ROCKET REVIEW: CHIMAIRA – “Crown of Phantoms” (CD)

American groove metal act CHIMAIRA have returned in 2013 to release Crown of Phantoms via E1 Music, their seventh studio effort. The band has undergone a lot of lineup changes in recent years. Lead vocalist Mark Hunter, however, is still obviously very passionate about his work in heavy music after all this time and there’s something to admire about a dude who will not quit at something they love doing. But is the new music any good? This reviewer was pleasantly surprised by the production handled by Ben Schigel.

The first song “The Machine’, with its FEAR FACTORY industrial metal vibe, kicks off the affair in a perfectly brutal manner. The band behind Hunter is comprised of drummer Austin D’Amond, Dååth members bassist Jeremy Creamer, Sean Zatorsky (backup vocals/keyboard/synth), with the guitar team of Emil Werstler (Dååth), and Matt Szlachta, all who joined the band during 2011 and 2012. What the listener is treated to is a very solid collection of head bangers. On the slamming “No Mercy”, you hear Hunter scream out: ‘No more lies no more goddamn Hollywood vampires, Suck it dry no mercy for the heartless’.

My favorites include the wicked “All That’s Left Is Blood” and the better than average acoustic guitar piece entitled “The Transmigration”, which leads into the ultimately epic album title track “Crown of Phantoms”. Without a doubt this cut finds Hunter barking at his most devastating: ‘Survival of the fittest denial of existence, Missing a piece inside of me I must awaken…’

In closing, it’s really cool to see a band continue on despite such adversity and still be able to crank out music that can truly satisfy. It speaks volumes about Hunter’s commitment to his longtime fan base and that is certainly as metal as it gets for me. As long as Chimaira can continue to keep bringing the pain, I don’t see them disappearing anytime soon.

ROCKET REVIEW
[starreview tpl=16]
CHIMAIRA – “Crown of Phantoms” (CD)
(E1 Music/2013)

1 – The Machine
2 – No Mercy
3 – All That’s Left Is Blood
4 – I Despise
5 – Plastic Wonderland
6 – The Transmigration
7 – Crown of Phantoms
8 – Spineless
9 – Kings of The Shadow World
10 – Wrapped In Violence
11 – Love Soaked Death

http://www.chimaira.com/