Artist: Chimaira
Label: Roadrunner Records
Release Date: 5/13/03
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Title: The Impossibility of Reason Artist: Chimaira Label: Roadrunner Records Release Date: 5/13/03 |
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Abyss's Review:
Allow me to get one thing out of the way before I get into the meat of this review. I've never really liked this band. Most of my experience with them has been in the live arena, as I think there was a two-year span when they opened for EVERYONE, but they were never able to turn me on. Their version of metalcore laced with touches of nu-metal could only hold my attention for moments at a time, even though they did seem to have a knack for coming up with catchy riffs.
"It has an intensity and drive that commands at least an iota of respect, and even if it's not really my cup o' tea, I understand why many feel this band has a lot to offer." After spending a good amount of time with their latest album, The Impossibility of Reason, I have to be completely honest and say that it ain't half bad. It has an intensity and drive that commands at least an iota of respect, and even if it's not really my cup o' tea, I understand why many feel this band has a lot to offer. At the same time, I still find myself struggling to pay attention to the record. They hit me kinda as musical junk food, meaning it's great for a snack, but if you try to make a meal out of it, you're just going to end up sick (the same holds true with Starbursts, by the way. And don't get me started on bull testicles!).
The hardcore vibe seems to crescendo throughout the album, as does the use of cleaner and cleaner vocals. While I've always respected the hardcore tradition of mixing the vocals up with alternating aggressive and melodic vocal lines, I've also always been a bit amazed by the fact that the clean parts on every hardcore/metalcore/crossover act sound almost exactly the same. It just gets a little tedious for me.
"This band definitely isn't wasting their time, they've got a relatively good thing going for them." But this band definitely isn't wasting their time, they've got a relatively good thing going for them. Fans of this style of music should revel in their sense of groove, and even though much of their songwriting strikes me as formulaic, there are usually a few good riffs in each song.
So again, not my thing, but far from bad. Although I find it hard to believe that many would consider this a top-tier band in the genre, they have a good deal to offer fans of this type of music. One word review: Good.
Death's Review:
I didn't think I liked this band. I'm sure they opened up a tour or two that I attended (Slayer? Machine Head?), but I either listened to them and quickly wrote them off or just assumed they weren't for me. Then I listened to their new album, The Impossibility of Reason, and, much to my surprise, I love it.
"This isn't metalcore, it's fucking thrash metal for the twenty-first century." Three words: sick fucking riffs. Killer groove, total metallic annihilation. Think Slipknot without the gay masks and clean vocal parts - acutely distilled down to just the sickest of riffs. Blend in some Pantera style groove and guitar solos, and pepper the mixture with a bit of old-style, Burn My Eyes-era Machine Head half-time, crushingly heavy parts. Throw in a dash of Lamb of God-level extremity and vocal harshness. You now have something akin to The Impossibility of Reason, riff-wise, one of the crushingly crunchiest, balls-out, riff and double-bass fests I've heard this year. This isn't metalcore, it's fucking thrash metal for the twenty-first century. And if it is metalcore, it's metalcore done right: without all the whiny hardcore shit. Like Shadows Fall did with The Art of Balance, Chimaira strike the proper balance between the classic metal bands of old like Slayer or Megadeth -- utilizing liberal doses of guitar solos, double-bass drums and catchy choruses to pit-inducing effect -- and a modern aesthetic, still employing down-tuning and subtle, dark electronics to sound like something new.
"Abyss is right - it is the equivalent of a metallic sugar rush, but fuck it - I'm addicted." Seriously, forget your prior expectations and give this one a listen. I'm not sure if they used to suck and are now better or heavier or have refined their sound - perhaps I just misjudged the band the first time around. But I'm really liking The Impossibility of Reason, and that's the test for me. After six or eight beers on a big party night, when I'm all jacked up and ready to crank up the volume and let it kick my sorry ass, I find myself reaching for Chimaira. Whether I'm driving home after a shitty day in the trenches, driving to the gym to play hoops, or just woke up in the morning to some bad news, I keep finding myself wanting to listen to this album and each time it seriously kicks my ass. Sure, it's not gonna grab me any true underground cult points busting out with a five-skull review of a Roadrunner act. This is probably the polar opposite of the introspective, arty stuff we often champion here at Metal Judgment. But this is pure, unadulterated riffage. Abyss is right - it is the equivalent of a metallic sugar rush, but fuck it -- I'm addicted.
Hel's Review:
Favorite track: "Implements of Destruction"
"The vocals are the sole point of musical disagreement that I have with this album." This is the first time in awhile I've reviewed a release from Roadrunner. So for the first time, I am hearing what they seem to be doing these days to combat piracy, a fade in on each and every song, proclaiming, "Chimaira The Impossibility of Reason in stores this May." Few things are more disruptive when you're trying your darnedest to appreciate a record. And, to add insult to injury, the folks who put these into the songs apparently consider the instrumental bridge to be the "lull" in the song, and therefore the prefect spot to insert it, when in reality it is invariably the best part of every song. At least on this record, it's the best part, and that stupid voice over continually ruins it.
Beyond that obvious distraction, Chimaira's album proved to be much better than I had expected. Though I caught them live a time or two a few years ago, I recall being rather unimpressed. Generally, this band has a history of playing metalcore, a hit or miss sub-genre for me. My aversion to the hardcore style of vocal delivery constantly causes me to have difficulty enjoying bands that feature it. Chimaira is no exception, and the vocals are the sole point of musical disagreement that I have with this album.
"So I suppose you all need to evaluate where you come down on the issue of the hardcore vocal style. If you are pro - then this album may be one of your top ten this year." The guitar parts and drumming are first rate, and utilize that groovy riffing style that makes you want to bob your head and jump into a pit. Since the musicianship is so good, and even the occasional clean vocal accent works so well, the lead vox are clearly the other issue that prevents my full enjoyment of this album (the first being the promotional fade in that I mentioned earlier - and is it just me, or does the guy's voice sound just like one of the WSOU DJ's from the late 80s/early 90s?).
So I suppose you all need to evaluate where you come down on the issue of the hardcore vocal style. If you are pro - then this album may be one of your top ten this year. If not - then you'll find yourself with me; struggling and confused about whether you really like this band, or just kinda like this band. So, as I sit here, staring at this review, and wondering what is the answer to this question, I reach the last track of the record, "Implements of Destruction." This track exemplifies everything that is good about this band. And based on the strength of the sheer talent encompassed by this track, I'll upgrade it to "really like," at least for the time being. If you've been ambivalent about this band in the past, this is the record that might sway you at last.
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