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November 19, 2008 |
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01. Anathema
02. Sleezevil
03. The Destroyer
04. Pestilence
05. Wither
06. Wolfchild
07. Seminal
08. They Speak In Swarms
09. Calling In Silent
10. Send Down Your Reign
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You know, if one didn't know any better it would be pretty easy to condemn Seattle's HIMSA (John Pettibone/vox, Chad Davis/drums, Kirby Johnson/guitar, Sammi Curr/guitar, and Derek Harn/bass) as just another faceless Metalcore act in a long line of, let's face it... faceless Metalcore acts all jostling for their respective place in the spotlight over the course of the last year or so. The thing is though, HIMSA are a subtly more original and impressive beast by far. Admittedly, a beast which may not bear its teeth and claws as obviously as many of its competitors, yet who upon being unleashed bears both with a steely intent that is both ferocious and startling to behold.
For starters, these guys have been around for awhile now. Arriving upon the shores of the collective Metallic cerebrum somewhere back around 1998, they released their first CD in 1999, entitled "Ground Breaking Ceremony". This was followed by the "Death Is Infinite" EP in 2001, and then in 2003 following a move to Prosthetic, the release of the album which is still today heralded by many fans as their crowning achievement to date, "Courting Tragedy And Disaster". In many ways this body of work stands as a genre watermark in terms of being one of the better collective examples of a uniquely North American pioneering translation of the classic Swedish Gothencore/NWOSDM sound. While certainly flirting with elements of Hardcore, HIMSA's material (much like fellow stylistic contemporaries DARKEST HOUR and maybe even THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER) has always remained rooted deeply enough within Bay Area Thrash and Melodic Euro-style Death Metal to remain just that: Metal. When viewed objectively in hindsight, it is quite by accident really that they played a part in birthing the sound that would later morph and (d)evolve into the current Metalcore trend we are all so warily familiar with. Regardless though, HIMSA are still HIMSA, and HIMSA are Metal through and through.
"Hail Horror" is the latest installment in a catalogue that seems to be leaning towards quality over quantity. Whereas the excellent "Courting Tragedy And Disaster" was a much more involved and intricate recording rife with impressive leadwork and dynamic arrangement combined with the visceral brutality of a Hardcore backbone, "Hail Horror" opts for a much more open, spacious, and simplistic approach. Have no fear though...this is a good thing! In the context of the songwriting presented, this is an album which hits the listener hard and takes no prisoners, arriving with full-on Thrash brutality brought more to the fore with just enough of those infectious Euro melodies weaving all sinuous and serpentine throughout. If "Courting Tragedy And Disaster" was HIMSA in dark cerebral mode, "Hail Horror" shows a band intent upon exploring a much more immediately aggressive terrain. And the results speak for themselves with a fist-to-the-face eloquence that is hard to deny. "Anathema", "Sleezevil" and "Destroyer" kick things off in fine bludgeoning form, setting the tone for the entirety of the release, which for me personally peaked with faves "Wolfchild" rife with hook and heft, and the aggressive storm of "They Speak In Swarms". This is an approach which works well for this band and one which I can see forming the template of what will become their core sound.
My only complaint with this is one which I have leveled at the genre/subgenre that is all "Core" music as a whole, and that is simply that, as cathartic and emotionally purifying as such descents into aggression can be... the fact is that one can paint oneself into a corner if the philosophy is adhered to too closely. For what it is, "Hail Horror" works beautifully. I do however hope that on the next release we see and hear more of a return to what made this band stand out so in the first place, which was a greater concentration on musicality over sheer aggression. It works here, now, in this context... but I don't think it should become their entire raison d'etre. Know what I mean?
Otherwise though, as stated "Hail Horror" is a triumph as far as Thrash/Hardcore-based North American Melodic Death Metal is concerned. If you want to bang your head and exorcise a few demons then I honestly can't think of a better opening salvo than what is on offer here. This ain't no Metalcore band... this is HIMSA and it is METAL!!!
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