Chimaira have the distinction of being perhaps the most brutal band to ever come out of Ohio, a truly crushing album heavy as shit with electronic driven bass hits that send you back flying while being pummeled into a bloody pulp by the ferocious double kick work on the drums. The band is perhaps the remnants of an orgy between Slipknot, Vision Of Disorder and Slayer and a bastard son that any of the groups mentioned would be proud of helping father. With frenzied drumming, glass shattering vocals, a distorted shredfest of guitars with riffs that grip into you like meat hooks and tear off strips of flesh plus dead on bass riffs and electronic rumbling bass hits this group is poised to bruise any listeners stereo with its overdriven charge of musical rage. Vocals for the most part bring to mind Tim of Vision Of Disorder with growls, howls and screams being shoved out in a guttural trend but this is no one sided story. Mark the vocalist can also bring about tones reminiscent of Slipknot's Corey Taylor on tracks like "Painting The White To Grey" which shares some similar song structure ideas with aforementioned group. A talented vocalist, Mark's anger and fury will annihilate the listener leaving nothing but a charred imprint of what was once something alive and well. Guitars are mind numbing with their constant interchanging of blistering parts between guitarists Jason and Rob, heavy downtuned riffs that share a structure with hardcore meeting perhaps the riff textbook written by Slayer minus the unbearable solos are the order of the day and this pair serves them up well. Bass is perhaps the least noticeable instrument, but it does serve its purpose well providing a steady backboard for everything to be piled on assisting the riffs and drums to carry on at such a chaotic pace. Drums are close to the be all end all usage of Double kick, right up their with the drumwork of Slayer or Fear Factory, drummer Andy relentlessly hammers the listener with rapid fire bursts of low end heavy percussion pounding the songs forward done with a precise skill that features the force of a battering ram. A pleasant surprise that puts this band over the top is the use of programming which is sparsely placed well throughout the tracks and for the most part consists of thundering bass hits reminiscent of the most bottom heavy rap record. Standout tracks would be "Painting The White To Grey" which features a Slipknot reminiscent song structure, frantic vocal dynamics, booming bass hits and an all out assault of aggression so powerful it should do well to leave the listener in shambles. Another standout track would be "Lend A Hand" which features a bit more guitar experimentation, grating vocals backed with lulled sullen reaffirmation's and a firestorm of all that is classified as "heavy". The groups ability to incorporate mild electronic elements with explosions of anger that dissipate into spiraling emotional freefalls is uncanny. The only downside that this CD possesses is the slight lack of variation, although they do change it up quite regularly just a bit more might help give it even more edge, that and perhaps the humorous track "Satan's Wizard" which has to be heard to understand why. But still that track is something the band included for fun and it achieves its purpose of giving the listener a good laugh. Although not for the weak at heart this band is one of the underground's brightest hopes, such furious anger and intensity is lacking in today's scene and this band has come bringing it in excess, fuck a chiropractor, if you want your bones adjusted and cracked throw on this CD and sit back and be brutalized. Just when you thought Slipknot was intense as heavy can get, Chimaira begins to raise the bar above them.
(5 / 5)