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Getting back into the flow of things this week we have a good number of new releases to listen to as we head out of the summer release season. New stuff from Yob, Chimaira, Revocation and Today Is The Day are probably the biggest releases this week, with some lesser-known gems in the herd as well.
The headline tells you pretty much everything you need to know, but in case your mom dropped you on your head as a baby: Chimaira’s excellent new album, The Age of Hell, is now streaming in-full right here.
And it’s got everything that makes Chimaira albums so great. There’s a really diverse range of styles on here, from the straight-up thrash of the title track to the more Infectious grooves of “Powerless” (possibly my favorite song on Hell), as well as some serious creative risks and surprises… but I kinda don’t wanna ruin those for anyone, ’cause they certainly caught me off-guard (in a good way) the first time I listened to the record. So I’ll just re-emphasize that you should check this shit out, and then weigh in with your opinions in our comments section below.
The Age of Hell comes out tomorrow, August 16, via eOne. The band will be on tour this October with Revocation, Impending Doom, and Rise to Remain; dates should be announced soon. And I’ll have an interview with vocalist Mark Hunter for you as soon as the MetalSucks Mansion Monkeys finish transcribing it.
-AR
Chimaira have released a video for “Year of the Snake,” one of my favorite songs from their new album, The Age of Hell. It’s a performance video, but it was directed by Todd Bell, which means it’s, like, a trillion times better than the vast majority of all other performance videos. (The slo-mo mic swinging is especially bad-ass.) Perhaps even more importantly, though, it’s the fans’ first chance to hear an awesome new Chimaira track. I mean, that section right after the second chorus? TOTAL ELEPHANTS MARCHING MADNESS. That thirty-seven seconds of music alone should be enough to make your day.
Interesting side-note about the video: earlier this week, I interviewed vocalist Mark Hunter, and he told me the following about the shoot for the clip:
We’re less than two weeks away from the release of Chimaira’s The Age of Hell! Are you excited? You oughta be. No shock: the album rocks in a major, major way. It also takes what I think are some HUGE creative risks, which I’ll discuss more once I’ve had some time to better digest the record (I’ve had my promo for less than forty-eight hours), but the gist of my opinion is, “Chimaira pulled it off again.”
And now there are ninety second samples of the entire album available on iTunes (Amazon has samples, too, but as The PRP notes, that online retailer has “a rather bungled track listing”), PLUS a teaser for the band’s Todd Bell-directed video for “Year of the Snake,” which you can check out below.
The Age of Hell comes out August 16 on eOne. Hopefully tour news will follow… I feel like it’s been way too long since I’ve gotten to see these dudes live, and I’m dying to check out their sweet new line-up.
-AR
MetalSucks tipster extraordinaire Hetal Bhatt sent us the below video, and while it has nothing to do with metal, it did make me laugh, and I did forward it to friends. So, enjoy:
And on that note, here’s some stuff we did this week:
You’ve got one more week with me and me alone before Vince comes back. Deal with it, fuckers.
See ya Monday.
-AR
Photo by Todd Bell
NOTE: We were all set to premiere this song this morning, but someone blew their load early and released it over the weekend. Luckily for whomever decided that person was, we have some awesome new Chimaira music to serve as an outlet for our rage, so his or her life is most likely still safe… for now. In any case, assuming you didn’t get to hear the tune yet, well, here it is!
The Age of Hell is almost upon us.
It’s no secret that these have been (ahem) hellish times for Chimaira. But if their new single, “Born in Blood” (below), is any indication, than they haven’t missed a beat creatively. A rager in the vein of the band’s anthems “Power Trip” and “Resurrection,” ”Born in Blood” is Chimaira music at its best: more vicious than a slaughter house, and just as full of hooks. To put it simply, Chimaira have, once again, stuck the fucking landing — and they seem to know it, too. ”There is no more doubt,” vocalist Mark Hunter bellows in simultaneous acknowledgment and dismissal of the sextet’s recent travails. “We won the war inside our minds… nothing can stop us now.” Yeah, no shit, dude!
