Chimaira Spreads the Infection

Cleveland's six-headed beast Chimaira are set to spread 'The Infection' on April 21. No need to seek out antibiotics; it's not that kind of embarrassing infection. Rather, it's their second album for Ferret.

Guitarist Rob Arnold told Noisecreep that "the music is infectious, the vocals are haunting and the combination is downright dangerous." We're left to wonder; did those bitter Ohio winters affect the recording process, aiding in the creation of that haunting and dangerous sound?

Arnold also told Noisecreep, "The Ohio winters always have an effect on our material. They're cold, wet, dark and depressing. If it were any other way, maybe we'd have been a pop band!"

This time around, though, there is a special story about Chimaira's music and its relationship to its Midwestern hometown. "When we first began working on 'The Infection's' instrumental track, 'The Heart of it All,' [vocalist] Mark [Hunter] mentioned that he wanted us to think about how driving around Cleveland's winter streets inspired our songwriting senses," Arnold recalled. "And then from there, we'd construct the song based upon those emotions. He originally had planned to simply call the song, 'Cleveland,' but then later decided to take a more ambiguous route by titling it after a popular Cleveland nickname, 'The Heart of it All.'"

Chimaira will hit the road to tour in support of 'The Infection' as part of the Music as a Weapon Tour, featuring Killswitch Engage and Disturbed, later this month.