CHIMAIRA — The Impossibility Of Reason (review)

CHIMAIRA — The Impossibility Of Reason album cover Album · 2003 · Groove Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
Kingcrimsonprog
From the menacing opener `Cleansation,’ to the final instrumental number `Implements of Destruction,’ there are no weak moments on Chimaira `s 2003 breakthrough album The Impossibility of Reason.

Every song is of the same high quality, with boundless energy and the perfect attitude its no surprise that this album became the darling of a lot of magazines back when it was new. Its important to note however, The Impossibility of Reason is more than just a flavour of the month release from 2003 however, this album is a bone fide classic and has truly stood the test of time, loosing none of its appeal or impact.

Heavy, bouncy groove metal breakdowns mix with the frequent virtuosic guitar solos, outstanding drum breaks and singer Mark Hunter’s excellent mix of high and low vocals. Even the song structures are noteworthy on this album, far more interesting than those of many of the band’s contempories.

Drummer Andols Herrick is really something special, his unconventional style sees him employing beats you would never expect to fit under the riffs, rolling on the ride cymbal and large sections of songs will often feel more like a drum solo than a bridge.

The Title track is one of the finest moments in the entire Chimaira catalogue, as is `Pictures in the Gold Room,’ in fact its difficult to choose stand out moments because this album is faultless from beginning to end.

The album also features the singles `Powertrip,’ and `Pure Hatred,’ which have been present on the set list of basically every Chimiaira concert ever since and also the more radio friendly number `Down Again.’

The only real flaw on this album is that the lyrics are not particularly great, especially when you consider how excellent a lyricist Mark would become with newer songs like ‘Left For Dead,’ and ‘The Flame.’ If you are willing to let this go there is not much you won’t enjoy about this record.

Everything you could want in a modern metal album is present and accounted for here on The Impossibility of Reason and if you like Chimaira you really have no excuse not to buy it.
Share this review

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Opus Ferox II - Mark Of The Beast Progressive Metal
LOCH VOSTOK
Buy this album from MMA partners
Rankarumpu Folk Metal
KORPIKLAANI
Buy this album from MMA partners
Le bannissement Atmospheric Black Metal
CANTIQUE LÉPREUX
Buy this album from MMA partners
Tarantula Heart Sludge Metal
MELVINS
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

EXISTENTIAL DEAD - Cold Hands
EXISTENTIAL DEAD
Bosh66· 9 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us