HIMSA

Hail Horror

Prosthetic
rating icon 7 / 10

Track listing:

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


I guess I should have paid more attention to Seattle's HIMSA in the past, assuming that albums like 2003's "Courting Tragedy and Disaster" are as solid as "Hail Horror". I suppose one could make an argument for a vague metalcore sound on "Hail Horror", but most of what I am hearing is modern, Swedish-inflected American metal with a fundamental thrash center and a ton of crunch. The 10 songs utilize no clean vocals and possess just enough melody to be memorable. Though there is nothing particularly unique about HIMSA's style, the approach is honest, aggressive, and quite likeable.

Bangin' along to each of the 10 tightly performed and hard-edged compositions I couldn't help but think that just as Relapse bands (excluding the varied and esoteric end of the catalogue) have a generally identifiable sound, so do the acts on Prosthetic have a style that is immediately recognizable. Listen to CANNAE's "Gold Becomes Sacrifice" followed by a spin of "Hail Horror" and you will hear some similarities, among them the biting guitar tone, kick drum pummeling rhythms, and the full-on-all-the-time vocal approach of Johnny Pettibone (HIMSA) and Adam DuLong (CANNAE). Let me preempt any whining about the comparisons by simply stating that there is a similar aesthetic at work here, rather than a cookie cutter mentality. Besides, I find HIMSA's work to be a bit more enjoyable.

Anyway, before I digress even further, let me point out that "Hail Horror" succeeds because the group maintains a consistent quality across each of the 10 tracks. Songs like "The Destroyer", "Pestilence", "Wither", and "Seminal" (the standouts in my mind) snort, flail, and crush, yet utilize subtle guitar harmonies that add much more depth than is immediately apparent. The choruses by no means leap out and shake the stuffing out of you, but do provide something to grab hold of and remember. Repeat listens reward too. So yeah, HIMSA not only got my attention, but also made for some enjoyable listening sessions.

Author:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • reddit
  • email

Comments Disclaimer And Information

BLABBERMOUTH.NET uses the Facebook Comments plugin to let people comment on content on the site using their Facebook account. The comments reside on Facebook servers and are not stored on BLABBERMOUTH.NET. To comment on a BLABBERMOUTH.NET story or review, you must be logged in to an active personal account on Facebook. Once you're logged in, you will be able to comment. User comments or postings do not reflect the viewpoint of BLABBERMOUTH.NET and BLABBERMOUTH.NET does not endorse, or guarantee the accuracy of, any user comment. To report spam or any abusive, obscene, defamatory, racist, homophobic or threatening comments, or anything that may violate any applicable laws, use the "Report to Facebook" and "Mark as spam" links that appear next to the comments themselves. To do so, click the downward arrow on the top-right corner of the Facebook comment (the arrow is invisible until you roll over it) and select the appropriate action. You can also send an e-mail to blabbermouthinbox(@)gmail.com with pertinent details. BLABBERMOUTH.NET reserves the right to "hide" comments that may be considered offensive, illegal or inappropriate and to "ban" users that violate the site's Terms Of Service. Hidden comments will still appear to the user and to the user's Facebook friends. If a new comment is published from a "banned" user or contains a blacklisted word, this comment will automatically have limited visibility (the "banned" user's comments will only be visible to the user and the user's Facebook friends).