We were doing some spring cleaning and found some shirts that we had made for the last show. One is Lemmy from Motorhead giving the bird and the other is a grave digger design. Check’em out, they’re up now in the Himsa wharehouse.
In an announcement that shocked the entire performing arts world, heavy metal band HIMSA’s lead vocalist, John Pettibone, has just been named the lead (Playing the role of “Tony”) in 5th Ave’s production of “West Side Story”. Long heralded as the quintessential “MetalCore” front man, a genre noted for it’s guttural, semi-incomprehensible, “Cookie Monster” song stylings, the revelation that John Pettibone possesses the vocal range and pitch perfect key was indeed a big surprise. Also well known for his aggressive posture and stage presence, it’s been speculated that the “Bernado” 2nd male lead, the more adversarial character, would be a better match, but John Pettibone has long resisted type-casting in his theatrical endeavors, of which there have been none. “Sure, yeah, I can sing, but my heart is really in the DANCING,” proclaims John Pettibone.
Well known for grueling, all consuming rehearsal and performance schedules, Pettibone’s radical career shift to musical theatre heralds the end of HIMSA’s 10 year run as one of the great “MetalCore” bands.
HIMSA’s announcement to retire from full time musicianshipery was not entirely a surprise for friends and fans, coming as it did in the wake of guitar player Kirby Johnson’s quiet return to the U.S. Professional Tennis Circuit earlier this Spring. Johnson’s stunning upset at Wimbledon in ’96 at age 16 heralded a hugely anticipated career, only to be interrupted by his choice to pursue a career as a touring musician, ultimately joining the HIMSA ranks. Both professions are similarly physically demanding and require rigorous lifestyle and training disciplines, and as a result Johnson’s wicked guitar triumphs were expected. Returning to the courts at age 30 might seem ambitious to some, but the relentless touring of HIMSA has certainly kept Johnson in top condition. “Eh, championship level tennis, rock&roll, it’s the same thing. But, tennis is forever, I figured I’d come back to it. Rock&Roll is a young man’s sport,” reasons Johnson.
References to Johnson’s stalled ambitions in professional tennis have been clearly presented by HIMSA, in both their groundbreaking “Unleash Carnage” video and the live performance staging for the “Summon in Thunder” CD Release event Fall’ 07.
Speculation runs rampant that the gracious and sophisticated HIMSA guitar player Sammi Curr (AKA “DJ Sammi Curr”, “Wicked good guitar player”, “Josh Mosh”, and “The Bitch”) will finally accept the long standing offer to Co-Host Rachel Ray’s wildly popular “Cook with Rachel” show (Soon to be “Shredding and Cooking w/Sammi & Rachel”). Often citing his culinary tastes and skill set are a bit advanced for the show as his reason for holding out, the Food Channel has been actively recruiting Curr for years towards bringing some Rock&Roll Cosmopolitan Urban International flair to the proceedings. Further speculation has it that in the light of HIMSA’S retiring from the road, it’ll all come down to salary negotiations, and the show’s willingness to work around Curr’s child psychology practice. “Yeah. Rachel Ray, she’s not annoying,” said Curr in a recent interview. “And one certainly has to applaud her scarf choices”.
Possibly most known in culinary circles for Curr’s work in high end, large scale edible sculpture, it’s long been a well kept secret that the figures representing the band in HIMSA’s “Big Timber” Video are made entirely of liver pate, or in the alternative (for the vegans) soy.
Derek Harn, bass player and original HIMSA member is believed to be intent on dedicating himself full time to the dispensation of his vast fortune via the “Harn Foundation”. Having tirelessly managed the business of the band, his business and financial acumen is well established (See also: Harn’s ‘04’s critically well received text on music business economics, “Blood from a Stone”). In between completingthe restoration of his Norwegian Castle, Harn will be traveling the rural outbacks of Tennessee and Kentucky continuing his personal quest to identify, document and protect the uniquely American, endangered “Bootlegger Moonshine” culture, and facilitating international exchange programs for the studying and sharing of revered distilling traditions.
Newest HIMSA member, drummer Joe, will return to his academic post at Yale University as a Physics and Bio-Engineering Professor Fall quarter.
World renowned as amiable and well mannered gents, the HIMSA collective invites you to join them in a shared celebration of 10 glorious years in the professional recording and performing industry and grand new horizons for all. Liver and Soy pate will be served. Tennis balls, economic & physics texts will be autographed. Pettibone will dance. August 16th @ Seattle’s El Corazon. Formal Attire. RSVP’s are greatly appreciated.
