Band:Chimaira
Album:Resurrection
Label:Ferret/Nuculear Blast


I now understand that theres no room on Roadrunner Records for Chimaira. Look at all the huge bands they've been signing lately, Hatebreed, Megadeth, Black Label Society, CKY, and most recently Dream Theater. Add those names to the bigger bands that are already established on the label like Nickelback, Slipknot, Stone Sour, Killswitch Engage, Trivium, and Dragonforce (to a lesser extent Machine Head) and its clear that they just dont have the time to promote a middle tier band like Chimaira, and thats a damn shame.

I say this because Chimaira just released an album that smokes the recent output of any of the established Roadrunner acts I mentioned except for Machine Head, and depending on how good the new Megadeth is I can safely say its gonna destroy anything from the new big acts theyve signed. After saying goodbye to Roadrunner in 2006 after Roadrunner pretty much told them they werent going to let them get any bigger than they already were Chimaira moved over to Ferret Records and recorded "Resurrection". While overall I enjoyed the last album there were a few filler tracks and even some moments on the better tracks that just bored me and made me wanna hit the foward button. This was a dissapointment to me because after they released "The Impossibility Of Reason" in 2003 I lived and breathed with that album for a long time.

So far Ive been the same way with "Resurrection". Tracks like "Worthless", "The Flame", and the title track rage like Rosanne Barr after the "all you can eat" buffet closes, while the epic "Six" takes you on a journey and shows you all the talent Chimaira have to offer. Rob Arnold and Matt Devries really step it up on this album delivering fat heavy technical riffs without being to overblown and showy, something they flirted with on the last album.

Returning drummer Andols Herrick might not have the underground cred of his replacement Kevin Talley (now with RR act Daath) but I really think he fits the Chimaira sound better. Not to say that Talley wasnt a good drummer but Andols was there in the beginning and knows the band inside and out and really knows where to take the songs so i think the drumming has improved from the last album. Vocalist Mark Hunter has stepped it up as well. His scream remains the same as its always been but his melodic vocals are used more here and are less Lanye Stanley-ish than on Impossibiltiy of Reason. That leaves us with bassist Jim LaMarcca and sampler Chris Spciuzza who although their contributions are minimal their presence can still be felt and add to the bands already huge sound.

Although its still early in the year and there are still releases from Shadows Fall, Testament, Megadeth and Machine Head on the way this is a strong contender for album of the year. When all cylinders are going its almost impossible to pick out any flaws with Chimaira. It really sounds like being off Roadrunner has breathed new life into the band (much like it did to Machine Head in 2003) and its all for the better. Fans of Shadows Fall , Lamb of God, Slayer, and Slipknot will all find something to enjoy here and while its not the most technical or the smartest thing out there its still a worthy listen to any headbanger out there looking for something heavy.

Tracklist:

1.	Resurrection
2.	Pleasure In Pain
3.	Worthless
4.	Six
5.	No Reason To Live
6.	Killing The Beast
7.	The Flame
8.	End It All
9.	Black Heart
10.	Needle
11.	Empire