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09-05 Chimaira disbands
09-03 Members leave Chimaira... agai
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Chimaira (pronounced /kaɪˈmɪərə/) is an Americanmetal band from Cleveland, Ohio, formed in 1998. Theband is a notablemember of the New Wave ofAmerican Heavy Metal. Their band name is derivedfrom the word Chimera, a monstrous creaturein Greekmythology. They play a style of mainly groove metal,with some metalcore, industrial metal, and deathmetalinfluences.Chimaira was formed in 1998 by rhythm guitaristJason Hager, and vocalist Mark Hunter. The pairrecruited Jason Genaro ondrums and Andrew Ermlickon bass to complete the line-up. Their first EP, ThisPresent Darkness, was released onJa ...read more
Chimaira (pronounced /kaɪˈmɪərə/) is an Americanmetal band from Cleveland, Ohio, formed in 1998. Theband is a notablemember of the New Wave ofAmerican Heavy Metal. Their band name is derivedfrom the word Chimera, a monstrous creaturein Greekmythology. They play a style of mainly groove metal,with some metalcore, industrial metal, and deathmetalinfluences.Chimaira was formed in 1998 by rhythm guitaristJason Hager, and vocalist Mark Hunter. The pairrecruited Jason Genaro ondrums and Andrew Ermlickon bass to complete the line-up. Their first EP, ThisPresent Darkness, was released onJanuary 11,2000, on East Coast Empire records. This EP featureda few songs that were later re-recorded for theirmajorlabel release on Roadrunner Records, entitledPass Out Of Existence. Jason Hager later left theband after Pass Out OfExistence due to familyissues and the band gained Matt DeVries, a long timefriend of the band and guitarist for theClevelandbased band Ascension. Pass Out Of Existencedidn't sell that many records when it was released in2001, butThe Impossibility Of Reason, released in2003, was enough to fund Chimaira’s extensivetouring with In Flames, and theirsecond-stageperformance at Ozzfest, also in 2003.Musically, Pass Out Of Existence had a muchmore "electronic" sound than The Impossibility OfReason, with ChrisSpicuzza’s pronouncedelectronic loops featured in many songs. This soundwas often compared to artists like FearFactory,Spineshank and Slipknot. The ImpossibilityOf Reason kept with a more pure, metal-esqueinstrumentation, akin tometalcore bands such asKillswitch Engage, and this was found to be verypopular—the album reached #2 onBillboard’s"Heatseekers" chart.Their self-titled album, released in August 2005, builtupon the progress of The Impossibility OfReason. The electronicfeel of Pass Out OfExistence and This Present Darkness wasgreatly reduced, and the guitar riffs and solos tookamore central position to the band’s music. The bandhired Kevin Talley (Dying Fetus, Misery Index) to fillthe now emptyposition behind the drumkit. Thethemes of "rejection, revenge and repercussion" fromThe Impossibility Of Reasonremained, withexceptions - the track 'Lazarus' is named for, andwritten about a friend of Mark Hunter’s (singer)committingsuicide. In mid-2006 Chimaira andRoadrunner announced they would amicably partways.On March 6th, 2007, Chimaira releasedResurrection on Nuclear Blast/Ferret Records,with some special packs containinga DVD of themaking of the album. Andols Herrick returned to theband, and musically the album was an evolution ofpreviousefforts. The songs feature heavy andpounding riffs, as in the likes of Chimaira, butalso featured more thoughtfulmelodic parts and, whatcan be considered, more progressive solo parts andarrangements.. Unsurprisingly, the song'Resurrection'was written about the new lease of life the band(especially Mark Hunter) felt upon release fromRoadrunner,who they felt, were not promoting theband as much as the band felt they deserved.Before the release of the album The Infection(2009), the band had been posting short clips on theirweb page from theupcoming album, which waswritten in Cleveland, Ohio with producer Ben Schigel,who previously produced the band’s albumTheImpossibility Of Reason and their self titled album.The Infection was mixed by Zeuss, who mixedand producedalbums for Hatebreed and ShadowsFall, and was released on April 21, 2009. At its annualChimaira Christmas show onDecember 30, 2008, theydebuted a new song entitled 'Secrets Of The Dead'.The Infection debuted at number 30 on theBillboard 200. During a number of European tourdates supporting TheInfection, Chimaira had EmilWerstler of Dååth filling in for Matt DeVries, asDeVries’ girlfriend had their first child.The 10th annual Chimaira Christmas show was heldat the House of Blues in Cleveland Ohio on December27, 2009 and wasfilmed for a live DVD, entitledComing Alive, which was released in 2010.In late 2010, bassist Jim LaMarca retired from theband. Chimaira released the following statementregarding his departure: "After a decade of goodtimes and achievements, our friend and band mateJim LaMarca has decided to retire fromCHIMAIRA.We wish him nothing but the best as he settles in andstarts a family. As for seeking a replacement… we’llcrossthat bridge down the line. In the meantime,consider it ‘business as usual’ with the CHIMAIRA youknow and love". Theband tapped Werstler onceagain, this time to replace LaMarca as a member ofthe band on bass.By mid 2011, more lineup changes would occur. OnApril 5th, keyboard player Chris Spicuzza announcedhis departure fromthe band, citing a "negativeenvironment and the general state of the musicindustry". A week later, drummer AndolsHerrickalso announced his departure. He stated he wasasked to leave due to "differences". He also stated thebandmembers had parted on good terms. Later in theyear, it was announced that the annual Christmasshow would be the lastfor guitarists Rob Arnold andMatt DeVries. Werstler was slid over to guitar dutiesand Jeremy Creamer, also of Daath, wasbrought in toreplace him on bass. Matt Szlachta of Dirge Withinwas chosen to fill the other vacant guitar spot.AustinD’amond of Bleed The Sky and Sean Zatorskyof Daath have taken over drums and keyboard dutiesrespectively. « hide |
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