beat, and vocals best described as "deliciously painful". It just gets better. "Sleezevil" was pre-released months ago, and if that breakdown didn't have you bobbing your head ("No more... empathy!"), you've certainly expired some months ago. But my favorite has to be "Wither". The intro is a bit long, but just wait for it: it's half nailbomb and half anvil, coming back to assault you at the 5:30 mark. My kind of grind. The music on this album is a true homage to the heroes of Metal - Pantera, Ozzy, even Testament and Iron Maiden influences can be heard in the awesome guitar work of Kirby and Sammi.



Some will review this album and, with astonishing arrogance, dismiss Himsa as "just another in the crowd" of similar Metal outfits hitting the scene recently. This is just a long shot, but I'm guessing they only listened to Hail Horror once, and already have their favorite band (insert some other "__"-core metal band name here). Their protective smugness is not unfounded: Hail Horror is the new guy in town; and Himsa certainly stands to threaten all other candidates as THE metal band to be, see, and hear in 2006.



There is only one thing I hear now. It grows a little louder every day... it sounds like Himsa, and it is the heartbeat of Heavy Metal coming back from the dead. Thank you Johnny, Kirby, Derek, Chad, Sammi and Prosthetic for bringing back Heavy Metal that swings, cuts, and bruises. This just may be the new Golden Age of Heavy Metal."

On't just Hail Horror, hail Himsa

George Dionne | Cape Cod, MA | 02/13/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Good

"Anathema" is as haunting as it is devastating. The drums pound ferociously as vocalist John Pettibone delivers like a madman possessed. "Sleezeevil" kicks the tempo into overdrive as Himsa slams you with an all-out metal assault. Strap yourselves in for a fiery dual guitar attack courtesy of Kirby Johnson and Sammi Curry on "Pestilence." Pettibone unleashes his most intense performance yet with his vocals. "Wither" will suck you in with it's clean ballad-link opening instrumental, but will eventually drive a stake in your heart when the distortion kicks in. You can hear a lot of old-school thrash influence in the guitar work. Once again the guitar execution steals the show on "Seminal," while "Calling in Silent" represents the epitome of what metalcore is all about.



The Bad

Nothing notable



The Verdict

Death metal (metalcore, hardcore...whatever you want to call it) and I have a love/hate relationship. Most of the time I can't stand it, but every once in a while a band comes along and draws me in. Himsa just happens to be one of those bands. Sure, they have all of the same elements of the genre; heavy riffs, pounding drums, and snarling vocals, but I think that their sound is reminiscent of the thrash metal of the eighties, mixed with the harder and louder tones of today's metal. The vocals are traditional hardcore, but strangely enough sound in tune. Kneel down to the future dark Lord's of death metal. Don't just Hail Horror, hail Himsa."

One of this years finest albums

Anthony | Miami, Fl | 03/27/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I heard they were coming out with a new album, I though "Maybe I'll download some songs", I liked what I heard so I went out and bought the album, I wasn't dissapointed.



1) Anathema is fast paced and promises a good album 8/10

2) Sleezevil is the first single, and I think its one of the best of the album. 8.5/10

3) I really wouldn't listen to The Destroyer while in a room full of babies, because that song makes me want to go on a rampage. 10/10

4) Pestilence is a good haunting song. 7/10

5) Wither is alright, not too good. 6/10

6) Wolfchild is the best song off the whole album, its the song that pretty much defines himsa. 10/10

7) Seminal sounds alot like a song off courting tragedy.., its good. Love the vocal work. 7.5/10

8) They Speak In Swarms is another one that defines himsa. See what I said about wolfchild.

9) Calling In Silent is pretty alright. 7.7/10

10.) Send down your Reign is good, the vocals were a hit and miss though.



Overall I think this is a really good album for fans of metalcore, hardcore, or just metal in general."