Underground metal magazines had been featuring interviews from the Chimaira camp in regards to their next album. Lead vox Mark Hunter described the bands new direction as "heavy in more ways than one". As cliche as the prophecy may be, the band delivered with their new, self titled album released earlier this year. A more complex, original, and uncompromising six headed monster came out to play. This is metal. This is Chimaira.

1) "Nothing Remains"

With this opening, Chimaira's relentless new drive to be metal gods is evident. Heavy double bass drum rolls file into a speed riff souffle. The punishment lets up midway, but picks right back up with a sonic boom that was so deep, that even turning down the house speakers to 1 didn't prevent them from shaking. The track finishes up similar to the opening..and my ears were thanking me for the time being.

2) "Save Ourselves"

Pretty straight foward, stripped down metal track, split with a well done guitar solo where Rob Arnold gets his incredibly well crafted and matured licks in, and a double bass kick accompanyment. Mildly aggressive track.

3) "Inside the Horror"

This third song features some of Hunter's unwaivering vocal stylings. Very solid, aggressive vox here, coupled with old school hardcore breakdowns. We're taken to the end by a mid tempo Pantera-esque "stomping" guitar medley.

4) "Salvation"

Another track that focuses in on Hunter's vox, with some well done melodic layering. Rather melodic arrangement, not as heavy as the previous.

5) "Comatose"

Alright! Back to the ear-raping! Double bass onslaught from the beginning, this is easily one of the darkest, most grim tracks lyrically on this album. The drum pacing and stamina is incredible here, and we're treated to another well structured guitar solo and an array of splash drum backings, which will get your noggin' a bobbin'. Good stuff.

6) "Left For Dead"

By now, you've become accustomed to Chimaira's signature, right to left splash pacing. Here you get more of it, wrapped with great, complex strong structure. Varying degrees of difficulty and speed, and some thrashing riffs that make you wanna throw shit, this track's a treat.

7) "Everything You Love"

In "Everything", the band channels some Arch Enemy melody, but then tosses in some speedy rapid fire double kicks and splashes, and takes it easy on this one. By now, the solos are growing a little stale, but the ending infectious groove ending sets things straight.

8) "Bloodlust"

Some great straight up driving metal this time around. Bad ass Southern groove riffs and some punishing breakdowns made this one a favorite. Very personal lyrics are to be found here as well

9) "Pray For All"

"Pray For All" really isn't all that exceptional until after the mid break, where it's very driving and heavy with some sick mid-tempo work getting thrown down. Groovy.

10) "Lazarus"

Clocking in at over 7:30, I was hoping for the album to go out with a bang, but the track was medicore. Swallowed almost whole by melody and concept, the vocals were still strong, the axes grinding, the drumming solid, and programming evident..it just didn't satisfy me, though.

Overall, I'd have to rate this release a solid 8/10. It's easily their best album yet, and would probably more satisfying on shuffle than listening to it straight through, given the pacing of the entire album. Chunks of aggression, chunks of passive tracks..but still a very well rounded album. Having come off of the last 2 Arch Enemy albums, I may be expecting too much, so please, judge for yourself. The album is indeed worth owning, IMO.