Chimaira at the Gramercy Theatre

Hunter on vocals and Werstler on lead guitar

Chimaira is a heavy metal band formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1998. The band's name is derived from the Chimera or Chimaera, a monstrous creature in Greek mythology which had the head of a lion, the body of a goat and the tail of a dragon. The beast breathed fire and fear into the hearts of many. The band has released seven albums, the latest of which is the new Crown of Phantoms. Like so many heavy metal bands, Chimaira has been plagued with a revolving door line-up, leaving vocalist Mark Hunter as the last original member. The other present members consist of Emil Werstler on lead guitar, Matt Szlachta on rhythm guitar, Sean Zatorsky on keyboards, synthesizers and backing vocals, Jeremy Creamer on bass and Austin D'Amond on drums.

At the Gramercy Theatre tonight, Chimaira played a groove metal that stood out among the current crop of metal bands. While remaining faithful to the band’s defining crunch riffs, the band seldom sped very fast, perhaps disappointing those who wanted an out of control mosh scene. Unlike many metal bands that play with such fury that a listener can barely hear the individual instruments, Chimaira was consistent in producing a clean sound behind Hunter’s growl. At times, the use of synthesizer at the beginning and end of songs seemed to add outer space eeriness to the structure. In a field where so many acts sound alike, Chimaira seems to have carved out a comfortable niche.