2003 saw Himsa record and release their breakthrough album 'Courting Tragedy and Disaster.' Following the release of the album the band toured extensively throughout the US and Europe. They spent the latter half of 2005 in Denmark, recording their follow-up album, 'Hail Horror.' This album was released in early 2006 and displays a great deal of evolution in the bands' songwriting and skills. In comparison to 'Courting Tragedy and Disaster,' 'Hail Horror' comes off darker and heavier and features some more blistering guitar work from players Kirby Johnson and Sammi Curr (who returned to the band following a brief hiatus throughout 2004 and some of 2005). The album is also a step up production-wise.
In December 2006, Himsa signed a new record deal with Century Media records. They headed into the studio with producer Steve Carter, who produced 'Courting Tragedy and Disaster', and also brought Devin Townsend (vocal producer) and Tue Madsen (mixing/mastering) into the fold for their new album. The result was 2007's 'Summon in Thunder', a powerful, thrash-infused album with plenty of brutality and technicality. They will be touring in late fall/early winter 2007 with Amon Amarth, Decapitated, and Sonic Syndicate to promote the new album.
Himsa has advertised that their August 16, 2008 at El Corazon in Seattle will be their last show ever.
On June 20, 2008 bassist Derek Harn issued a statement via blabbermouth.net as follows:
"After 10+ years, four releases, countless tours and almost incomprehensible (yet constant) upheaval, the last three years of the band have been relatively stable. Having sacrificed everything we had in order to ensure the band's survival it's time to let it go. We made a great CD ('Summon in Thunder', Century Media); reportedly, our best. We've got a great label. We're getting along, we've toured and we’re fine. It's all good. We're leaving it at that. A relatively unremarkable closing to HIMSA's gi-normously dramatic career, there appears to be no acrimony or unpleasantness, simply the end of a blistering, phenomenal, tumultuous era of the metal that HIMSA permeated into the modern musical landscape. References have been made to the band's evolving difficulties with the relentless touring schedules that have been the hallmark of HIMSA's career. "If we can't tour, and our reality is we can't tour as we have in the past, then it's not HIMSA. Better to hang it up than fade away.”
Vocalist John Pettibone said that he will devote all his time to side bands such as The Vows and has said he is done with touring.
Current Members:
* John Pettibone – Vocals
* Kirby Johnson – Guitars
* Sammi Curr – Guitars
* Derek Harn – Bass
* Joe Frothingham – Drums
Former Members:
* Chad Davis - Drums
* Matt Wicklund – Guitars
* Mike Green – Drums
* Brian Johnson – Guitars
* Christian Schmitt – Vocals
* Aaron Edge – Guitars, Keyboard
* Tim Mullin – Drums
* Clay Layton – Electronics
Discography
* Himsa EP – 1999
* Ground Breaking Ceremony – 1999
* Death is Infinite EP – 2001
* Courting Tragedy and Disaster – 2003
* You've Seen Too Much (DVD) – 2005
* Hail Horror – 2006
* Summon in Thunder - 2007
Skinwalkers
Himsa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hellbent and hammered descent
Liquored, laid among the gathered
Hunter to runner in rival pissings
The scene is thickly managed
Paranoia recorded on tombs
Sizing, secular view-deconstruct identity
Siege them, seldom seen in towering eyes
Combat ills, it's murder for passage
Skinwalkers loom to roam alone
Half nature, half monster-arise from tension-evolved
From moderation
Nights slip with caution to the wind
Saviors sent to stripped-out surroundings
Phobic shock is valor when haste proceeds arrival
Black mass crusade for the loyalist
Ceremonial motherload-panic serves momentum in chaos
When the chase is on
Impetus at face value, will and weapon on the people
The walk of snipes in the plague of age
(Merci à nicolas pour cettes paroles)
The lyrics of Himsa's song Skinwalkers paint a picture of a dark and violent scene. The nights are getting shorter, and something sinister is lurking in the shadows. The participants are liquored and laid out among the gathered before things escalate quickly into a hunter-versus-runner scenario. There is a feeling of paranoia and insecurity that permeates the air, and the identities of the participants are being deconstructed and tested.
The skinwalkers themselves are portrayed as half-nature, half-monster beings that have arisen from the tension and chaos of the situation. The participants are combatting their own inner demons, and the stakes are high as murder is the only way to secure passage. As the nights slip away, everyone is on edge, with saviors sent to stripped-out surroundings and phobic shock serving as a driving force in the chaos.
The lyrics of Skinwalkers are dark and foreboding, with a sense of danger and tension that is palpable. They paint a vivid picture of a scene where violence and insecurity are the norm, and no one is safe. It's a haunting song that leaves a lasting impression, and the message is clear: beware the skinwalkers.
