Himsa Explained

Himsa
Background:group_or_band
Origin:Seattle, Washington, United States
Genre:Metalcore,
Years Active:1998–2008, 2017–present
Label:Revelation, Prosthetic, Century Media
Associated Acts:Botch, Hell Promise, Iamthethorn, Nineironspitfire, Undertow, The Vows, Sledgeback, Heiress
Past Members:Personnel

Himsa was an American heavy metal band from Seattle, Washington. Formed in 1998, their band name is from the Sanskrit word himsa, which means "harm" or "violence".[1]

The group released four full-length studio albums, two EPs and one DVD before their disbandment in 2008.

History

The band formed in 1998 and released an independent EP and full-length album in 1999 on Revelation Records. Before being signed to Prosthetic Records, the band released one more EP in 2001, which was also on Revelation.

2003 saw Himsa record and release their album Courting Tragedy and Disaster. Following the release of the album the band toured extensively throughout the US and other parts of the world. They spent the latter half of 2005 in Denmark, recording their follow-up album, Hail Horror.[2]

In November 2006, Himsa announced that they have signed with Century Media Records.[3]

On April 23, 2007, Himsa entered the studio to work on their new album, Summon in Thunder, which was released on September 18, 2007.[4] [5] This was their only studio album released on Century Media Records. This album added a more melodic death metal sound to the band.

In the summer of 2016 they reunited and played a few practice shows opening for other bands. They played under various names including Crushpile and Metalmucil. Their official reunion show was October 31, 2016, at El Corazon.They are set to play Northwest Terror Fest May 31-June 2, 2018. The reunion lineup is all of the final lineup except Chad Davis on drums. John Pettibone has stated the band won't do any touring other than playing in the Seattle area.

Touring

In early 2006, Himsa toured with Darkest Hour, The Acacia Strain, A Life Once Lost, and Dead To Fall. During November 2006, Himsa toured Australia with Parkway Drive and Cry Murder.

Disbandment

Himsa advertised that their August 16, 2008, at El Corazon in Seattle was to be their last show ever.[6]

On June 20, 2008, bassist Derek Harn issued a statement 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."

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. Pettibone has since joined Seattle band Heiress, which has released a self-titled 7-inch and a split 7-inch with Narrows.

Discography

Studio albums
EPs
DVDs

Band members

Current lineup

Former members

1998–1999199919991999–2000
valign=top
  • Xtian - Vocals
  • Brian Johnson - Guitar
  • Aaron Edge - Guitar
  • Henry - Guitar
  • Derek Harn - Bass
  • Mike Green - Drums
valign=top
  • Xtian - Vocals
  • Brian Johnson - Guitar
  • Aaron Edge - Guitar
  • Derek Harn - Bass
  • Mike Green - Drums
valign=top
  • Xtian - Vocals
  • Brian Johnson - Guitar
  • EJ Bastien - Guitar
  • Derek Harn - Bass
  • Mike Green - Drums
valign=top
  • Brian Johnson - Vocals, Guitar
  • EJ Bastien - Guitar
  • Derek Harn - Bass
  • Mike Green - Drums
20002000
Asian Tour
20002000–2001
valign=top
  • John Pettibone - Vocals
  • Brian Johnson - Guitar
  • EJ Bastien - Guitar
  • Derek Harn - Bass
  • Mike Green - Drums
valign=top
  • Chris LaPointe - Vocals
  • Kirby Charles Johnson - Guitar
  • Derek Harn - Bass
  • Mike Green - Drums
valign=top
  • John Pettibone - Vocals
  • Brian Johnson - Guitar
  • Kirby Charles Johnson - Guitar
  • EJ Bastien - Guitar
  • Derek Harn - Bass
  • Tim Mullen - Drums
valign=top
  • John Pettibone - Vocals
  • Brian Johnson - Guitar
  • Kirby Charles Johnson - Guitar
  • Clay Layton - Guitar
  • Derek Harn - Bass
  • Tim Mullen - Drums
2001–20022002–200320032003
valign=top
  • John Pettibone - Vocals
  • Brian Johnson - Guitar
  • Kirby Charles Johnson - Guitar
  • Derek Harn - Bass
  • Tim Mullen - Drums
valign=top
  • John Pettibone - Vocals
  • Sammi Curr - Guitar
  • Kirby Charles Johnson - Guitar
  • Derek Harn - Bass
  • Tim Mullen - Drums
valign=top
  • John Pettibone - Vocals
  • Sammi Curr - Guitar
  • Kirby Charles Johnson - Guitar
  • Matt Wicklund - Guitar
  • Derek Harn - Bass
  • Chad Davis - Drums
valign=top
  • John Pettibone - Vocals
  • Sammi Curr - Guitar
  • Kirby Charles Johnson - Guitar
  • Derek Harn - Bass
  • Chad Davis - Drums
20032003–20052005–20072007–2008
valign=top
  • John Pettibone - Vocals
  • Sammi Curr - Guitar
  • Kirby Charles Johnson - Guitar
  • Derek Harn - Bass
  • Chad Davis - Drums
valign=top
  • John Pettibone - Vocals
  • Matt Wicklund - Guitar
  • Kirby Charles Johnson - Guitar
  • Derek Harn - Bass
  • Chad Davis - Drums
valign=top
  • John Pettibone - Vocals
  • Sammi Curr - Guitar
  • Kirby Charles Johnson - Guitar
  • Derek Harn - Bass
  • Chad Davis - Drums
valign=top
  • John Pettibone - Vocals
  • Sammi Curr - Guitar
  • Kirby Charles Johnson - Guitar
  • Derek Harn - Bass
  • Joe Frothingham - Drums

