Chimaira was spawned in 1998 by Jason Hager, the guitarist of the now defunct, Ascension. Hager's desire to start an intense new metal led him to Mark Hunter, previously of Cleveland's Skipline. Mark's vocal strengths and abilities as a songwriter made him an easy choice. After a great deal of trials and error the Chimaira family came to be what it is today: Mark Hunter (vocals), Rob Arnold and Jason Hager (guitarists), Andols Herrick (drummer), Jim LMarca (bass), and Chris Spicuzza (electronics).

*Matt V. Devries has now joined the band to replace the departed Jason Hagar, who has left the band to start a life with his family.

This Cleveland six piece's unrelenting DIV attitude and drive to succeed has helped them sell close to 10,000 copies of their independently released EP, This Present Darkness. Chimaira developed their fan base through touring, the Internet and radio - particularly stations 93X (Minneapolis) and WSOU (NY/NJ). Last year the band performed on the nationally televised show, Farmclub.com shown on the USA Network and shared the stage with the likes of Soulfly, Hatebreed, Spineshank, and Snapcase.

In March 2001 the band joined forces with the illustrious producer Mudrock (Godsmack, Powerman, 5000) to put together the 14 fiercely emotional tracks that are showcased on - PASS OUT OF EXISTENCE - the band's Roadrunner debut album. Musically the album captures Chimaira's signature sound: intense guitar riffs, brutal bass lines, intricate electronics and heart-pounding drum sequences blended with refined harmonies and brilliant melodies. Chimaira's sound cannot be classified; neither purely the nu-metal of today's heavyweights or that of the classic metal gods. Chimaira pull from the best elements of both yesterday and today.

All 14 tracks on PASS OUT OF EXISTENCE are studies in the misery of the human condition; each one a tale of the pain we cause ourselves and each other. "Sp Lit", with its churning riffs and eerie harmonies of "I never wanted this" is a bitter tone on relationships that shines the harsh light of reality on the lies that tear people apart. "Painting the White to Grey" is a sonic exploration of misery and self-loathing. From its stacatto-riff opening to the blast furnace intensity of the chorus, this song takes you to the very depths of human misery and then continues to dig deeper. The title track revels in pure rock anger, ripping and tearing through a bitter diatribe about wanting to virtually tear someone from memory and have them "pass out of existence". The 14 minute album closer, "Jade" is a schizophrenic trip into madness, beautifully held together by the sonic melding of throbbing electronic beats and pure metal power - fully exploring the scope of the music Chimaira is capable of.

Chimaira is on a mission to destroy everything in their path. From the first pummeling note, Chimaira's agression is reborn with every stage they take. Every instrument unearths emotions better left unexplored and together they unleash the vicious monster that lurks just beneath the surface of these six men.