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
Born In Blood
Chimaira Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spawn of ignorance
Damned from the start
Hatred, violence, vengeance
Dragged through the mud
Survived the flood
We proved them wrong
There is no more doubt
We’ve won the war inside our minds
Nothing can stop us now
Rage growing stronger
Strength rising, conquer
We stand alone
In a blood soaked wilderness
Ruling the night
Free from persecution
Slaughtering all those who oppose
Reveal the facts
The veil has been lifted
These battered broken hands
Have been forged to iron fists
To crush the strongest minds, to build the weak into gods
The weight of the world can't stop me now for I hold it in the palm of my hand
This universe is my stomping ground
There is no love, there is no peace
Emotional barriers have been reached
I have walked with the dead hand in hand
I see nothing coming of this master plan
I want to live where nothing is alive
The lyrics of Chimaira's song Born in Blood are a powerful and brutal depiction of a world born from ignorance, hatred, and violence. The opening lines "Born in blood, spawn of ignorance, damned from the start, hatred, violence, vengeance" portrays a bleak and oppressive existence that is seemingly destined for failure. However, the song is also about overcoming this seemingly hopeless state, as the singer declares that he has "survived the flood" and "proved them wrong".
The lyrics also emphasize the power of the masses to resist persecution and violence. "The masses have been silenced, there is no more doubt, we've won the war inside our minds" suggests that the singer has found inner strength and determination to overcome the oppression that has engulfed his world. The chorus of "Rage growing stronger, strength rising, conquer, we stand alone in a blood-soaked wilderness, ruling the night" further emphasizes this sense of determination and resistance.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer sees himself as a powerful force in this world, capable of destroying his enemies and building up the weak. The lines "These battered broken hands have been forged to iron fists, to crush the strongest minds, to build the weak into gods" suggests a self-assuredness and confidence that borders on arrogance. The final lines of the song "I see nothing coming of this master plan, I want to live where nothing is alive" hints at a desire to start anew, free from the violence and hatred that has marked his world.
Overall, Born in Blood is a powerful and visceral depiction of a world that is born from ignorance and hatred, but also one that can be overcome through inner strength and the power of the masses.
Line by Line Meaning
Born in blood
We were born into a world of violence and brutality
Spawn of ignorance
We were brought up in a society that lacks knowledge and education
Damned from the start
We were doomed to suffer from the very beginning
Hatred, violence, vengeance
We live in a world of hatred, violence and revenge
Dragged through the mud
We have been degraded and humiliated
Survived the flood
We have faced many challenges and overcome them
We proved them wrong
We have shown those who doubted us that we are strong
The masses have been silenced
We have silenced those who tried to oppress us
There is no more doubt
We are certain of our strength and power
We’ve won the war inside our minds
We have overcome our inner demons and fears
Nothing can stop us now
We are unstoppable
Rage growing stronger
Our anger and determination is increasing
Strength rising, conquer
We are becoming stronger and we will conquer
We stand alone
We are standing on our own, without any support
In a blood soaked wilderness
We are surviving in a dangerous and violent world
Ruling the night
We are the masters of the darkness
Free from persecution
We are no longer being persecuted by others
Slaughtering all those who oppose
We are eliminating anyone who stands against us
Reveal the facts
We are exposing the truth
The veil has been lifted
The truth is now revealed and everyone can see it
These battered broken hands
We are tired and wounded
Have been forged to iron fists
We have turned our pain into strength
To crush the strongest minds, to build the weak into gods
We have the power to destroy the strongest and elevate the weak
The weight of the world can't stop me now for I hold it in the palm of my hand
We have the power to control the world and nothing can stop us now
This universe is my stomping ground
We are the masters of our own destiny
There is no love, there is no peace
We live in a world without love or peace
Emotional barriers have been reached
We have reached the limits of our emotional endurance
I have walked with the dead hand in hand
We have experienced death and survived it
I see nothing coming of this master plan
We do not see any positive outcome from our plans
I want to live where nothing is alive
We want to live in a world where there is no pain or suffering
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Vincent Rayne
is it me or whenever Phil is featured in a song the whole damn song changes just for him to match the brutality of his voice.
Hypnos TheGodOfSleep
They have to up the brutality level when it's phil. They do the same with corpse grinder too. Mark can be pretty brutal for not being death metal.
rxGo!
turns into deathcore hahaha
internetwarrior666
The riffs become more Whitechapel based than Chimaira's musicianship. Well pointed out my friend.
King Turtles The Thicc
I love how most people came for Phil, but for me this song actually introduced me to Phil, and in turn Whitechapel.
Joe surfer
Chimaira is the best band ever since Black Sabbath. Each album is different and they all rock. Changing the lineup keeps the music fresh.
MetalONLY
Became a fan 18 years ago when I was in grade school. Still listen to them every day 🤘
Matthew Larri
Don’t be in grade school at 18 next time
Sir Asshat
behold, the most underrated band in metal
Lightlore
Even while being not super complex, this is indeed an unordinary, a smart composition if you think it through - and so is the whole "The Age of Hell" album. To me personally, just as every other Chimaira record, the 2011 piece manages to feel groovy and still darksome, with a steady coolness and a killing agression at times. Definitely sounds much more 'modern-like' to me (however I can't explain it substantively since the lack of any musical (self-)education).
For some reason, I will always love every work of Chimaira, even though their sound has been changing a fucking lot. They (works) are all awesomely solid no matter what, and in some parts they hide an extreme emotional potential. The documentary DVDs are so fun and 'insightful' - you can tell the authors really tried to make them entertaining and meaningful.