Chimaira - Impossiblity of Reason
Members:
- Mark Hunter - Vocals
- Matt DeVries - Guitars
- Rob Arnold - Guitars
- Jim LaMarca - Bass
- Chris Spicuzza - Electronics
- Kevin Talley - Drums
Released - May, 2003
Label - Roadrunner
Band Bio:
Chimaira released this album after there first, Pass Out of Existence, as a personal album to focus on their musicianship. Chimaira was started in Cleavland, as a heavy metal band. They try to ignore current metal trends, and do their own thing. "The Impossibility of Reason" does just that, touching on all of their dynamic basses, with a few very different kinds of songs.
Track Reviews
1. Cleansation 8/10
Starting with a simple drum beat, leading into some complex double-bass and harmonic (perhaps) guitars, this is a great opening track. With excelent flow in the verses and a great chorus, this song deserves the 8. With mini-solos (guitar fills?) spread throughout, it fills the bill for the album, and shows Chimaira's dynamic ability.
2. Impossibility of Reason 8/10
The title track for the album begins with a repeating guitar riff and a repeating drum beat. Leading into a half-singing and half-yelling verse, and then into a very awesome chorus. This song is very angry in nature, and it shows in the chorus. With sirens in the background on the second verse, this song fills your ears with Chimaira's sonic beat-down.
3. Pictures in the Gold Room 6/10
This song starts slow, and repeats about 8 times, just too many. The verse seems too easy for a band with this kind of skill, hence the 6. The chorus is also not very complex, and leaves you hoping that the song will grow.
4. Power Trip 9/10
One of my favorite songs on the album, it starts with a high guitar riff, and booming bass. The verse has Mark Hunter screaming ever soo perfectly, as it almost sounds like singing. The chorus is perfect for the band, however a little short. Double the length of the chorus and this song is an 11!
5. Down Again 10/10
Begining with a slow piano and adding an old Metallica-like feel on a guitar, this song starts off easy, yet very good. The guitar does a small solo, then leads right into the song, which is much slower then the rest of the album, but its just right. It fits perfectly. With a singing chorus, Hunter's voice really shows through, making this song a 10. The second verse starts bass and drum only, which is excellent (me being a bassist). THe beat through the whole song is very catchy and gets your whole body feeling the song. This could be one of the best songs on the album.
6. Pure Hatred 9/10
Starting witha a very cool drum beat, and harmonic guitars, this song is much faster then the previous, but sounds much the same in a good way. The pre-chorus is a little bit obscene, being "Mutha-f*** it all, i cant stand this". Other then that it is a pretty good song. One of the songs that ends up on all of my hard rock playlists.
7. Dehumanizing Proces 8/10
With its amazing guitar intro with a hard hitting, in your face double-bass beat, this song sounds good from the start. You can tell that Chimaira wanted to have this album be amazing. The verses seem slower then the rest of the song, with the chorus only slightly faster, but the bands dynamic ability showing through this is over all a good song.
8. Crawl 6/10
I think that Chimaira tried to hard to make this a slow song. Slow it is but with Hunter trying to sing in a scream, it does not fit with the album. The drums sound as if they dont change through the whole song, although the guitars have about 2 different riffs. Not the best song off the album.
9. Stigmurder 7/10
Sounding much like old school metal, with its high-end harmonics, this song is much better then the last. The whole song sounds like it has perfect harmony, in both the high and low ends of the guitar's range. Again with a singing chorus this song is different from any one on the album. The only bad of this song is the breakdown, which is musically the same repeating pattern for the whole time, with Hunter trying to do melody with his voice.
10. Eyes of a Criminal 6/10
Sounding like the rest of the album, this song is not very much different at all. It has the same guitar sound, and some of the same rythyms. Not my favorite song, but it is still good to throw into a playlist or 2.
11. Overlooked 7/10
With the intro on this song repeating over and over again, it doesnt sound like it will ever end. Thats because the guitar does the same thing untill the prechorus. Only then does it change until the next verse. Slightly better then the previous track, but not by much.
12. Implements of Destruction 11/10!
The best track on the album, and it has no lyrics at all. Now, Im not saying that Hunter does not have a good voice, but this song is absolutly amazing. It starts off with an acoustic guitar or mandolin *or some other instrument i dont know of*, and plays a few very good layered parts. Like a solo, it changes constantly for about a half a min, then starts into the real part of the song. It is a rapid change into distorted guitars and amazing drumming. The solo theme still continues, with the drums and other guitar continuing. Then both guitars drop out and its drums and a synthesised violin. The guitars join back in. This happens a few more times, then the drums pick up the pace with an awesome continuous double bass beat and high harmonics. Then the guitars drop out again, and the drums do some small fills. Then the lead guitar joins, and does a mini-solo. Both guitars then play some climbing chords, and the song continues. Now, i dont want to ruin it for you, so im going to end it there, at 3:45 out of the 10 mins. IF you have heard Let Go by them, thats kind of how the song ends, as if they could be spliced together.
Album Review/Rating:
This album was amazing. It really showed the great musicianship of this great band. It was made to sound raw, without much studio editing, and it sounds perfect anyways. It is definatly my favorite CD and I'm always playing one track or another from it. Very worth the $20. The cd rates a 5/5.
