By: Anders

Posted: Aug 3, 2005

One of the bright hopes for the metal scene, is one of the many things Chimaira has been named to be. I haven't heard any of the newer material from this sextet from Cleveland. The only album I'm acquainted with, is their debut "This Present Darkness" and I can’t say I was too impressed by that, when I heard it.

Apparently a lot of things have happened in the 5 years, since the debut album was released. From the hard hitting, catchy and straight forward opening track 'Nothing Remains'. It feels like it is another band I'm listening to, compared to their debut release. 'Nothing Remains' is mature and very well written track. Effective hooks, good and interesting melodies and aggressive drumming, delivered by the new drummer Kevin Talley, a man you should know from his past in Dying Fetus and Misery Index. He brings some aggression and toughness into the band. The vocals on the track are great and fierce as well.

All the way through the album, the band shows they are great songwriters and musicians. There are many catchy moments, great melodies and great guitar work, both good leads and solos. The breaks and drumming works well, mostly very aggressive and hard hitting. There are quite some twisted and complex parts, which works nicely with the more listenable parts.

The music is very thrashy with a hardcore edge and with some more groovy parts, which make me think of Pantera, take a listen to 'Bloodlust' and you'll know what I mean. There are some great and heavy neck-breaking riffs. There are a lot of great melodies as well, and many great guitar solos too, nice to see a band delivering modern thrashy metal and using solos! This is yet a band in between genres, playing on all strings possible.

The aggressive vocals drive the music ahead together with the guitars. It is kept up by the drumming and made exciting and atmospheric by the electronics, which once in a while is used. It isn't used that much and often very subtle. The production on the album is heavy and punishing, crank the volume up and you'll be met by a wall of guitars and blows to the stomach by the double bass drum attacks.

This is a good album, which really took me by surprise. I had expected something lighter and more digestible. I actually think this is an album that can unite fans of old metal and the newer kids in the game. There are parts of old thrash and more modern thrash and other styles. There are a lot of variation and some very hard hitting parts. The music is well played and well crafted. And the album is a grower, it keeps on growing for each listen. These guys will become big one day, if they don’t take the easy way and become too commercial, but keep it hard, heavy, aggressive and a bit complex.

Rating: 9/10

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