Chimaira is that type of band that has to grow on you. When I heard their first (or second, if you count This Present Darkness as their debut) album Pass Out Of Existence I thought well, nice band, but I’ve heard this too many times. But after giving it a couple of spins in my player, I realized the album was actually one of the best (nu)-metal albums of that year. With superb samples and great hooks they launched themselves to the top of the nu-metal scene.

A few days ago I received their new album The Impossibility Of Reason in the mail. Well, I was curious about it, I played it and waited for what would come. 50 minutes later I lay in the corner of my room, knocked out. Kinda says enough I think. Man, does this album bring the fucking metal or what! The band only got louder and louder. I had to listen to it a couple of times, before it got to me. But now, I’m addicted to the album.

The samples that were on the first album are gone on this one. Well, it’s done really subtle in the songs (“Eyes Of A Criminal”, “Implements Of Destruction”).

The riffs are more metal, heavier and at times even some death metal riffs are used. You can compare it to Soul Of A New Machine by Fear Factory, from back in 1992. The Impossibility Of Reason is the modern version of this album. Vocalist Mark really has to spreads some hate around. In “Pure Hatred” he ventilates his hate on everyone and on “Crawl” and “The Dehumanizing Process” he sings about betrayal and broken relations. And important: he convinced me of his anger. A lot of the modern nu-metal bands sing about having shit in relations, dumped by a girl etc. and it gets cliché and hard to believe. Well Mark Hunter is angry and he lets us know that he is. (This guy really needs some oxygen after a recording session, I think).

Well, what more can I say about this album. If you want ONE metal album this year make sure it’s this one. If you like being crushed by a 40.000 kilo anvil, throw your cup of coffee out of the window (or through the window), run like an idiot to your local record store and steal/buy this album.