Chimaira was formed in 1998 by rhythm guitarist Jason Hager, and vocalist Mark Hunter. The pair recruited Jason Genaro on drums and Andrew Ermlick on bass to complete the line-up. Their first EP, This Present Darkness, was released on January 11, 2000, on East Coast Empire records. This EP featured a few songs that were later re-recorded for their major label release on Roadrunner Records, entitled Pass Out of Existence. Jason Hager later left the band after Pass Out Of Existence due to family issues and the band gained Matt DeVries, a long time friend of the band and guitarist for the Cleveland based band Ascension. Pass Out of Existence didn't sell that many records when it was released in 2001, but The Impossibility of Reason, released in 2003, was enough to fund Chimaira's extensive touring with In Flames, and their second-stage performance at Ozzfest, also in 2003.
Musically, Pass Out of Existence had a much more "electronic" sound than The Impossibility of Reason, with Chris Spicuzza's pronounced electronic loops featured in many songs. This sound was often compared to artists like Fear Factory, Spineshank and Slipknot. The Impossibility of Reason kept with a more pure, metal-esque instrumentation, akin to metalcore bands such as Killswitch Engage, and this was found to be very popular--the album reached #2 on Billboard's "Heatseekers" chart.
Their self-titled album, released in August 2005, built upon the progress of The Impossibility of Reason. The electronic feel of Pass Out of Existence and This Present Darkness is much reduced, and the guitar riffs and solos are taking a more central position to the band's music. The band hired Kevin Talley (Dying Fetus, Misery Index) to fill position behind the drumkit.
The themes of "rejection, revenge and repercussion" [1] from The Impossibility of Reason remain, although there are exceptions here - the track "Lazarus" is named for, and written about a friend of Mark Hunter's (singer) commiting suicide. In mid-2006 Chimaira and Roadrunner announced they would amicably part ways.
On March 6th, 2007, Chimaira released "Resurrection" on Nuclear Blast/Ferret Records, with some special packs containing a DVD of the making of the album. Andols Herrick returned to the band, and musically the album is an evolution of previous efforts. The songs feature heavy and pounding riffs, as in the likes of "Chimaira", but also features more thoughtful melodic parts and, what can be considered, more progressive solo parts and arrangements. Also from Chris Spicuzza on keyboard there is a heavier contribution than on the last album. The band even manage to create a black-metal-esque song with the help of Morgoth The Impaler on keyboards. Unsurprisingly, the song "Resurrection" was written about the new lease of life the band (especially Mark Hunter) felt upon release from Roadrunner, who they felt, were not promoting the band as much as the band felt they deserved.
Before the release of the album, The Infection (2009), the band had been posting short clips on their web page from the upcoming album, which was written in Cleveland, Ohio with producer Ben Schigel, who previously produced the band's album The Impossibility of Reason and their self titled album. The Infection was mixed by Zeuss, who mixed and produced albums for Hatebreed and Shadows Fall, and was released on April 21, 2009. At its annual Chimaira Christmas show on December 30, 2008, they debuted a new song entitled "Secrets of the Dead."
The first single off The Infection was "Secrets of the Dead", which was released March 3, 2009. The Infection debuted at number 30 on the Billboard 200. During a number of European tour dates supporting The Infection, Chimaira had Emil Werstler of Dååth filling in for Matt DeVries, as DeVries' girlfriend had their first child.
The 10th annual Chimaira Christmas show was held at the House of Blues in Cleveland Ohio on December 27, 2009 and was filmed for a live DVD titled Coming Alive, which was released in 2010.
In late 2010, bassist Jim LaMarca retired from the band. Chimaira released the following statement regarding his departure "After a decade of good times and achievements, our friend and band mate Jim LaMarca [bass] has decided to retire from CHIMAIRA. We wish him nothing but the best as he settles in and starts a family. As for seeking a replacement… we'll cross that bridge down the line. In the meantime, consider it 'business as usual' with the CHIMAIRA you know and love." The band tapped Werstler once again, this time to replace LaMarca as a member of the band on bass.
