With "The Impossibility Of Reason" CHIMAIRA for the most part throw this concept over board and have minorized Nu-Metal in favour of a stronger emphasis on the already existing Thrash Metal influences, which has raised the level of heaviness compared to the old songs by quite some notches. CHIMAIRA 2003 can be found somewhere between FEAR FACTORY, SLAYER, PANTERA, MACHINE HEAD or also less hefty DEMOLITION HAMMER (R.I.P.), but without losing their very own sound from their focus. Album number three is the often cited punch in the face and brings us all the advantages of a damn brutal album. Which would be ton heavy riffs galore, dominating as well as filigree drums, hefty bass lines and the powerful and menacing vocals of Mark Hunter. In between that we find some small electronic effects, which make the already dense sound even more compact and powerful.

Style wise "The Impossibility Of Reason" is rather a step back, musically the "retro thoughts" have to be viewed as evolution and progression. CHIMAIRA sound fresher, more aggressive and more playful than ever, even though the influences partly already have a few years on their back and some might even already have forgotten them. Modern, but still timeless the sextet from the United States masters its third try and makes everything right, without even remotely trying to hunt a trend.

This merciless dozen of killer songs should delight basically any headbanger, so especially those among you, who still fear to get in contact with the Americans, risk both ears and forget any prejudices you've had so far. (Online August 26, 2003)