So turn you speakers way, way, WAY up — if your walls are shaking and the neighbors are complaining, you’ve got it almost loud enough! — and then check out “Born in Blood” below. Then go here to download the track, which features a guest appearance by Whitechapel’s Phil Bozeman. You can download another new single from the band, “Trigger Finger,” here. Both songs will appear on The Age of Hell, out August 16 via eOne. We can’t wait.
[this streaming promotion has ended]
Why, it was just yesterday that I was saying how excited I am for the new Chimaira album, The Age of Hell, and now the band has released a teaser for the album (which focuses on some kind of crazy zygote, or something). The bad news is that it’s only forty-three seconds lon,g and only ten of those forty-three seconds feature new music. The good news is that it has any new music at all, and that August will be here before you know it, so JUST TAKE DEEP BREATHS AND BE PATIENT, AXL.
The Age of Hell comes out in August on eOne.
-AR
A couple of weeks ago, Chimaira debuted a new song, “Trigger Finger,” live. The audio quality of the inevitable fan-filmed bootleg was even crappier than the audio of most fan-filmed bootlegs, and it was hard to hear anything other than new drummer Austin D’Amond (also of Bleed the Sky fame).
So it’s kinda funny this new video of D’Amond running through the song at soundcheck actually offers a clearer (if still not nearly 100% perfect, or even 90%, 80%, or 70%) listen to “Trigger Finger.” And what I hear is a potent reminder of why I get so excited about new Chimaira albums — they just write the best fucking songs. The track already sounds like it has a strong hook and just oh so much groove… I keep thinking of the word “delicious.” I know that sounds ridiculous, but Chimaira music is delicious.
Chimaira’s new album, The Age of Hell, should be out later this summer on eOne.
-AR
[via Metal Underground]
I wanna hear the new Chimaira album so badly I can feel it in my bones, and while a shitty live bootleg ain’t gonna satisfy that craving, it’s better than nuthin’!
So. The band did a mini-tour last week/this weekend, during which they not only made their live debut with their new and improved line-up, but they apparently announced the title of that forthcoming release — The Age of Hell — and debuted a new song, “Trigger Finger.” Check out some fan-filmed footage below. The audio quality is really not good (if anyone finds a better video, by all means, drop me a line), but what I can make out sounds like classic Chimaira, which is to say, yes more please!
There’s still no word on a release date for The Age of Hell, although it should be out sometime this summer via eOne. The PRP, where I first saw this video, reports that the initial single from the album is called “Year of the Snake”… hopefully we get to hear it very soon.
-AR
Thanks to everyone who e-mailed us about this!
Earlier this month, From Exile released Just Like You Imagined, a free Nine Inch Nails covers EP (read my review here); now they’ve released a video for the final song on that EP, “A Warm Place.”
Directed by Michael Corrigan and shot by Sidarth Kantamneni, the video, like the song, is understated and elegant; it was wise of them to focus on guest guitarist (and #14 on our list of The Top 25 Modern Metal Guitarists) beautiful playing. This is a really nice, soothing way to start your day, no?
You can stream, or, better still, download Just Like You Imagined in mp3 or FLAC format here.
-AR
MetalSucks recently polled its staff to determine who are The Top 25 Modern Metal Guitarists, and after an incredible amount of arguing, name calling, and physical violence, we have finalized that list! The only requirements to be eligible for the list were that the musician in question had to a) play metal (duh), b) play guitar (double-duh), and c) have recorded something in the past five years. Today we continue our countdown with Emil Werstler from Dååth and Levi/Werstler…
Once upon a time, Emil Werstler made a “Betcha Can’t Play This” instructional video for Guitar World, and that video showed him playing so fast that he had to make a second video, this one in front of a live audience, just to disprove some naysayers who accused him of speeding up his performance in the original clip. I love that story, because if you knew nothing else about Werstler or his work, you’d still know that this is a guy who play with such speed and technical skill that other guitar professionals literally can’t believe his abilities are real.
