Chimaira

Chimaira at London Astoria, Thu 01 Dec

Review by Raziq Rauf

Realising a new level of brutality, Chimaira are back promoting their new brand of heavy metal. Mention a power ballad to this band and expect laughter at very least. This is 100% Heavy Metal.»

Astoria

Capacity: 2,000

Nearest tube: Tottenham Court Road

Ah, the Astoria - home of all those mid-level bands who will play venues a third of the size everywhere else in the country. Anyone who's anyone has played here.

You get free roam of the venue's three levels. There are enough bars to get served quickly enough at and you can escape the music at the middle bar if it all gets a bit too much for your poor little ears. There is a 'VIP' round the sides of the stage on the second level.

Acoustics can be dodgy depending on where you stand.

- Adie Nunn

»

Chimaira

If you dream of having metal delivered loudly into your ears by as many burly, hairy, bearded men as possible, Chimaira are probably the answer to your prayers.

Formed in Ohio in 1998 and sporting a name derived from Greek mythology, Chimaira released their first EP, This Present Darkness a full two years later, which bought them to the attention of major league metalheads Roadrunner Records.

Three studio albums followed: 2001's Pass Out of Existence, the 2003 follow-up The Impossibility Of Reason and a self-titled third long-player. Chimaira parted company with Roadrunner earlier in 2006, amicably if unexpectedly. At the time of writing they have fourteen possible songs in contention for a fourth album, although the rumour that they'll get snapped up by DiS Recordings is unfounded.

Oh, and Chimaira are:

Mark Hunter - vocals
Matt DeVries - guitar
Rob Arnold - guitar
Jim LaMarca - bass
Chris Spicuzza - electronic stuff
Andols Herrick - drums