Cleveland, OH's Chimaira have definitely managed to whip up quite a buzz for themselves with an internationally aired performance on "Farmclub.com", constant touring and the strength of their independent debut, "This Present Darkness". But it would seem that all this is merely the tip of the iceberg as the music contained on this, their Roadrunner/Island/Def Jam debut, is enough to thoroughly annihilate anything that dares stand in its path. With the precision and technical grace of Slayer, the band barrel through careening speed metal and collide dead into Slipknot-esque new metal tinged chug complete with disorienting walls of Fear Factory reminiscent electronic power surges and a tenacious ferocity not seen since Vision Of Disorder's "Imprint".

Band frontman Mark Hunter's lung wrenching vocals are extremely intimidating as he barks out words with an enraged metalcore meets death metal growl that suits the pugnacious nature of the band perfectly. At times, also toying with some Alice In Chains reminiscent melody, a versatile performance is delivered and its results are nothing short of devastatingly cathartic. Guitar work courtesy of Rob Arnold and now former guitarist Jason Hager is equally as vicious, ripping through riffs that combine elements of death and speed metal with a new metal aesthetic to create searing tidal waves of thick, distorted sonic aggression. Bass wise, a liberal amount of downtuning and looming notes give the tracks an undeniable gritty snarl, while an utterly explosive percussive performance courtesy of band drummer Andy Herrick is relentlessly dished out underneath. Extremely precise, extremely talented and extremely heavy, Andy's thundering walls of double kick wizardry and fierce stomp grooves along with the occasional blast beat, really give the group a technical edge that brings to mind former Slayer sticksman Dave Lombardo or Fear Factory's Raymond Herrera. Evened out by creeping splashes of electronically manipulated ambiance and expertly placed concussion inducing bass hits courtesy of band sampler/programmer Chris "Casio" Spicuzza, Chimaira are definitely a band near the top of their game.

The first thing that instantly jumps out when listening to the album is the authentic heaviness of it all. Its so ferociously charged, that it nearly becomes a first class trip through depravity and yet all the while its meticulously crafted and constructed into such effective song structures that it blurs the line between intelligently played technical proficiency and violently maniacal intensity to near transparent proportions. Its dynamic and is able to slow things down just as easily as it is to pick them back up, and the addition of a few well refined vocal melodies and the constant scorching electronic atmosphere add a vibrant balance overall, giving the album a sense of longevity and progression when played from start to finish. Perhaps the best part about Chimaira though is rather than try to progress forward into new grounds and evolve the rapidly cliche sounding new metal playbook, they instead take a few notes from it and proceed to delve into the back catalog of some of extreme metals greats, concocting a mix of old and new that is far too fiery and challenging to be ignored. However, some complaints may be registered against the band in the form of the production included here, which is admittedly quite slick, contrasting quite a bit with the rawer sounds their EP put forth. Still, though this may turn a few of their older, more traditional metal loving audience away, it will surely help them conquer the bulk of today's audiences who are more inclined to music that sounds heavy, colorful and crisp. Admittedly, there is also the possibility that the elements the band toy with may be a bit too extreme for those not used to heavier sounds, while it is also true that a few of the songs featured here do occasionally meander on with drawn out outros and breakdowns. As a finished product though, "Pass Out Of Existence" manages to overcome these cons and goes on to place Chimaira in the enviable position of leading the charge to bring skillful playing and cutthroat precision back into the modern metal arena, complete with the rage and brutal demeanor it once teemed with. What's really impressive though, is that they have accomplished all this and are only one full-length into the game, making it a safe bet to say Chimaira are already definitely well upon their way to becoming a prominent player in the modern metal scene within the next few years.