There comes a time in every career when change becomes part of the process. Sometimes it’s complex, sometimes not. Chimaira have gone through many changes since The Infection (2009). Regardless, I was super stoked for the release of The Rise of Hell.
Without a doubt, Chimaira is one of those bands that will always have me excited for a new album. Like a fart in the winds of plague, these guys have been through some serious crap since the last album touring cycle. Former drummer Andols Herrick, Jim LaMarca, and Chris Spicuzza all hammered the EJECT button from Chimaira between albums. If you grabbed the special edition from Hot Topic, you get to see a long interview with the band about the goings-on and introduced to the new members.
Alright, let’s dig in.
Chimaira Analysis
“The Rise of Hell” – Well, if you’re gonna start an album with a song…this is a fucking perfect way to do it. My skepticism melts away, as does my face. Rabid thrashiness with a solid death metal substratum. I’m intrigued…
“Clockwork” – A real gem of a tune that immediately showcases Austin’s rhythmic freshness as the new drummer. So many changes between sections of this song, especially the drastic and uncharacteristic saxophone “interlude”. Wow. Chimaira matures to the next level here. Amazing to be able to let a song like this breathe at just the right time.
“Losing My Mind” – table scraps from The Infection. Only update is that they add some clean vocals with some harmonies. You’ve already written this song!
“Time is Running Out” – We’ll call this one their “hard rock/party tune”. Simple concepts, catchy Alice In Chains -style vocals, groove-worthy. Decent guitar work at the end.
“Year of the Snake” – Yes. Hell yes. Exactly the kind of track I was excited for. A sludgy, doomy riff intro lurches a hobo onto a snare locomotive and derails right into a fucking relentless kick drum stomp-fest. The wreckage comes to rest in the middle of a soul-sucking breakdown. So badass, this is my favorite so far…. also, the guitar harmonies at 1:01 remind me of the dissonant horn work at the end of Chicago‘s “25 or 6 to 4″…
“Beyond the Grave” – hypnotizing… pulls you into a Crowbar-influenced trance. Powerful, open and “big” chorus. Simplistic melodic hooks. Not the kind of song I ever expected from Chimaira. At 3:16 we jump into a Lamb of God riff… Interesting…
“Born in Blood” – This intro could have been part of The Impossibility of Reason album without a doubt. Talk about getting back to your roots! Hahaha this section at 2:04 is cracking me up! Now, I understand that this is Phil Bozeman from Whitechapel , but you can’t tell me that “Where the Slime Live” (Morbid Angel) doesn’t immediately pop into your ear here! Hilarious!
“Stoma” = filler
“Powerless” – more hints at Alice in Chains-style vocals… late-album filler here, nothing worth getting exciting over.
“Trigger Finger” – groove-laden jam with some fun guitar riffage all over the place. This will be one of the first songs I’ll be figuring out on guitar.
“Scapegoat” – hardcore band anyone? Did these riffs come from The Impossibility of Reason too?! I love the intro to this song. Not much more to say here.
“Samsara” – I was always told that the most important notes in a performance are your first, and your last. This may be the last, but it just acts as the perfect bookend to a purely fantastic album. Finally, a chance to hear these guys let loose and show off a little bit!
If this is any indication of what is to come for Chimaira, things are looking up. Sometimes it takes drastic changes to bring about emotion. Clearly, emotion was a driving force in The Rise of Hell. It’s organic in concept, complete in musicianship, and is nothing short of a discography cornerstone.
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