Chimaira
The Impossibility of Reason
Roadrunner
Roadrunner tries to sell this as NWOAHM, which isn’t only ludicrous but untrue. Chimaira offer nothing that better bands haven’t already done to death and back – Fear Factory, Slayer, Sepultura and Deftones are all so obvious reference points that making a case for Chimaira’s originality seems impossible.
Even with that said, this isn’t a bad record, although its greatness resides more in the band’s no-nonsense approach than in the songs they write. Chimaira excel in grunting vocals, pounding energy and constantly driving rhythms, stomp-thrashing their way through these twelve tracks, barely, if ever, pausing for breath as they go along.
But that’s about all there is to this. Plenty of bands convey that same well-produced energy on tape, but that doesn’t mean it’s all good stuff. Chimaira lack the songs to back up their sound. The heaviness of The Impossibility of Reason wears off as it becomes apparent that this is merely a pretty surface covering nothing of interest. Good for a night out, but that’s about it.
Roadrunner Records: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/