Believe it; Julianne Andersen
Seattle-based metal quintet HIMSA has announced its plans to disband. The group’s bassist, Derek Harn, has issued the following statement on the matter:
“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.
HIMSA will honor its legacy with a final performance at El Corazon in Seattle on August 16.
We’re back from Europe and Russia. We can’t tell you had much fun we had. Seeing Russia and hanging out with our new friends there was amazing. We’ll try to get some photos up soon. In the mean time, we came back with some extra merch and put it up in our store. You’ll find some new shirt designs, hoodies, necklaces, and keychains there.
Now is a good time to get a new copy of Hail Horror. We have 15 copies of the vinyl version and box of the CDs. If you’ve been trying to find a new copy, you know it’s next to impossible to find. Act quick on those!
For all our overseas friends, we’ve streamlined the PayPal shopping cart. No more going back to pay us after you’ve placed the order. All the extra shipping calculations are in there now.
Check some of the new goods:
As always, thanks for all the support. The Dominion is, and will always be, our backbone.
The 2008 Metal Hammer Magazine Golden God Awards are being held at the prestigious Indigo Venue at the O2 Arena in London on June 16th, the bands confirmed to play are Children Of Bodom, In Flames, Disturbed and a final special guest still to be announced with Gwar’s Oderus Urungus as the host for the evenings proceedings. By voting you’ll get the chance to win tickets to the event and a few lucky metalheads will win the chance to be taken aboard HMS Hammer and treated to special performances from Job For A Cowboy and Bring Me The Horizon while sailing down the Thames heading to the O2 Arena, where they’ll get to party the night away at the ultimate metal fiesta.
To vote for Himsa – Unleash Carnage and for details on how to get tickets go to: www.metalhammer.co.uk/gods
We have 2 dates planned for Russia with A Life Once Lost.
March 24 in St. Petersburg @ Orlandina
and
March 25 in Moscow @ Tabula Rasa
М. Фрунзенская,
Комсомольский проспект, дом
28 (здание МДМ)
Moscow
Russian Federation
Phone:248-66-88; 508-40-19
Web: tabulaclub.ru
Below are the dates for our upcoming European tour.
Friday, 02-29-08
The Roxy
Brebacher Landstrabe 15
66121 Saarbrucken
Saabrucken, Germany
w/ HIMSA, A Life Once Lost, Too Pure To Die & Anterior
12 EURO–ALL AGES
CLICK HERE FOR CLUB INFO
Saturday, 03-01-08
Matrix
Hauptstr 200
44892 Bochum-Langendreer
Bochum, Germany
w/ HIMSA, A Life Once Lost, Too Pure To Die & Anterior
12 EURO–ALL AGES
CLICK HERE FOR CLUB INFO
Sunday, 03-02-08
Markthalle
Klosterwall 11
20095 Hamburg
Hamburg, Germany
w/ HIMSA, A Life Once Lost, Too Pure To Die & Anterior
12 EURO–ALL AGES
CLICK HERE FOR CLUB INFO
Monday, 03-03-08
Garage
Grenson 9
0159 Oslo
Oslo, Germany
w/ HIMSA, A Life Once Lost, Too Pure To Die & Anterior
TBA EURO–ALL AGES
CLICK HERE FOR CLUB INFO
Tuesday, 03-04-08
Klubben
Martensdalsgatan 2-8
120 06 Stockholm
Stockholm, Sweden
w/ HIMSA, A Life Once Lost, Too Pure To Die & Anterior
185,00 kr –ALL AGES
CLICK HERE FOR CLUB INFO
Wednesday, 03-05-08
Musikens Hus
Pennygangen 66
414 82 Goteborg
Gothenburg, Sweden
w/ HIMSA, A Life Once Lost, Too Pure To Die & Anterior
185,00 kr –ALL AGES