Of course, if speed were Werstler’s only virtue, there’d be no place for him on his list. But he also happens to be a musician of incredible inventiveness who is able to play an intimidatingly wide array of styles — the true reason we’re so head over in heels in love with his playing.
Ridiculously cool cover art by Jorden Haley
Welcome to the latest edition of “Freeloader” in which we review albums that you don’t have to feel like a douche for downloading for free. Today Axl Rosenberg checks out From Exile’s latest release…
Any band considering making a covers album, let alone a tribute album to one particular band, should be made to listen to From Exile’s new, 100% free Nine Inch Nails cover EP, Just Like You Imagined. These aren’t just rote retreads that make you think “Oh yeah, I love this song!” before shutting it off and digging out the originals. Nor are they ill-conceived drek which utilizes the originals’ lyrics and little else. They’re bona fide reimaginings of the original material, wholly recognizable as the Nine Inch Nails classics we love, but From Exile have never failed to put their own stamp on the tunes.
We still don’t know when the new Chimaira album is coming out, or what it’s gonna be called, or, uh, very much else about it, to be honest. We do know that that band has a really, really excellent new line-up, though, and that said new line-up will be making their live debut next month, when they do a too-brief six date mini-tour. While new bassist Emil Werstler has played live with the band before, these shows will be the first for his Daath bandmate, Sean Z., and for new drummer Austin D’Amond (Bleed the Sky). So these shows should be pretty exciting.
Presumably, Chimaira will also use these concerts to show out some of their new material. And hopefully we get some official word on album release date soon.
In the meantime, here are the six tour dates, in case you somehow can’t read the poster above:
It’s kind of a weird time to be a Chimaira fan — we know the band is working on a new album for a new label (eOne), and we’ve even gotten to hear the slightest sliver of new music, and yet the band has shed half its line-up since November. (Drummer Andols Herrick just announced his split with the group yesterday.)
I’ve said time and again that I’m really not worried about the ongoing quality of the band’s music, since none of the now-departed members were known for being the songwriters in the group, and, let’s be real, at the end of the day, it really is all about the quality of the songs. That being said, I understand why some Chimaira fans are feeling kinda anxious right now; as fans, these are musicians we’ve come to know and love (and Todd Bell’s various behind-the-scenes DVDs do a really incredible job of making fans feel like they know each member of the band, regardless of whether or not that’s actually true), so, yeah, one might find it a little disconcerting to see these guys fly the coop.
The band understands your concern, though, and are planning to address those concerns in a live chat tonight at 9pm EST/6pm PST. Says vocalist Mark Hunter:
“In addition to answering questions about the new album, we will discuss the past, the present, and the future. We’re looking forward to seeing you all, and please help spread the word. Thank you!”
You can watch the chat here. I’m not sure if I’m gonna be able to be near a computer at 9 pm tonight, so, um, everyone please watch/participate so you can fill me in later!
-AR
[via The PRP]
Alright, so I was out of the office this afternoon at a meeting, and I walk out and check my e-mail on my phone to find like a thousand e-mails from readers pointing us towards this post on The PRP, in which drummer Andols Herrick announces his departure from Chimaira.
Here are some excerpts from Herrick’s statement:
UPDATE: Vocalist Mark Hunter has addressed fans’ concerns that this means the end of electronic elements to Chimaira’s music: “there are definitely samples, keys, electronics, and all sorts of other wizardry on this record. we’ve spent the past 12 years creating the atmospheric side of chimaira, and we can’t imagine listening to us without those cool bits either.” Read his full statement here.
I always say that no two Chimaira albums are alike, and while we’ve only heard just the teensiest lil’ bit of the band’s forthcoming release, we already know one huge difference their new album and 2009′s The Infection: not only will bassist Jim LaMarca no longer be in the band, but neither will keyboardist/programmer Chris Spicuzza.
