Band Photo: Chimaira
Formed: 1998
From:
Cleveland,
OH,
United States
Last Known Status: Active
Background
Self-proclaimed leaders of the "new wave of American heavy metal", Chimaira was formed in Cleveland in 1998, recording the indie This Present Darkness album in 2000 before earning a contract with Roadrunner Records for their next two releases.
Chimaira was spawned in 1998 by Jason Hager, the guitarist of the now defunct, Ascension. Hager's desire to start an intense new metal band led him to Mark Hunter, previously of Cleveland's Skipline. Mark's vocal strengths and abilities as a songwriter made him an easy choice. After a great deal of trial and error the Chimaira family came to be what it is today: Mark Hunter (vocals), Rob Arnold and Jason Hager (guitarists) (recently left band and replaced by Matt Devries), Andols Herrick (drummer), Jim LaMarca (bass), and Chris Spicuzza (electronics).
This Cleveland six piece's unrelenting attitude and drive to succeed has helped them sell close to 10,000 copies of their independently released EP, This Present Darkness. Chimaira developed their fan base through touring, the Internet and radio- particularly stations 93X(Minneapolis) and WSOU (NY/NJ). Last year Chimaira shared the stage with the likes of Soulfly, Hatebreed, Spineshank, and Snapcase.
In March 2001 the band joined forces with the illustrious producer Mudrock (Godsmack, Powerman 5000) to put together the 14 fiercely emotional tracks that are showcased on PASS OUT OF EXISTENCE - the band's Roadrunner debut album.
Latest Chimaira News
Chimaira Announces "Coming Alive" Chart Position
Cleveland, Ohio's Chimaira has announced the band's new CD/DVD set "Coming Alive" debuted at #4 on the SoundScan charts. "Coming Alive" includes a four-part documentary filmed over the course of a year and a half while the entire package includes over 7 hours of exclusive content. The DVD, filmed entirely in HD, showcases Chimaira in the studio while recording "The Infection," and chronicles their recent, worldwide touring season.
Bonus features on the DVD include a 45 minute "Making of" documentary, a 40 minute home-video footage documentary of never before seen moments, and a live CD featuring 17 tracks recorded at Chimaira’s December 30th Christmas show. The track listing is as follows:
1. The Venom Inside
2. Resurrection
3. Power Trip
4. Empire
5. The Disappearing Sun
6. Severed
7. Destroy and Dominate
8. Six
9. The Dehumanizing Process
10. Dead Inside
11. Painting The White To Grey
12. Nothing Remains
13. Salvation
14. Secrets Of The Dead
15. The Flame
16. Pure Hatred
17. Implements of Destruction (included on DVD only) More...
Chimaira Posts "Coming Alive" Trailer Online
Chimaira has posted a video trailer for "Coming Alive," the band's new 3 Disc Set [2DVD+1CD] due out July 20th in North America and July 23rd in Europe. The DVD, filmed entirely in HD, showcases CHIMAIRA in the studio while recording "The Infection," and chronicles their recent, worldwide touring season. In summary, Coming Alive is an in-depth look into CHIMAIRA’s life and music in the studio and on the road. Check out the trailer below.
Along with this trailer, CHIMAIRA has also posted four different pre-order packages. The pre-order packages are available as follows: More...
Chimaira Announces Live DVD Details
Cleveland, Ohio’s Chimaira has announced the upcoming live DVD/CD set "Coming Alive" will be released on July 20th, 2010 through Ferret Music. The band issued the following statement about the DVD's contents:
"This unprecedented release includes a four-part documentary filmed over the course of a year and a half while the entire package includes over 7 hours of exclusive content. The DVD, filmed entirely in HD, showcases Chimaira in the studio while recording the Billboard-charting, The Infection, and chronicles their recent, worldwide touring season. In summary, Coming Alive is an in-depth look into Chimaria’s life and music in the studio and on the road.
"Not only does the DVD set include this amazing documentary piece, another section, Chimaira Xmas Live Concert Film, celebrates the 10th annual Chimaira Christmas show in Cleveland, Ohio, which took place on December 30th, 2009. 13 HD cameras capture Chimaira releasing their fury for their hometown crowd on a dark and snowy night in December. Bonus features on the DVD include a 45 minute Resurrection: ‘Making of’ documentary, a 40 minute home-video footage documentary of never before seen moments, and a live CD featuring 17 tracks recorded at Chimiaira’s December 30th Christmas show."
