Customer Reviews

Hail Horror

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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, yammering crybaby 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-based "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.

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.

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.

I would've never thought that Himsa would up the ante & make an incredible album such as this one. This is definitely WAY better & HEAVIER than Courting Tragedy And Disaster. The production is awesome, the songs FASTER. It starts off with Anathema, which sets the tone for the whole CD. I definitely agree with one reviewer, this is up there for the best albums of 2006. I highly recommend this for any hardcore metalheads.

wow, going from courting... to this is amazing. Wolfchild is absolutely phenomenal along with wither, pestilence, and anathema. Every song has awesome guitars and badass drums. definitely worth the money and this is a great group of guys who make unbelievable music

rock on \ m /

Al

Himsa is THE most gifted Metal band of today. Whenever I listen I hear emotion and melody in the music, and the voice is a part of that. I've seen Himsa live and they do not dissapoint, they are the most accurate and precise metal band I have ever seen. When you listen to the speed of the attack in their sound, you can't believe that they can actually deliver the assault.
Do yourself a favor and pick up the best metal CD of 2006.

I'm usually one that shys away from discs with a lot of hype behind them, but after careful consideration, and a viewing of thier hilarious video for "Sleezevil", I had to give it a try. The thing I like most about this cd is that it is straight out metal, they's aren't going to throw in some cheesey clean part, or sing you a ballad of broken heart, they are in the business of making straight up death metal influenced thrash. Besides "Sleezevil", "Wolfchild" and "wither" are really good. I was kinda happy to give this a chance as I had found previous material of their to be a tad bit generic, this one has more 'their styled' material. I liked this I'm gonna give it a 4.

This album is one of the best metal albums I've heard in years. NO JOKE. If you don't own it yet, you're freaking missing out. This is one of those albums that you can just let play all the way through. Himsa might not break much new ground as far as their style is concerned, but rarely do you find a band that meshes this well. FREAKING AWESOME!!!

Different than Courting Tragedy and Disaster slightly. The songs don't sound like they collectively wrote the album over time so much as the former did, as there are far less harmonies and extensive solos. But the energy is up five levels, the Tue Madsen sound is a bit better (aside from the sub-bass being a muddy blur as opposed to tight and punchy buss drum). Chad Davis varies beats to match the riffs, unlike the total-downbeat drumming on Courting. Pettibone careens through the lyrics like a train wreck (with a great voice that never tires of stale cookie monster growls). I don't think Himsa could ever do wrong. Anathema and Sleezevil are definitely not highlights, so the album really rips-open at the third track with The Destroyer, and cruises straight into the homeplate. Seminal is also another amazing shredder. I wish Himsa had put Lay Way The End, and I Possession (which may possibly be their best song recorded from this session) on the American release. Hail the Horror Kings. Like usual, I am quivering as I await the next Himsa release.

Himsa is not just metacore band, they more traditional death thrash with pretty aggressive sound. Strange, why they call them metalcore, or even emo. Melo-death metal with thrash feel, and little hardcore. No pop-like choruses and melodies ala Atreyu and Killswitch Engage. It is close both to Swedish analogies (At the Gates, Early Soilwork, Dark Tranquility, The Duskfall) and USA Bay Area Thrash scene.
They don't use a lot of breakdowns, but lots of catchy aggressive riffing, harmonies and good solos, vox sometimes have hardcore feel. Music is not the most original, but has plenty enjoyable moments for lovers of death metal, thrash metal, as well traditional heavy metal. Just aggressive, yet catchy melodies: I started dancing, then freaking head banging, and just was brutalized! Intense! Every song is tight and there no bad songs really. Minus one point for not being the most original band, however QUALITY MUSIC, and very catchy and brutal! 9/10