Originally written by Jason Jordan.
Because each Himsa installment is superior to its forebears, it would seem that the game of label hopscotch has only worked in their favor. Coincidentally, Summon in Thunder – their inaugural outing for Century Media – is a good, thrashy metalcore record that surpasses the band’s previous entries, but not by a considerable distance. In fact, if you didn’t care for the Prosthetic-funded Courting Tragedy and Disaster and Hail Horror, Summon in Thunder probably won’t change your opinion of these Seattleites.
Still, it’s not as if Himsa altered the formula here. The latest also brings a bundle of Swedish-inspired melody to the table that is sometimes reminiscent of the stalwarts. However, Himsa sound better than they ever have before, due in part to Townsend and Madsen’s involvement, and Summon in Thunder is noticeably heavier and more memorable than any disc in their catalog. Songs like “Haunter,” “Curseworship,” “Hooks in Hands,” “Ruin Them,” “Unleash Carnage,” and the title track are quick, hard, and to the point, whereas others such as “Reinventing the Noose,” “Skinwalkers,” and “Den of Infamy” take their time getting off the ground.
With 11 tracks overall, Summon in Thunder’s overt successes are the aggressive ones that don’t dillydally, but instead project a driven, determined nature. “Haunter” is a prime example of the aforementioned properties rolled into a cohesive whole. Even considering the shouts, growls, riffs, leads, and drums, SiT packs a punch and has plenty of catchy hooks to latch onto, but lamentably fails to offer anything that steamrolls the listener, except, perhaps, for “Unleash Carnage,” which is arguably the most jarring of the lot.
In light of the evidence above, Himsa’s fourth full-length can reasonably be deemed a safe yet pleasing listen for the accepting, -core crowd. Summon in Thunder is far from essential, but it’s also a testament to the fact that this quintet is improving while moving up the metal ladder simultaneously. Deserving or not, the next rung could be a major, mainstream label.