Timeline

Imagesize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:18PlotArea = left:115 bottom:80 top:0 right:10Alignbars = justifyDateFormat = mm/dd/yyyyPeriod = from:01/01/1998 till:07/01/2019TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyyScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1998ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1998Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom Colors = id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:lguitar value:teal legend:Lead_Guitar id:rguitar value:brightgreen legend:Rhythm_Guitar id:keys value:purple legend:Keyboards,_turntables id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:studio value:black legend:Studio_Album

LineData = layer:back color:studio at:10/01/1999 at:06/17/2003 at:02/28/2006 at:09/18/2007

BarData = bar:CS text:"Xtian" bar:JB text:"John Pettibone" bar:BJ text:"Brian Johnson" bar:SC text:"Sammi Curr" bar:MW text:"Matt Wicklund" bar:AE text:"Aaron Edge" bar:H text:"Henry" bar:EJ text:"EJ Bastien" bar:KJ text:"Kirby Charles Johnson" bar:CL text:"Chris Layton" bar:DH text:"Derek Harn" bar:MG text:"Mike Green" bar:TM text:"Tim Mullen" bar:CD text:"Chad Davis" bar:JF text:"Joe Frothingham"

PlotData= width:11 bar:CS from:start till:10/01/1999 color:vocals bar:JB from:04/01/2000 till:09/01/2008 color:vocals bar:JB from:09/01/2017 till:end color:vocals bar:BJ from:start till:07/01/2002 color:lguitar bar:BJ from:10/01/1999 till:04/01/2000 color:vocals width:3 bar:SC from:07/01/2002 till:09/01/2003 color:lguitar bar:MW from:09/01/2003 till:09/01/2005 color:lguitar bar:SC from:09/01/2005 till:09/01/2008 color:lguitar bar:SC from:09/01/2017 till:end color:lguitar bar:AE from:start till:08/01/1999 color:rguitar bar:H from:start till:01/01/1999 color:rguitar bar:EJ from:08/01/1999 till:08/01/2000 color:rguitar bar:KJ from:06/01/2000 till:09/01/2008 color:rguitar bar:KJ from:09/01/2017 till:end color:rguitar bar:DH from:start till:09/01/2008 color:bass bar:DH from:09/01/2017 till:end color:bass bar:MG from:start till:12/01/2000 color:drums bar:TM from:12/01/2000 till:09/01/2003 color:drums bar:CD from:09/01/2003 till:11/01/2007 color:drums bar:JF from:11/01/2007 till:09/01/2008 color:drums bar:CD from:09/01/2017 till:end color:drums bar:CL from:08/01/2000 till:09/01/2001 color:keys

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Henderson . Alex . Artist Biography . AllMusic . 30 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201114141835/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/himsa-mn0000958147/biography . 14 November 2020.
  2. Web site: Wiggins . Kevin . Matthew Wicklund (ex-Himsa) Interview . Rocknworld . 30 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060222004518/https://www.rocknworld.com/features/06/MatthewWicklund.shtml . 22 February 2006.
  3. Web site: HIMSA Sign Worldwide Deal With Century Media Records; Added To Third Annual Christmas Balls . BraveWords . 30 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220130040309/https://bravewords.com/news/himsa-sign-worldwide-deal-with-century-media-records-added-to-third-annual-christmas-balls . 30 January 2022 . 30 November 2006.
  4. Web site: Himsa recording new album . Lambgoat . 30 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210410114025/https://lambgoat.com/news/8749/Himsa-recording-new-album . 10 April 2021 . 30 April 2007.
  5. Web site: Rivadavia . Eduardo . Summon in Thunder - Himsa . Allmusic . 30 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160319232031/http://www.allmusic.com/album/summon-in-thunder-mw0000485213 . 19 March 2016.
  6. Web site: Himsa calls it quits . Lambgoat . 30 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171203102318/http://lambgoat.com/news/10943/Himsa-calls-it-quits . 3 December 2017 . 20 June 2008.
  7. Web site: Ground Breaking Ceremony . Encyclopaedia Metallum . 2024-05-11. 2020-01-26.