“I turned 35 last year and this record is about still being inspired at 35.  Still into bands and being psyched by life in general, still a hardcore kid with an alternative side to life and away from mainstream ideals and morels.  I have the drive and motivation to be creative and this band is that drive“, opines Johnny Pettibone, lead vocalist with Seattle based metal outfit HIMSA.  “I’ve maintained that angst inside of me that I’ll never let go because I have a lot to yell about and it’s my medication to get it out, my medicine to survive”.  He’s not lying.  One spin of this quintet’s monstrous new metal opus ‘Summon in Thunder’ will convince you of that; a triumphant return that’s dynamic and intense, everything good metal should be. 

Underpinned by long standing bassist Derek Harn, drummer Chad Davis and demonic guitar duo Kirby Johnson and Sammi Curr, HIMSA is an artistic unit that came together in 1998 with unrelenting desire and beliefs, now rightfully dubbed the bearers of wrath and rage by their moniker’s Sanskrit origins, they embody everything intrinsic about their chosen genre.  Following 2003’s ‘Courting Tragedy and Disaster’ they were hailed in many corners as the future of metal and with the mighty follow up ‘Hail Horror’ emerging in 2006, it was clear this band was capable of achieving and exceeding all expectation.  “We toured heavily for ‘Hail Horror’, then took a break and started writing in January this year before recording in April.  I worked the vocals in Vancouver, British Columbia with Devin Townsend and it was great, just me and him, one on one, the creative juices flowing.  Of all the bands I’ve been in and all the albums I’ve written, this one I’m most proud of because we had enough time and space to really love everything we did”, beams Pettibone; and while the boys can sit back and gaze proudly over their personal masterpiece, the rest of us can look forward to a ferocious blend of melodic and unrelenting thrash that will beat seven shades of shit out of most US releases  this year; drawing on unique old-school influences that are as uncompromising as they are cyclical and actually, totally refreshing.  In Steve Carter (drum and guitar tracking) and Tue Madsen (mixing and mastering) they have renowned craftsmen behind the wheel, with the addition of Townsend they’ve thrown in authentic musicianship and an ear for perfection. “We’ve always worked with just producers and recording guys, but Devin has been in bands and has lived on the road.  I told him I wanted this record to come across like we do when we play live and he just said awesome, that’s all I need to know.  The biggest thing for him is pronunciation, he’s a self proclaimed English major who wanted to hear every letter and place greater emphasis on each word.  It made things more comfortable and after hearing it back, I got what he was saying because it didn’t sound like I had marbles in my mouth.”  

Listening to Pettibone enthusiastically describe the method and process behind this bands deep seeded creative instincts and combined electricity, helps paint a picture of how an authentic, committed and precocious metal outfit should be driven these days; to convey their own messages and styles across an unsuspecting audience.  Indeed, it’s that inner strength and confidence in their own ability, that sense of togetherness and dedication to put out on full display, a persona and presence that immediately grabs the listener and reels them into their world.  When said circle is broken temporarily, it’s like a body without a head, that inner sanctity temporarily tested prior to recording ‘Hail Horror’, by the loss of guitar nucleus Sammi Curr.  “Sammi left after touring for personal reasons.  For some reason at that time he just didn’t sit well with the band, so we worked with a new guitarist on ‘Hail Horror’ and it was good but then I met up with Sammi again a few months later and I commented on the longevity of the new relationship.  I knew then that he never wanted to leave the band and was now in a place where he was able to come back.  What’s great is that he never lost the essence of HIMSA and the timing was perfect”.  Like brothers reunited Curr and fellow axe grinder Kirby Johnson were back making metal magic again and as Johnny continues, creating twin pronged atmospherics that somehow re-ignited the real HIMSA.  “His connection with Kirby, their arrangements and tones just flow and they’re just this hugely effective duo.  That’s what’s awesome about this band there’s not one writer or arranger, everyone has their own ability but together, we gel perfectly.”

