The Infection

Album Review

There was a period of time during the early 21st century when it seemed like the only up-and-coming metal bands were ones that fit under the "nu metal" umbrella. But thanks to bands like Chimaira, headbangers looking for some brutal, straight-ahead metal could find some much-needed refuge. On the fifth album overall by this Cleveland-based six-piece, 2009's The Infection, the group has united once more with producer Ben Schigel (who has worked with the band on its last few albums), and the result is exactly what you'd expect from the band — in other words, rubbery/detuned guitar riffs, properly placed vocal growls, relentless drumming, etc. Chimaira stick largely to the same sonic path that they've followed thus far but have focused their attack, especially on such selections as the album-opening "The Venom Inside," "Secrets of the Dead," and "Destroy and Dominate." Chimaira continue to scale the modern metal mountain, and they're reaching the upper region at a rapid and steady pace — as evidenced by such releases as The Infection.