Chimaira - Pass Out Of Existence
2001 Roadrunner Records

Track Listing:
1. Let Go 
2. Dead Inside
3. Severed 
4. Lumps 
5. Pass Out Of Existence 
6. Abeo 
7. Sp Lit 
8. Painting The White To Grey
9. Taste My...
10. Rizzo 
11. Sphere 
12. Forced Life 
13. Options 
14. Jade

Line-Up:
Vocals:  Mark Hunter
Guitars:  Rob Arnold, Jason Hager
Bass:  Jim Lamarca
Drums:  Andols Herrick
DJ/Noise:  Chris Spicuzza

Website:  www.chimaira.com

Skin Splitter's Rating:  C
Overall Album Rating:  C

Skin Splitter's Review:
After some unjust attitude in which some "cockspank" on the message board sent to Shev that "Kerry King endorses Chimaira", resulted with Shev saying, "No one can review Chimaira".  This immediately pissed Skin Splitter off.  NO ONE SENSORS THE MAN WHO LIVES NEAR BOSTON CALLED SKINS.  However, after some "sensitivity training" involving a 2X4 and a rusty nail, Skins is allowed to review Chimaira.  So here we go ladies and other obscurities...

Chimaira's debut album from Roadrunner Records.  In 1998 I had never heard of this band.  However since they were playing with Machine Head, Fear Factory, and Ill Nino, I was forced to see them.  I think it was my hardcore friend who summed it up best.  He said and I quote "I don't like Chimaira.  I just like beating up people at a Chimaira show."  Those are words to live by.

As far as I know this album has sold 50,000 or so copies.  That's a sad state of affairs when you can see 50,000 copies of me in any Palladium show at returntothepit.com.  And why did it suck so much?  Well, I'll tell you.  For starters, there is a DJ, and the DJ is just flat out overbearing.  I know, I know, all bands use backup noise, and that's great.  But when you have the noise overpowering the guitars, you have a problem.

Another problem with this album is that the guitars are tuned to the key of A.  KoRn tuning.  At that time period, a low A was not an easily picked-up sound by any guitar amp (unless it was used slowly).  My next frame of complaining involves the lack of solos.  There are two guitarists and Rob Arnold has plenty of talent.  So, where are the solos?  I'll tell you, they lack solos because they were trying to impress the record label.  STRIKE ONE.  However, with the exception of the DJ, the terrible tuning, and the lack of solos, that is all the complaining I can do.  The drums are fast (triggered?), and the guitars are great with it.  In fact, This CD was where Fear Factory should have gone.  Rob Arnold is a wise metal man with lots of talent.  And it is claimed that Andols has "the most talent" of any member of the band.  Even if the drums are triggered.

The end result is that with all of their flaws, Chimaira can only go in one direction.  Up.  There are some strokes of Fear Factory-style work on this album such as "Severed", "Let Go", and "Painting The White To Grey".  However, they can also play deeper songs such as "Sp Lit", "Taste My", and many more.  The way I see it is this, this album is a test album to see in which direction they need to go to make success.  It's half what got them to Roadrunner, half what the public want.  So, I'm willing to say that although I could listen to this album all day, it will find a 50/50 relationship with metal fans.
Skin Splitter's Rating:  C