CLICK HERE FOR CLUB INFO
Thursday, 03-06-08
Magnet
Greifswalder Str. 212
10405 Berlin
Berlin, Germany
w/ HIMSA, A Life Once Lost, Too Pure To Die & Anterior
185,00 kr –ALL AGES
CLICK HERE FOR CLUB INFO
Friday, 03-07-08
Juha
Jugendhaus Rosswein
Goldbornstrasse 18
04741 Rosswein
w/ HIMSA, A Life Once Lost, Too Pure To Die & Anterior
12 EURO–ALL AGES
CLICK HERE FOR CLUB INFO
Saturday, 03-08-08
Arena
Baumgasse 80
1030 Wien
Wien, Austria
w/ HIMSA, A Life Once Lost, Too Pure To Die & Anterior
12 EURO–ALL AGES
CLICK HERE FOR CLUB INFO
Sunday, 03-09-08
Zoe Club
Piazza Anita Garibaldi 13
Milano, Italy
w/ HIMSA, A Life Once Lost, Too Pure To Die & Anterior
12 EURO–ALL AGES
CLICK HERE FOR CLUB INFO
Monday, 03-10-08
Feierwerk
Hansastr. 39-41
81373 Munchen
Munchen, Germany
w/ HIMSA, A Life Once Lost, Too Pure To Die & Anterior
12 EURO –ALL AGES
CLICK HERE FOR CLUB INFO
Tuesday, 03-11-08
Kiff
Tellistrassee 118
Postfach 3147
CH-5001 Aarau
Aarau, Switzerland
w/ HIMSA, A Life Once Lost, Too Pure To Die & Anterior
22 EURO –ALL AGES
CLICK HERE FOR CLUB INFO
Wednesday, 03-12-08
Tilburg
013 Popcentre
Veemarktstraat 44
Tilburg 5038 CV
Tilburg, Holland
w/ HIMSA, A Life Once Lost, Too Pure To Die & Anterior
14 –ALL AGES
CLICK HERE FOR CLUB INFO
Thursday, 03-13-08
The Orange Box
Tabernacle Lane, South Street
Yeovil, Somerset, BA20 1QA
Yeovil, UK
w/ HIMSA, A Life Once Lost, Too Pure To Die & Ted Maul
8,50 –ALL AGES
CLICK HERE FOR CLUB INFO
Friday, 03-14-08
Barfly
78 Digbeth High St
Birmingham, B56
Birmingham, UK
w/ HIMSA, A Life Once Lost, Too Pure To Die & Ted Maul
10,00 –ALL AGES
CLICK HERE FOR CLUB INFO
Saturday, 03-15-08
Rios Leeds
The Grand Arcade
Leeds
Ls1 6Pq
Leeds, UK
w/ HIMSA, A Life Once Lost, Too Pure To Die & Ted Maul
8,00 –ALL AGES
CLICK HERE FOR CLUB INFO
Sunday, 03-16-08
Corporation
Units 1-3 Trafalgar Court Milton Street
S1 4JU
Sheffield, UK
w/ HIMSA, A Life Once Lost, Too Pure To Die & Ted Maul
10,00 –ALL AGES
CLICK HERE FOR CLUB INFO
Monday, 03-17-08
Barfly
260 Clyde Street
Glasgow, G1 4JH
Glasgow, UK
w/ HIMSA, A Life Once Lost, Too Pure To Die & Ted Maul
10,00 –ALL AGES
CLICK HERE FOR CLUB INFO
Tuesday, 03-18-08
Barfly
Kingsway
Cardiff, CF10 3FD
Cardiff, UK
w/ HIMSA, A Life Once Lost, Too Pure To Die & Ted Maul
10,00 –ALL AGES
CLICK HERE FOR CLUB INFO
Wednesday, 03-19-08
Underworld
174 Camden High Street
London, NW1 ONE
w/ HIMSA, A Life Once Lost, Too Pure To Die & Ted Maul
10,00 –ALL AGES
CLICK HERE FOR CLUB INFO
Thursday, 03-20-08
TBA
w/ HIMSA, A Life Once Lost, Too Pure To Die & Ted Maul
TBA –ALL AGES
CLICK HERE FOR CLUB INFO
Friday, 03-21-08
Muziek-O-Droom
Bootstraat 9
3500 Hasselt
Hasselt, Belgium
w/ HIMSA, A Life Once Lost, Too Pure To Die & Ted Maul
11,00 –ALL AGES
CLICK HERE FOR CLUB INFO
Saturday, 03-22-08
Schlachthof
Gartenfeldstr.57
65189 Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden, Germany
w/ HIMSA, A Life Once Lost, Too Pure To Die & Ted Maul
13,00 –ALL AGES
CLICK HERE FOR CLUB INFO
HIMSA kicks off their first North American tour in almost two years tonight as they hit the road with Amon Amarth and Sonic Syndicate. The group have triumphantly returned with a devastating new offering, Summon In Thunder, which is already being hailed by critics and fans as the band’s career defining opus. See below or visit www.myspace.com/himsa for their complete tour routing.
