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
The Age Of Hell
Chimaira Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One more swing
Bloodletting
There's no place left for you to hide
Your world is now over and no one can save you
Ambition has been laid to waste
This gift and creation are plagued with disease
No way to prepare for the end
Blood will be shed
Final farewell
This is the age of hell
Heading towards insanity
Scandalous demise
Sacrifice is imminent
The smell of death breathes new life
The structure is cracking from rot and decay
The faces will all look dismayed
No type of prevention, no chance to discover just what could have been the way
Bones have been broken and teeth have been cracked
Walking disaster, headed straight for death
There is no way to get out alive
This temple has fallen for good
Will there be a chance to rebuild it all
If I could fix things I would
The lyrics to Chimaira's song The Age Of Hell are a powerful and intense commentary on the apocalyptic and chaotic state of the world. The opening lines, "Are you ready to die? One more swing, bloodletting, there's no place left for you to hide," set the tone for the song's dark and ominous feel. The singer is warning of impending doom and implying that there is no escaping it. The chorus gives voice to the sense of futility and despair that pervades the song, "No way to prepare for the end, blood will be shed, final farewell, this is the age of hell."
Line by Line Meaning
Are you ready to die?
Asking if the listener is prepared to face their inevitable demise
One more swing
Implying that the end is near and that one last blow will finish it all
Bloodletting
Referring to the spilling of blood as a result of the impending violence
There's no place left for you to hide
Clarifying that there's no escape from the coming doom
Your world is now over and no one can save you
Stating that any hope of salvation or restoration is futile
Ambition has been laid to waste
Shedding light on the fact that all aspirations have been destroyed
This gift and creation are plagued with disease
Referring to the world and all that's in it as being sick and cursed
Fury and grief are displaced
Mentioning the overwhelming presence of feelings of anger and sadness in this doomed reality
No way to prepare for the end
Highlighting the inevitability of death and the lack of control over it
Blood will be shed
Reiterating the violence that's about to ensue and the resulting horror
Final farewell
The last goodbye before the end of everything
This is the age of hell
Announcing that the current state of affairs is horrific and nightmarish
Heading towards insanity
A feeling of gradually losing one's mind as the chaos unfolds
Scandalous demise
The end will be chaotic, disastrous and tragic
Sacrifice is imminent
Hinting that death is soon to come and someone will have to pay the ultimate price
The smell of death breathes new life
A metaphor for the inevitability of death and the rebirth that follows it
The structure is cracking from rot and decay
Referring to the decay and destruction of the world and all its institutions
The faces will all look dismayed
Describing the expressions of the people in the face of the imminent disaster
No type of prevention, no chance to discover just what could have been the way
A realization that nothing can be done to prevent the disaster
Bones have been broken and teeth have been cracked
Describing the physical violence and the severity of the destruction
Walking disaster, headed straight for death
A description of the listener's situation and the dark fate that has befallen them
There is no way to get out alive
Acknowledging that death is inevitable and there's no chance of escape
This temple has fallen for good
A metaphor for the collapse of the world and all its structures
Will there be a chance to rebuild it all
A question of whether the listener can start anew after the devastation
If I could fix things I would
Expressing a desire to undo the damage and change the outcome
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kryten 2X4B-523P
Massively underrated album. End of an era. No an age. An age of... hell? 😏
Hector Collazo
I agree that it's a massively underrated album. I mean, it borrows and meshes the best of the 1st 5 albums. I look at The Age Of Hell as celebrating 10 years of Chimaira at the time. 🤘
Shiki Baby Bat
I think I found 2020's theme song
Eddie Hellgren
Killer lyrics! That's one of the reasons I like Chimaira, Mark's lyrics kicks ass!
ChimairaX
this song deserves more views...
RegentDorn
Now thats a new trend that I like very much! Everyone starting to make lyric videos makes them more interesting and lets the people pay more attention to the meaning of the song! Good job! Keep it up!
PlatypusGuitar
I really like the idea of making these lyrics videos. I hope theres more to come. Also, please come back to Montreal!!! \m/
Jaśmin
ale oczopląs :D zajebiste :) \m/
History Matters
Just love it....
V3ntilator
I still love this song. One the songs play ingame when i play Destiny 2 and Forza Horizon 4 online.