“Metallica's A Year and a Half in the Life of...., and Live, Shit, Binge and Purge, were my bibles while growing up,” states guitarist Rob Arnold. “Watching the guys in the studio, out on the road, and backstage, taught me so much, and definitely played a major roll in shaping me into the musician I am today. After watching our new DVD set, Coming Alive, I sat back, ULTRA satisfied, and knew that this DVD would do the exact same thing for fans and musicians of today. The quality, the content, the humor, the realism, the insight, and the impact of this product, will definitely erupt onto the music community. Even the packaging is totally sick.... I can't wait to get my hands on one of the first copies, and I KNOW that you're going to love yours!”
The track listing is as follows: More...
Chimaira Reveals New DVD Details
Ohio based metal outfit Chimaira has announced that they will be releasing a new DVD/CD set entitled, "Coming Alive" on July 20th through Ferret Music. The DVD features a four part documentary which features footage of the band recording their latest studio album, "The Infection," as well as showing fans what life on the road is like. The DVD also contains the bands Chimaira Xmas concert, which was filmed in their hometown of Cleveland on December 30th 2009 as well as two bonus documentaries which look at the making of "Resurrection" and home movies. A bonus CD will also come with the DVD, which features the Xmas concert.
Chimaira Announces U.K. Tour
Cleveland based heavy metal band Chimaira has announced that they will be heading back to the United Kingdom this autumn for a string of headlining shows. A message from the band reads:
"Well I hope that you UK fans are as excited to see us as we are you this coming October! Our last trip over with Trivium was absolutely fantastic, and we can't wait to do it again while holding the reigns. This time around we'll be playing a longer set with beefed up production, and we'll treat each show as our last as we close out The Infection touring cycle. Its been a crazy ride over the last year, and we're happy that our last stop will land with our loyal friends in the UK. Grab your tickets NOW, and don't forget to let everyone know that Chimaira is coming back to terrorize this October!! See you soon!"
The tour dates are as follows: More...
Shadows Fall To Play Three Shows With Chimaira
Shadows Fall has issued the following brief announcement about performing three upcoming tour dates alongside Chimaira: "Before we head out on this summers Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival we will be doing 3 dates with our good friends in Chimaira. Below are all the dates and details. Hope to see you in the pit."
The dates are as follows:
7/6 Portland OR Hawthorne Theater
7/7 Chico CA Senator Theater
7/8 Reno NV Knitting Factory
Chimaira Denied Entry To Russia, Cancels Tour
Chimaira has announced the cancellation of their Russian tour and issued the following update about it:
"Much to our despair, we’ve been denied entry into Russia to perform for our patient and metal starved fans. After having to postpone the original dates from October 2009, we’ve had plenty of time to prepare for this trip. Everything has been in place for weeks now…The gear has been ordered, the flights have been booked, and we’re HERE, on the European continent, ready to depart for St. Petersburg tomorrow morning. But to our absolute dismay and MASSIVE financial burden, the Russian Embassy has refused to issue us our visas. Nice timing right? And after our road manager spending three days at the Embassy searching for answers and resolution, we’ve basically been given the middle finger, and there’s nothing further we can do. Our biggest regret is for the fans who have been waiting months for this weekend to come, and we hope they can understand that we’ve exhausted every option to correct the situation. Please accept our deepest apologies, we’ll try to make it up to you all one day."
Mayhem Festival 2010 Lineup and Tour Dates
The organizers of the Rockstar Energy Mayhem festival have announced another blockbuster lineup for the third edition of the travelling hard rock and metal event, including co-headlining performances from shock rock rocker Rob Zombie and nu-metal pioneers Korn. Also on the bill will be Lamb Of God, Hatebreed, Five Finger Death Punch, Chimaira, Winds Of Plague, Shadows Fall, Atreyu, Norma Jean, In This Moment and 3 Inches Of Blood.
