Chimaira – The Infection

site | label | buy

Roughly two years since the stylistic advancements of Resurrection and opener The Venom Inside leads with a superb dual guitar intro which reoccurs at the end and riffs mixing death metal and Pantera to good effect, indicating that Chimaira would continue their evolution with The Infection. But despite some fleeting highlights, this album lacks the impact and individuality of the majority of Resurrection. After The Venom Inside we have to wait until track six, Impending Doom, for any change in style. Variety was the key feature of Resurrection, and it appears to have been abandoned here in favour of a more direct, aggressive approach, bordering more often than not on thrash, but without the technicality. Indeed most of the time a less-complex Lamb of God is the most striking resmbalence. After an impressive outing last time, this is a one-dimensional disappointment with the exception of ten-minute epic instrumental closer The Heart of It All, which expertly runs the full metal spectrum.

Written by Andy Lye
More: Albums, Heavy Metal (Extreme Vocals), Quick.Play Reviews, Chimaira