Chimaira - The Impossibility Of Reason
- Released: 2003
- Label: Roadrunner Records
- Rating:
The main problem with the so-called “nu-metal” bands of today is that most of them are created entirely on the basis of pent-up anger. Their first albums end up being unbelievably brutal. The success of the first album convinces them to release a second album. The dilemma here is that they let out all of their anger on the first album, so the second album and any successive albums end up being crap just because they’re not as angry as they used to be, so the songs either end up becoming ballads or just weak attempts at their first songs. Many bands have ended up on this path, the most prevalent in my mind being Coal Chamber. With their sophomore release, Chimaira shows that they do not fit this typicality, and show a great effort to redefine what a new band in these days of metal should be.
Chimaira returns with their second full-length entitled The Impossibility Of Reason. This album brings back the same brutality of their first release, Pass Out Of Existence, but instead of just riding out on its wake for a second time, they do just enough experimentation to keep doing what works, but to change it enough to keep their product fresh. You can expect pounding guitar riffs, plenty of double bass, and lots of screaming. In addition to this, however, they’ve thrown in some Metallica-ish guitar intros, a few solos, a piano, and an acoustic guitar line. Mark Hunter even veers off from the growls for the song “Crawl”. His ‘clean’ vocals remind me alot of Spineshank’s Jonny Santos. They end the album with “Implements Of Destruction”, a thirteen minute instrumental that is pretty much the ground-breaking song of this album. I’ve really never heard a band tossed into the nu-metal genre do anything like that. Hopefully it’s an indication of things to come not only from this band, but from the entire genre…sort of a wake-up call to all the bands out there that they can do things outside of what’s been set in stone.
The Impossibility Of Reason is pretty much a spit in the face to anyone that has dismissed these new metal bands as untalented and all the same. Chimaira shows that they can stray from the lines and step up from the masses. They’ve really broken the nu-metal mold with this album. Finally, a new metal disc you can be proud of owning. Support this band and grab this CD. They are the leaders in a new genre.
Link: chimaira.com
Farlus | 07/23/2003