By mid 2011, more lineup changes would occur. On April 5th, keyboard player Chris Spicuzza announced his departure from the band, citing a "negative environment and the general state of the music industry." A week later, drummer Andols Herrick also announced his departure. He stated he was asked to leave due to "differences." He also stated the band members had parted on good terms. Later in the year, it was announced that the annual Christmas show would be the last for guitarists Rob Arnold and Matt DeVries. Werstler was slid over to guitar duties and Jeremy Creamer, also of Daath, was brought in to replace him on bass. Matt Szlachta of Dirge Within was chosen to fill the other vacant guitar spot. Austin D'amond of Bleed the Sky and Sean Zatorsky of Daath have taken over drums and keyboard duties respectively.
America: Ferret
Europe: Nuclear Blast
Beyond The Grave
Chimaira Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I've ignored them
Sickness has taken my soul
This force deep inside has led me to this day
I no longer want to be their slave
I'm not meant for heaven or hell
So what waits for me beyond the grave?
Shining before me
Fearless I'll walk alone
Into the void everything is unknown
The canvas is no longer black
The situations have changed for the better
C'est la vie
The smoke fills the cracks
The lyrics of Chimaira's song Beyond The Grave are dark and introspective. The lead singer seems to be grappling with his own mortality and the question of what comes after death. He admits to seeing signs of his own impending demise but has chosen to ignore them until now. Sickness has taken hold of his soul, and he no longer wants to be anyone's slave. He acknowledges that he's not meant for either heaven or hell, and this only adds to his sense of uncertainty.
The chorus of the song, "I see the light shining before me, fearless I'll walk alone...", seems to suggest that the lead singer is at peace with the idea of dying. He's no longer afraid of the unknown and is ready to face whatever comes next. He embraces the void, even though everything in it is unknown.
The line "the canvas is no longer black, the situations have changed for the better" speaks to a sense of hope and new possibilities. The singer seems to have found some measure of comfort in the idea that death is not an end, but merely a change. The final line, "the smoke fills the cracks", is an ambiguous statement that could represent the singer's life slipping away, or perhaps a metaphor for the unknown realm beyond death.
Line by Line Meaning
I've seen the signs
I have noticed indications of something in my life
But I've ignored them
But I have chosen to not pay attention or take action based on those indications
Sickness has taken my soul
I am feeling severely ill and have lost my sense of well-being
This force deep inside has led me to this day
There is a powerful sentiment originating from within me that has driven me to this point in time
I no longer want to be their slave
I am no longer interested in being under the control of someone or something else
I'm not meant for heaven or hell
I do not believe that I belong in the afterlife as commonly understood
So what waits for me beyond the grave?
So I wonder what, if anything, exists beyond physical death
I see the light
I notice a bright and hopeful phenomenon
Shining before me
That phenomenon is present and visible to me immediately ahead
Fearless I'll walk alone
I am unafraid to venture towards that phenomenon independently and confidently
Into the void everything is unknown
As I move towards that phenomenon, everything in the unknown abyss beyond it remains uncertain
The canvas is no longer black
As I move forward, I realize that the darkness and negativity that previously surrounded me is now replaced with possibility and hope
The situations have changed for the better
I've noticed that my circumstances are improving and looking up
C'est la vie
Such is life; that's just how things are
The smoke fills the cracks
Smoke fills the openings and crevices in my surroundings
Lyrics © ROBARNOLDWORLD MUSIC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tommy_killswitch
I'm gonna have this played at my funeral.
Joshua Thomas Kelm
Same here!!!
Matteo Barca
One of my favourites from the last album!
SHINIGAMX
how adictive !! thank you Chimaira!
Daniel Hernandez
AWESOME SONG!!!!!!!!!!!
B
Awesome video man. Thank you for making this.
Brad Marturano
I second this, thank you
Russ W
great song
Talus
Sickness has taken my soul!!! 🐺🐺🐺
joe monji
Yup one of my favorites !!! \m//