Having never quite capitalised on their sudden rise to prominence after 2003’s ‘The Impossibility Of Reason’, Chimaira have remained as one of modern metal’s many ‘nearly bands’; serving as an ideal stepping stone into the more extreme side of metal after nu metal’s inevitable implosion, but never really carving a real identity for themselves.

Fifth album ‘The Infection’ will do little to convince sceptics that Chimaira deserve recognition beyond their current status, but it goes some way to being the band’s strongest album to date. Filled with dark, brooding industrialised riffage and a few surprises – futuristic, electronic-led number ‘Impending Doom’ being one such highlight – ‘The Infection’ doesn’t match up to many of the strong releases that metal has already had to offer in 2009, but it’s a step in the right direction.

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