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
Jade
Chimaira Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gave back all the lights and glitter
Wrong track again and again is stings
Wish you all could feel like this
12 is for the reason of regret
9 is for the pain that I'm caused
Will strife ever cease? Someday
Complete the task of humility
Restrained from who they want me to be
That's what they want me to be
That is not quite good enough for me
Fuck you and your thoughts on me
Fuck you and your thoughts of me
Fuck you how can I not be me
Fuck you I will never let you take me
I will never be that good little one
I can never see what is so good about life
I can never change just who I am or what is I think I am doing
My hands fell down now I know I failed
You were not there to pick up the waste of this pathetic tale
Maybe I should just end all this right here
Would you like that?
Maybe you could cope knowing that you all have succeeded
I am staying here to betray all of you
Never failing me again
Cut a little, it bleeds slowly can you see it ooze?
I'm going to save me
My eyes turn the color jade
I look at everyone around me
I am so sick of this place
Anyone and anything makes me sick
I just want to end it all
I return to my room walls white with black shades
Oh how would red look?
The reasons are not for your ears
The feelings are not for your heart
I circle in tears wishing, hoping, dreaming
Can I find a way out besides this?
I need it
I want to be where you are
I miss you
The song "Jade" by Chimaira starts with the singer acknowledging the shadow of innocence that has been tainted, the loss of lights and glitter, and the repetitive stinging feeling of being on the wrong track. He wishes everyone could feel what he is feeling - the reason of regret represented by the number 12 and the pain represented by the number 9. He questions if the strife will ever cease someday. The singer is frustrated with the mind that is programmed to hate and wants to complete the task of humility. He feels restrained from being who he wants to be, but society wants him to be something else. He expresses his frustration by repeating the phrase "fuck you" and says that he will never let anyone take him.
Line by Line Meaning
Face black another shadow of innocence tainted
I am feeling guilty and ashamed, like I have lost my innocence
Gave back all the lights and glitter
I have lost all hope and joy in life
Wrong track again and again is stings
I keep making mistakes and it hurts me every time
Wish you all could feel like this
I wish others could understand my pain and struggles
12 is for the reason of regret
I regret something deeply and it is weighing me down
9 is for the pain that I'm caused
I am in pain, and I feel like it is caused by others
Will strife ever cease? Someday
I wonder if my struggles will ever come to an end
Fuck this mind that is made to hate
I am frustrated with my own negative thoughts and emotions
Complete the task of humility
I want to learn and grow, even if it means admitting my faults
Restrained from who they want me to be
Others are trying to control or change me, and I feel trapped
That's what they want me to be
I am aware of the expectations others have for me, and I feel like I can't live up to them
That is not quite good enough for me
I am not satisfied with conforming and want to be true to myself
Fuck you and your thoughts on me
I am angry at people who judge me or have negative thoughts about me
Fuck you and your thoughts of me
I am fed up with people's opinions of me
Fuck you how can I not be me
I feel like others are expecting me to be someone I'm not
Fuck you I will never let you take me
I am determined to stay true to myself and not let others control me
I will never be that good little one
I don't want to conform to what is expected of me
I can never see what is so good about life
I am struggling to find any joy or meaning in life
I can never change just who I am or what is I think I am doing
I feel like I am stuck being myself and can't change
My hands fell down now I know I failed
I am feeling defeated and like I have let myself down
You were not there to pick up the waste of this pathetic tale
I feel alone and unsupported in my struggles
Maybe I should just end all this right here
I am feeling hopeless and like life isn't worth living
Would you like that?
I am questioning if others would even care if I was gone
Maybe you could cope knowing that you all have succeeded
I feel like others would be better off if I was gone and they didn't have to deal with me
I am staying here to betray all of you
I feel like others have betrayed me and I want to get revenge
Never failing me again
I am determined to not let myself down or make the same mistakes again
Cut a little, it bleeds slowly can you see it ooze?
I am hurting and asking if others can see my pain
I'm going to save me
I am taking control of my life and making changes for myself
My eyes turn the color jade
I am feeling a sense of empowerment and strength
I look at everyone around me
I am observing those around me, evaluating if they are supportive or harmful
I am so sick of this place
I am tired of my current situation and want to escape it
Anyone and anything makes me sick
I am feeling overwhelmed and like everything is a trigger for my negative emotions
I just want to end it all
I am feeling hopeless and like there is no reason to continue living
I return to my room walls white with black shades
I am seeking refuge in my own space
Oh how would red look?
I am considering self-harm, imagining the color of blood
The reasons are not for your ears
I don't want to share my struggles with others
The feelings are not for your heart
I don't want others to feel sorry for me or pity me
I circle in tears wishing, hoping, dreaming
I am feeling emotional and wishing for a different life
Can I find a way out besides this?
I am searching for a solution to my problems that doesn't involve hurting myself
I need it
I am feeling desperate for help or relief
I want to be where you are
I am feeling lonely and want to be around others for comfort
I miss you
I am feeling nostalgic for a time when things were better or easier
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDY HERRICK, CHRIS SPICUZZA, JASON HAGER, JIM LAMARCA, MARK HUNTER, ROBERT ARNOLD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind