Chimaira - The Age of Hell

(Originally posted on August 15th, 2011)

Cleveland metal heads Chimaira are waiting the arrival of their latest release dubbed 'The Age of Hell', due in stores August 16th, 2011 via E1 Music.

(Photo taken by Todd Bell)

"'The Age of Hell' is a definite return to form for Chimaira. It’s the sound of a band that has regained it’s confidence, learned from their mistakes and secured it’s foothold in the metal landscape . If you were a fan of the bands early albums but have strayed away, I highly suggest you check this album out." -Metal Arcade

Track listing is as follows:

1. The Age Of Hell
2. Clockwork
3. Losing My Mind
4. Time Is Running Out
5. Year Of The Snake
6. Beyond The Grave
7. Born In Blood (featuring Phil Bozeman of Whitechapel)
8. Stoma
9. Powerless
10. Trigger Finger
11. Scapegoat
12. Samsara (featuring Emil Werstler of DÅÅTH)

"After reading numerous reports about the band’s virtual dismantlement and ensuing demise, I fully expected this to be just a rehashed effort of the last three releases on yet another label. Not only was I wrong, I was dead wrong. This time, Chimaira have come out with a huge chip on their shoulder, ready to destroy anything or anyone that stands in their way. Not only is The Age Of Hell the most focused Chimaira album to date, but it proves the band is leaner, meaner and healthier than ever before." -The New Review

Chimaira have also released their first music video for the album.  The song chosen was 'Year of the Snake':

"Words can’t express what it took to create this album. We hope you love it as much as we do. Turn it up loud, this is Chimaira at it’s finest." - Mark Hunter (vocals)

"But instead of being just a 12-song pounding jackhammer, Chimaira pull out some different stuff like the stoner metal/doom groove in "Beyond the Grave" and "Time is Running Out", melodic ambience/post rock in "Clockwork" and an all out musical jamming session in the closer "Samsara". It’s like a sequel to The Impossibility Of Reason’s "Implements of Destruction", but it flows with its own identity and merits.

To remain relevant in the ever changing music scene, Chimaira had to sit back and take a good look what they had become, go back, strip everything down to the core and re-invent themselves. That ethic is ever present in The Age of Hell. You could say it’s an album that saved Chimaira from completely imploding and destroying themselves, presenting a new Chimaira coming out from the corner, swinging wildly with the intention to kill." -Loud Magazine

On June 6th, 2012, Chimaria also dropped a lyric video for their track "Time Is Running Out", which you can check out below:



"'Time Is Running Out,' has that medieval, prepare for battle atmosphere. The feel is weighty and powerful, but the song retains a good amount of melody while bludgeoning your psyche. “Year Of The Snake” is a grip-you-by-the-throat death rattler with a sweet breakdown." -Metalholic