The inaugural episode of HIMSA TV, shot by King of Hearts Productions, has been posted online. In this wacky segment the guys give you a firsthand look into the insanity that took place at their record release show and present some out-takes from their “Unleash Carnage” video shoot. Click on the link below to check it out and stay tuned each week for new episodes from the road.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAbJaZYcXxY
Derek Harn (bass) checks in with the following report:
“Hey HIMSA dominion! It’s been well over a year since we’ve done a full U.S. tour and we’re all anxious to get back out on the road and rock you again. Our latest album, Summon In Thunder, has been getting great reviews and a lot of excitement from fans new and old. We’ll be playing a lot of new material on these dates and we have a new powerhouse of a drummer named Joe Frothingham. He hails from the woods of Washington state and he loves to beat the hell out of his drums.
“We are very fortunate to be playing these dates with Amon Amarth and look forward to making friends with them and Sonic Syndicate. Our thoughts and best wishes go out to the members of Decapitated and their families. Their presence on this tour will be sadly missed.
“We recently played our record release show in Seattle at El Corazon.We themed it out with tennis gear like the ‘Unleash Carnage’ video. Things got crazy, bodies and balls were flying constantly. Check out the webisode of that and the out-takes from the music video. We’ll be bringing you another installment next week with more footage and craziness from the road. We look forward to seeing you headbanging in the crowds across the country. Be sure to stop by our merch table to give us some high-fives.”
HIMSA recently completed a very unique video for the track, “Big Timber,” with director Jared Eberhardt. This is an abstract clip that focuses on the journeys of Sasquatch; you have to see it to truly believe it. Click the link below to check it out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtbO2W6Zsu4
The Seattle-based metal quintet’s ferocious blend of melodic, unrelenting thrash speed mixed with old-school influences results in a savage, unique and uncompromising sound that is welcome, refreshing and undeniable. This scorching new effort (and debut Century Media offering) also marks the return of original guitarist, Sammi Curr, to the fold. With Curr rejoining and collaborating with Kirby Johnson (guitars), the group’s integrity and passion were at an all-time high, resulting in their most dynamic, yet devastating material yet.
In 2007, HIMSA are destined to leave a definitive mark on the genre.
“Summon In Thunder is without a doubt the group’s finest offering yet.”
–Blabbermouth
“This is the sound of American metal’s next truly great band realizing their own excellence and basking in a self-made glow of invincibility—9 out of 10″
–Metal Hammer UK
Are you a die-hard Himsa fan? Want to be part of the exclusive Himsa streetteam? Win cool prizes by helping out one of the bands you love. If you would like to join the team, sign up here and follow the instructions on the page to start spreading the word about Himsa now!
*Sorry, US residents only for now.
*Please include a capitalized HM on the end of your last name. If you don’t you will be put on to the generic Century Media Streetteam*
Like a voracious hellion, the mighty HIMSA have returned to annihilate the masses with their scathing new metal assault, Summon In Thunder, which is set for a Sept. 18th release. The scathing new track, “Big Timber,” can now be streamed on the band’s official MySpace page www.myspace.com/himsa. The group will also head overseas this September for a month-long European tour alongside As I Lay Dying, Darkest Hour and Maroon. A U.S. fall tour announcement will also be made in the coming weeks.
The disc’s eye-popping cover art was handled by the renowned Paul Romano (Mastodon, The Red Chord). Check it out here.
Johnny Pettibone states; “Summon in Thunder - History has repeated itself in nature’s vicious circle, giving a warning to the deterioration and collapse of humanity around us all. The heaviness of inspiration and failure, the strive to succeed and the pain of defeat. A call of cleansing for man’s evils throughout the ages be it political, environmental, religious, or individual mental being. We all are guilty in the journey of survival.”
Summon In Thunder will also include such exclusive extras as a video for the track “Unleash Carnage,” a 15-minute making-of-the-album documentary, photo gallery and a bonus disc featuring tracks from an array of Century Media’s most promising new artists.
The Seattle-based metal quintet’s ferocious blend of melodic, unrelenting thrash speed mixed with old-school influences results in a savage, unique and uncompromising sound that is welcome, refreshing and undeniable. This scorching new effort (and debut Century Media offering) also marks the return of original guitarist, Sammi Curr, to the fold. With Curr rejoining and collaborating with Kirby Johnson (guitars), the group’s integrity and passion were at an all-time high, resulting in their most dynamic, yet devastating material yet.