Review: Chimaira - The Age Of Hell

    I was worried that another Chimaira album was not going to happen at all. Losing 3 of 6 members, then both guitar players joining the touring version of Six Feet Under, I thought Mark Hunter was getting left all alone. But low and behold, Rob Arnold and Matt Devries are pulling double duty in two bands, while the new members rounding out the synth side and rhythm section are doing the same. Emil Werstler (bass) and Sean Zatorsky (synth) hail from Atlanta-based Daath, while Austin D’Amond (drums) comes from Bleed The Sky. With new blood comes an anticipation of change, so I’ve been excited to see where this album goes.

   After 2009’s The Infection, the route that Chimaira was headed did not seem like a good one. It is a very dark album indeed, and maybe that was due to internal problems. Regardless, The Age Of Hell is a blistering fresh step back into the intense. Songs like ‘Born In Blood’ and the title track are face-melting pit songs to get you going, while other songs like ‘Clockwork’ start fast and mellow just to build again to knock you off your feet. This album proves that Chimaira is here to stay and will continue making the metal we have come to expect from them.