Whilst harmony has been restored, finding that inner peace and connectivity has taken time and left many rocks disturbed. “We’ve actually had 13 line-up changes; Derek is the only original member while Sammi and Kirby are both main stays.  It’s been a personal thing I think because this line up has been friends for a long time; Kirby and I grew up in the Seattle hardcore scene while Sammi had played in bands in the late 90s, often with Kirby.  Chad happened to come along when we were trying out for drummers 5 years ago; he came up from Portland and already knew all the songs.  As far as personalities go we’re all jokers, we’re all on the same page and have been through all the drama and bullshit, we do this because it’s what we love and if that spark’s not there, there’s no reason to do it.”  If there was only one true message for prospective metallers, then that’s it.

Throughout their near 10 year existence, musical styles and messages have changed with the winds and whilst most would come and go, HIMSA have stuck it out; yet following no pre-conceived path, just remaining true to their origins and influences and allowing their sound to grow.  Hailing from Seattle, there’s a certain weight of expectation from what is now become a vibrant metal scene.  “There’s definitely a great crossover at the moment in terms of metal and hardcore.  Seattle has a lot of new and progressing bands; Nevermore, Hell promise, The Helm.  I love being from there because it still has a great underground feel to it and granted, with the likes of Nirvana and Pearl Jam there’s a legacy but there are so many bands today who say yeah I was influenced by those guys but I’m in a thrash or a hardcore band.  That’s what’s great, they made the scene huge back then and yet you still see them walking the scene, hitting the shows.  I saw Kim Thayill at a 3 Inches of Blood show a couple of months ago and I love that they’re still 100% about the music.”  Without the inspirations, there would be no inspiration and he goes on to describe how because of one man, he knew precisely what his true calling in life was going to be.  “Vocally my biggest influences would have to be The Accused and Brotherhood, the first Seattle hardcore bands.  They took me under their wing and showed so much great music that I instantly fell in love with; Poison idea from Portland for example, Neurosis probably took a big hit on me as well when I was younger, but I also saw Black Flag live in ’85.  It was my first live show and after seeing Rollins play I was hooked.  I said fuck I wanna be a part of this and front a band, scream in faces, be the voice for the kids; that inspiration will never leave me,” he beams, while admitting, “I’m straight edged so I don’t drink or smoke.  Some guys need to drink a bottle of JD and smoke a pack of cigarettes before they go on stage.  I just do a quick warm up because the worst thing for me is aches and pains from skateboarding.  Vocally if I forget a lyric on stage, I’ll just throw the mic to a kid in the crowd and get them to knock it out, if you need help – just talk to the kids.”

Talking of inspiration, it takes a distinctive and unconventional mind to conjure up the eye catching and utterly distinctive cover art for ‘Summon in Thunder’.  From the imagination of Paul Romano (Mastodon), Headwarmer enquired as to the origin and inspiration behind the mythological representation, Pettibone lets rip, “the idea of the artwork is a strong take of how things are right now.  We’re still in the middle of this war but the powers that be don’t want to get out of it ‘cos there’s money involved, yet we’re all suffering from it.  I heard a story back home that three brothers were killed in the war recently, and amongst the hundreds of others I just thought, when does this stop?  That mother has lost all three of her sons and it’s like…how much does she have to take amongst all this greed.  They say we’re spreading democracy, well what the fuck?  Hitler wanted to spread whatever he wanted to spread and look what happened there.  I don’t feel any safer and this shit is still going on.  It’s kind of a vicious yin and yang if you like, the cycle of life; we live to fight and struggle for as long we can, whether it’s a life threatening disease, whether your rich or homeless, its still the battle to survive and Paul really brought that forward in his illustration I think.”

It’s easy to see that HIMSA and there front man are intelligent, witty, talented, but above all dedicated and ambitious guys who make a huge, raw and unrelenting rock communication that is meant to be taken for what it is.  Like Pettibone says, they’re not in it to change the world or make millions, that’s not their space.  They’re here to do what they love and say what they think, treating us all to some insanely lethal metal in the process, well that’s just fine by us.