Line by Line Meaning
Nights will shorten to spill the skin
As time passes, the darkness and temptation to do wrong will grow stronger
Hellbent and hammered descent
Driven by our deepest desires and under the influence of intoxication, we fall into a downward spiral
Liquored, laid among the gathered
Drunk and vulnerable, we are prey to those who seek to take advantage of us
Hunter to runner in rival pissings
One moment we are the hunters, the next we are running in terror as our rivals turn the tables on us
The scene is thickly managed
The situation is carefully controlled and manipulated by those in power
Paranoia recorded on tombs
Our fears are immortalized and become part of our legacy, haunting us long after we are gone
Sizing, secular view-deconstruct identity
In a world that values conformity over individuality, we are forced to measure ourselves against secular beliefs and norms that strip us of our identity
Siege them, seldom seen in towering eyes
We are under attack from an unseen enemy, and those in power turn a blind eye to our struggles
Swelling spawn, sagging from the tint
Our offspring are born into a world that is tainted and diseased, and they suffer the consequences of our actions
Combat ills, it's murder for passage
We must fight against the evils that plague us, and the cost of this fight is often our own lives
Skinwalkers loom to roam alone
The monsters that haunt us are always lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike when we are most vulnerable
Half nature, half monster-arise from tension-evolved
These monsters are born from the tensions and conflicts that exist in the natural world, and they embody the worst parts of our own nature
From moderation
Our only hope is to find balance and moderation in our actions and beliefs
Nights slip with caution to the wind
As we give in to our desires and temptations, we become reckless and lose our grip on reality
Saviors sent to stripped-out surroundings
We look for salvation in the most unlikely places, hoping to find hope in the midst of despair
Phobic shock is valor when haste proceeds arrival
In moments of crisis, fear can be a powerful motivator, driving us to act with courage and resolve
Black mass crusade for the loyalist
Those who are loyal to the cause must band together and fight against the darkness that threatens to consume them
Ceremonial motherload-panic serves momentum in chaos
As chaos reigns around us, we find comfort in the rituals and ceremonies that give our lives meaning
When the chase is on
In moments of danger, we must be quick and decisive in our actions, or risk falling prey to our pursuers
Impetus at face value, will and weapon on the people
Our determination and strength lies in the people around us, who are our greatest asset in times of crisis
The walk of snipes in the plague of age
In the midst of a world filled with darkness and decay, we must find our own path and walk it with courage and conviction
Contributed by Colton I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
xbojamesx
nights will shorten to spill the skin
hellbent and hammered descent
liquored, laid among the gathered
hunter to runner in rival pissings
the scene is thickly managed
paranoia recorded on tombs
sizing, secular view-deconstruct identity
siege them, seldom seen in towering eyes
swelling spawn, sagging from the tint
combat ills, it's murder for passage
skinwalkers loom to roam alone
half nature, half monster-arise from tension-evolved from moderation
nights slip with caution to the wind
saviors sent to stripped-out surroundings
phobic shock is valor when haste proceeds arrival
black mass crusade for the loyalist
ceremonial motherload-panic serves momentum in chaos
when the chase is on
impetus at face value, will and weapon on the people
the walk of snipes in the plague of age
Versatile
nights will shorten to spill the skin
hellbent and hammered descent
liquored, laid among the gathered
hunter to runner in rival pissings
the scene is thickly managed
paranoia recorded on tombs
sizing, secular view-deconstruct identity
siege them, seldom seen in towering eyes
swelling spawn, sagging from the tint
combat ills, it's murder for passage
skinwalkers loom to roam alone
half nature, half monster-arise from tension-evolved from moderation
nights slip with caution to the wind
saviors sent to stripped-out surroundings
phobic shock is valor when haste proceeds arrival
black mass crusade for the loyalist
ceremonial motherload-panic serves momentum in chaos
when the chase is on
impetus at face value, will and weapon on the people
the walk of snipes in the plague of age
John Payne
Rip Himsa. Your fans miss you a lot. Thanks for the great music.
Art JR V
John Payne see you guys there 🤘🏽🤘🏽
SwollFullReady2Roll
+kelly d thank you so much for posting this fucking comment! See you fucking there!
kelly d
HIMSA October 29th 2016 at the EL CORAZON in Seattle...BE THERE
Nik Peterson
One of the most solid metal albums ever, fucking glorious, I'll always come back to this one
The Violator
Coming back to this in '19, old highschool jams for me lol
pilafek
+AyZeD I think the same. We need you back HIMSA :/
AyZeD
This came out in 07 and it's still just as solid as some of the awesome shit we get today.
DJ Tourniquet
This song still gives me goosebumps after well over a decade. Himsa will always be my favorite.
Miss Beastly
Those guitars ♥