Tracks
1. The Age of Hell
2. Clockwork
3. Losing My Mind
4. Time Is Running Out
5. Year of the Snake
6. Beyond the Grave
7. Born in Blood
8. Stoma
9. Powerless
10. Trigger Finger
11. Scapegoat
12. Samsara

Band:
Mark Hunter (Vocals)
Rob Arnold (Lead Guitar)
Matt DeVries (Guitar)
Emil Werstler (Bass)
Austin D'amond (Drums)
Sean Z (Keyboards/Vocals)

Discography:
Pass Out of Existence (2001)
The Impossibility of Reason (2003)
Chimaira (2005)
Resurrection (2007)
The Infection (2009)

Guests:
Tony Gammalo – bass guitar on "Beyond the Grave"
Emil Werstler – additional guitar solo on "Samsara", additional keyboards and samples
Phil Bozeman – additional vocals on "Born in Blood"
Patrick Finegan, Lauren Dupont, Vincent DiFranco – additional keyboards and samples
Kalam Muttalib – saxophone on "Clockwork", additional keyboards and samples

Info
Produced by Ben Schigel, Mark Hunter, Rob Arnold

Released 26/8-2011
Reviewed 12/9-2011

Links:
www.chimaira.com
myspace
youtube
spv

Body of a lioness, a tail ending in a snake’s head with the head of a goat on it’s back. That is Chimaira, at least if we are to believe the greek but we all know about how much they know these greek. In today’s english language the word chimera is used to describe a vain or foolish fantasy, or a delusion. Chimaira can also be an american band from the town of Cleveland which according to the promo information is more of a hole, this american band has just released their latest album which is called The Age of Hell. At least that’s what you think, but how do you know that it is not just a chimera?

In the fantasy in which you exist this album falls under a category that is called groove metal, it might also be considered metalcore. It is very heavy extreme metal that has a lot of groove to it, it has parts of thrash metal as well has hardcore throughout the songs on this album. Speaking of songs I can tell you that you would fantasise twelve tracks on this album and they would take about fifty minutes to play through, you would also consider them very heavy and very groovy these twelve tracks. If you were to compare I would suggest that you thought of a band called Criminal, they do sound quite alike I would imagine. Production on this album is accentuating the songs and giving a general air of heaviness and groove, I would say that it is a good production giving the band a suitable sound for their music.

I would not call this album a mythological monster of an album even though some reviewers have done so if I look at how it has been rated around the web, I would however say that it is a rather good album. I like the groove and the power that the band showcase here, maybe some of the hard times they went though with members jumping ship before the next album led to them getting in a sense of emotion and emotional energy into this album. Only three of the members were actually part of the recording while they have now filled up the band again so that they are a complete unit for touring and whatever. I think they showcase lots of skills and knowhow but I am still not entirely convinced, they do not make me stop in my footsteps to think how good it is or anything, it is a good album to play through and that’s it.

I think that if you are a fan of Chimaira or other bands in the so-called groove metal genre I am sure you will love this album, for the rest of you I don’t know but it is a well made and good album so it might appeal to some of you as well. I leave it with a question though, a question of wether it all is for real or just a chimera? the answer is yours to find.

HHHHHHH

Label: Long Branch Records/SPV
Three similar bands: Criminal/Bleed the Sky/The Elite
Rating: HHHHHHH (4/7)
Reviewer: Daniel Källmalm