Here are some excerpts from a statement Spicuzza released to The PRP:
The new version of Six Feet Under — which, in addition to founding and longtime members Chris Barnes and Steve Swanson, now features Chimaira’s Rob Arnold and Matt DeVries and Daath’s Kevin Talley amongst its ranks — made its live debut in Europe over the weekend. So, of course, we now have cell cam footage! Whoo-hoo!
There’s no new material here so the footage doesn’t really tell us that much about this reincarnation of the band, but… they do play killer covers of the Cannibal Corpse classics “Hammer Smashed Faced” and “Stripped, Raped, and Strangled” (which might be my personal favorite Corpse riff of all time).
Six Feet Under will be touring North America as part of the MetalSucks-sponsored Summer Slaughter 2011; dates for that trek will be announced on April 20.
-AR
[via The PRP]
Alright, so I have no idea who the YouTube user known as Music121791 is, but he’s made my day by posting the below video, which shows Chimaira’s longtime producer, Ben Schigel, working on the band’s new album in the studio (peep vocalist Mark Hunter texting in the corner) — which means we get to hear roughly sixty seconds of new music.
And what a sixty seconds it is! That is a classic Chimaira riff right there — fully of groove, heavy as fuck, and retardedly catchy. I need to hear more of this album, and I need to hear it, like, yesterday.
Amazingly, this video — which was not sanctioned by the band — has been on YouTube for over a month, but it was only just brought to my attention by a reader calling himself “Butters” (obviously a Chimaira die-hard like myself).
And weirder still is that in the “suggestions” column next to the above video was a link to ANOTHER video with some MORE killer new Chimaira music in it, which has ALSO been up since February. This one’s audio quality is even worse than that of the first vid, because some dude filmed the band working on Ustream right off his monitor. But if you’re like me, new Chimaira music is new Chimaira music and you’ll take it however you can get it.
Second vid after the jump…
The new Chimaira-tastic Six Feet Under rehearsing. Photo via SFU’s Twitter account.
In April, the new line-up for Six Feet Under — which includes Chimaira guitarist Rob Arnold (read my interview with him regarding the matter here) and ex-Chimaira drummer Kevin Talley — will make its live debut in Europe. Now Arnold’s co-guitarist in Chimaira, Matt DeVries, has been added into the mix, to play bass — although it sounds like he’s just stepping in for this initial tour and is not a permanent addition to the band.
Still, it’s kinda funny that past and former members of Chimaira now outnumber members of Six Feet Under in Six Feet Under. I’m sure this is just wishful thinking, but maybe they’ll throw a cover from Chimaira onto the setlist? I could hear Chris Barnes doing a pretty mean rendition of “Bloodlust”… In any case, it would seem that they’re definitely gonna do some Cannibal Corpse tunes, which should be fun.
Here are those tour dates for our European readers:
Guys, I honestly do not give a fuck if you wear your pants or not. But don’t make me feel like a dick for wanting to discuss relevant metal bands, as opposed to, say, sit around and wonder when Queensryche are get their shit together. (Short answer: Never. Long anser: Abso-fuckin’-lutley never ever never never.)
So. We might have to spend a portion of today catching up on shit that happened last week. For example…
As you know from reading my recent interview with Chimaira guitarist Rob Arnold, the band are currently in the studio recording a new album. And apparently they’ve been swept up in all the Charlie Sheen hysteria that’s been going on as of late (seriously, motherfucker hasn’t been on so many people’s minds since Platoon came out), so they decided to record a cover of The Troggs’ classic anthem, “Wild Thing” (below). For the youngsters out there: the song choice isn’t just a reference to Sheen’s recent behavior, but also to… well, just get your ass to Netflix.
UPDATE: Metal Insider tells me that this cover is now available for purchase on iTunes.
Chimaira’s new album should be out later this year on eOne.
-AR
Thanks: Ryan Badami
