A lot of people caught onto you guys after COURTING....and Prosthetic seems to have spared no expense in promoting the new record HAIL HORROR. The last couple of years were definitely good for Himsa, so do you hope to keep gaining momentum this time out or are you happy where you're at?

We are very happy at this point but we do still have a ton of work ahead of us. We accomplished a lot with “Courting…” and all the touring we did behind it. Now with “Hail...” we start over just in a next level kind of situation. The sacrifice and strain is still the same just we are offered some tours we never had before, there’s some playing room so to speak.

I got to see the Headbanger's Ball tour at Ziggy's in Winston Salem, NC. and I have to say, even though you guys had the opening slot, you made a lasting impression on me and I have been a fan ever since. I bought COURTING that night and listened to it non-stop for about a month straight! In my honest opinion, you guys stole the show. That entire tour had to be a memorable experience. What did you take away from that tour and did you learn anything new from it?

That was a dream come true for us as we are all huge fans of everything the man has done. We learned a great deal as far as “pro” tours go. We had a little background in how a big production goes from the Headbanger’s Ball tour, but this was a step up. Being on time for load in is mandatory. And stay out of techs’ ways.

I know you're a huge Misfits fan, what was it like sharing the stage with Danzig and Doyle on the Blackest of the Black tour?

One of the best times of my life. I felt 15 all over again.

I can tell you guys have tried to incorporate more of the old school bay area thrash sound into this record as well as some punk leanings, and have played down the swedish metal sound a bit too. Was this a conscious effort going in or did it just happen naturally?

Just happened in the way Kirb [guitarist Kirby Johnson] writes, this is his record for the most part and I am so proud of what he made.

I called you guys a "metalcore" band in my introduction to this very interview, and I've noticed that tag seems to follow you most often when people are describing your music. Does that categorization bother you at all, given the perpetual glut of product that comes out now under that same name, and more importantly, what kind of band do you yourselves think Himsa is?

A thrash metal band with a hardcore growler.

Tell me about the lyrical content behind the first single, "Sleezevil" What's the basic idea there?

It’s about the over saturation of religion-based bands in music, using faith to sell your band and profiting in its name.

You have in your ranks Sammi Curr, and you titled your newest record HAIL HORROR, and the lyrics from the album seem to be steeped a bit in dark imagery and fiction. Taking all that into consideration, are you aware that people sometimes call you guys a "horror rock" band and are you aware of that scene or any of it's bands at all?

Nope.

Tell me about the upcoming tour. What can we expect from Himsa live this time around?

Darkest Hour, A Life Once Lost, Acacia Strain and Dead to Fall. A great time and headaches. Maybe some broken limbs and bloody lips.

You guys practically tour all the time, so I know there have to be some humorous stories from the road. What is the best one that you can recall for us here?

Derek stage diving after I broke his bass during a set in England. He hasn’t dove since 1989, priceless.

I try to ask this of every metal band I do a feature with, and you're no exception. What are your top five metal records of all time?

Neurosis – Enemy of the Sun

Eyehategod – Dopesick

Bloodlet – Eclectic

Deadguy – Fixation on a Coworker

The Accused – More Fun then an Open Casket Funeral

Thanks a lot for the time. Is there anything you'd want to add?

Thanks for your time and support. Himsa.org - see you in the pit