Himsa
was an American metalcore/melodic death metal band hailing from Seattle, Washington. The name Himsa comes from the word Ahimsa, which in Sanskrit means "to abstain from causing harm". Removal of the "A" gives the word opposite meaning. Himsa literally means 'violence' in Sanskrit, Hindi and other Indian languages like Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu and Tamil.
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HIMSA TICKETS
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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 followup album,
Hail Horror
.
In December
2006, Himsa announced that they have signed with
Century Media Records.
On
April 23,
2007, Himsa entered the studio to work on their new album,
Summon in Thunder
, which was released on
September 18,
2007. This is their first studio album released on Century Media Records. This album added a more
melodic death metal sound to the band.
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 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, however has recently joined Seattle band 'Heiress'.
Discography
Studio albums
- Ground Breaking Ceremony
(1999)
- Courting Tragedy and Disaster
(2003)
- Hail Horror
(2006)
- Summon in Thunder
(2007)
EP
- Himsa
(1999)
- Death Is Infinite
(2001)
Videography
DVD
- You've Seen Too Much
(2005)
Members
Himsa has gone through many line-up changes, bassist Derek Harn was the only original member remaining.
(1998-1999)
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- Christian Schmitt- Vocals
- Brian Johnson- Guitar
- Aaron Edge- Guitar
- Henry- Guitar
- Derek Harn- Bass
- Mike Green- Drums
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(1999)
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- Christian Schmitt- Vocals
- Brian Johnson- Guitar
- Aaron Edge- Guitar
- Derek Harn- Bass
- Mike Green- Drums
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(1999)
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- Christian Schmitt- Vocals
- Brian Johnson- Guitar
- EJ Bastien- Guitar
- Derek Harn- Bass
- Mike Green- Drums
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(1999-2000)
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- Brian Johnson- Vocals, Guitar
- EJ Bastien- Guitar
- Derek Harn- Bass
- Mike Green- Drums
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(2000)
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- John Pettibone- Vocals
- Brian Johnson- Guitar
- EJ Bastien- Guitar
- Derek Harn- Bass
- Mike Green- Drums
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(2000- Asian Tour)
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- Chris LaPointe- Vocals
- Kirby Charles Johnson- Guitar
- Derek Harn- Bass
- Mike Green- Drums
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(2000)
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- John Pettibone- Vocals
- Brian Johnson- Guitar
- Kirby Charles Johnson- Guitar
- EJ Bastien- Guitar
- Derek Harn- Bass
- Tim Mullen- Drums
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(2000-2001)
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- John Pettibone- Vocals
- Brian Johnson- Guitar
- Kirby Charles Johnson- Guitar
- Clay Layton- Guitar
- Derek Harn- Bass
- Tim Mullen- Drums
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(2001-2002)
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- John Pettibone- Vocals
- Brian Johnson- Guitar
- Kirby Charles Johnson- Guitar
- Derek Harn- Bass
- Tim Mullen- Drums
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(2002-2003)
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- John Pettibone- Vocals
- Sammi Curr- Guitar
- Kirby Charles Johnson- Guitar
- Derek Harn- Bass
- Tim Mullen- Drums
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(2003)
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- John Pettibone- Vocals
- Sammi Curr- Guitar
- Kirby Charles Johnson- Guitar
- Matt Wicklund- Guitar
- Derek Harn- Bass
- Chad Davis- Drums
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(2003)
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- John Pettibone- Vocals
- Sammi Curr- Guitar
- Kirby Charles Johnson- Guitar
- Derek Harn- Bass
- Chad Davis- Drums
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(2003)
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- John Pettibone- Vocals
- Sammi Curr- Guitar
- Kirby Charles Johnson- Guitar
- Derek Harn- Bass
- Chad Davis- Drums
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(2003-2005)
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- John Pettibone- Vocals
- Matt Wicklund- Guitar
- Kirby Charles Johnson- Guitar
- Derek Harn- Bass
- Chad Davis- Drums
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(2005-2007)
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- John Pettibone- Vocals
- Sammi Curr- Guitar
- Kirby Charles Johnson- Guitar
- Derek Harn- Bass
- Chad Davis- Drums
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(2007-2008)
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- John Pettibone- Vocals
- Sammi Curr- Guitar
- Kirby Charles Johnson- Guitar
- Derek Harn- Bass
- Joe Frothingham- Drums
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Related bands
- Grip - Aaron Connell
- Harkonen - Aaron Connell
- Heiress - John Pettibone
- Nineironspitfire - John Pettibone
- Trial - Derek Harn, Mike Green, Brian Johnson, EJ Bastien
- Undertow - John Pettibone
- The Vows - John Pettibone
- Iamthethorn - John Pettibone and Aaron Connell
- Hell Promise - Brian Johnson
- Closed Casket- Chris LaPointe
- Sledgeback- Tim Mullen