The latest tour dates are as follows:
Sat Jul 10 San Manuel Amphitheater – San Bernardino, CA
Sun Jul 11 Shoreline Amphitheatre – Mountain View, CA
Tue Jul 13 White River Amphitheater – Southeast Auburn, WA
Fri Jul 16 Cricket Wireless Pavilion – Phoenix, AZ
Sat Jul 17 Journal Pavilion – Albuquerque, NM
Sun Jul 18 Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre – Englewood, CO
Tue Jul 20 Verizon Wireless Amphitheater – Maryland Heights, MO
Wed Jul 21 Riverbend Music Center – Cincinnati, OH
Fri Jul 23 Susquehanna Bank Center – Camden, NJ
Sat Jul 24 The Comcast Theatre – Hartford, CT
Sun Jul 25 Parc Jean Drapeau – Montreal, QC
Tue Jul 27 Comcast Center – Mansfield, MA
Wed Jul 28 P.N.C. Bank Arts Center – Holmdel, NJ
Fri Jul 30 DTE Energy Music Theatre – Clarkston, MI
Sat Jul 31 Verizon Wireless Music Center – Noblesville, IN
Sun Aug 01 Lakewood Amphitheatre – Atlanta, GA
Wed Aug 04 Virginia Beach Amphitheater – Virginia Beach, VA
Fri Aug 06 First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre – Tinley Park, IL
Sat Aug 07 Post Gazette Pavilion At Star Lake – Pittsburgh, PA
Sun Aug 08 Nissan Pavilion at Stone Ridge – Bristow, VA
Tue Aug 10 Ford Amphitheatre – Tampa, FL
Wed Aug 11 Cruzan Amphitheater – West Palm Beach, FL
Fri Aug 13 Superpages.com Center – Dallas, TX
Sat Aug 14 Zoo Amphitheatre – Oklahoma City, OK
Chimaira Cancels Melbourne Show
Chimaira has cancelled their Melbourne all-ages show of the band's Australian tour. No reason was given for the cancellation. The show in question was set for:
16 Jan 2010 – Billboards U/18’s, Melbourne
The following shows are still on schedule as of now:
13 Jan 2010 – Capitol Theatre, Perth
14 Jan 2010 – Fowlers Live, Adelaide
15 Jan 2010 – Billboards O 18’s, Melbourne
17 Jan 2010 – Hifi Bar, Brisbane
18 Jan 2010 – Metro, Sydney
Evile Covers Pantera, Last Recording w/ Bassist
British thrashers EVILE recently recorded a PANTERA track for the upcoming Dimebag Darrell tribute album, which will be released on the cover of the 200th issue of the UK's Metal Hammer magazine.
The special CD and magazine are being released to coincide with the five-year anniversary of Dimebag's passing, and will be available in shops on December 16th.
Alongside various other well-known bands such as MACHINE HEAD, EVILE were asked to record a song as a tribute to the late guitarist. EVILE recorded a cover of the track "Cemetary Gates," and this tragically turned out to be the band's last recording before the untimely death of their own bassist, Mike Alexander, who passed away on October 5th while on tour in Sweden.
A behind-the-scenes video - the last video filmed with Mike - of EVILE recording the track at Parlour Studios with producer Russ Russell can be viewed below.
EVILE lead guitarist Ol Drake comments:
"The day we got the call from our manager, Julie Weir, saying Metal Hammer have asked us to pay tribute to Dimebag Darrell by covering a Pantera song, we couldn't have been more excited and honoured. I mean, how many more bands are there more worthy of paying tribute to the man? With us all being fans of Pantera, we swiftly said yes. Mike though was the biggest Pantera fan. He'd seen them years ago and absolutely worshipped Dimebag.
"After Dime got killed, Mike couldn't listen to 'Cemetary Gates' anymore. He'd always ask us to skip the track in the car/van/bus because it was too much for him. So when we chose to do the track it was tough for Mike, but I'm glad he did it. It turned out to be the last song he recorded, which to me is a strangely 'appropriate' tribute to him and Dimebag. I remember him nearing the verge of tears whilst I was doing the tremolo bends at the end of the track.
"We hope Pantera/Dimebag fans find this a fitting tribute from us, as we're simply fans ourselves who've been given this rare honour."
Metal Hammer editor Alexander Milas comments:
"I was genuinely over the moon when Evile volunteered to produce a track for our upcoming Dimebag tribute, a stunningly rendered cover of Pantera's classic 'Cemetary Gates'. So when the truly tragic news of Mike Alexander's all-too-premature departure from this world hit the office, the tragic irony wasn't lost on me or anyone here that Mike Alexander's tribute to the immortal legacy of Dimebag would also be a final testament to his own impeccable musicianship and commitment to the music we love.
"To understate the case slightly, it's a very special track indeed, and we're honoured that it's a part of our upcoming tribute collection. Rest in peace Dimebag, and rest in peace Mike Alexander."
The Dimebag Darrell tribute album contains the following tracks:
01. ZAKK WYLDE - "Suicide Note Pt. 1"
02. MACHINE HEAD - "Fucking Hostile"
03. MALEFICE - "I'm Broken"
04. AVENGED SEVENFOLD - "Walk"
05. EVILE - "Cemetery Gates"
06. FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH - "A New Level"
07. BIOHAZARD - "Mouth For War"
08. SYLOSIS - "Strength Beyond Strength"
09. CHIMAIRA - "Slaughtered"
10. UNEARTH - "Sandblasted Skin"
11. THROWDOWN - "Becoming"
12. KIUAS - "This Love"
13. THIS IS HELL - "Rise"
