By Andrew Jones

I don’t know where Chimaira gets and sustains the amazing amount of high octane energy that they do, but I wish they would hook me up with some of it. These Cleveland boys have been tearing stages for almost a dime, and their dedication and talent continues to amaze diehard fans. Their current “No Fear” tour (alongside Killswitch Engage) will surely bring them the level of recognition they’ve been after, but not because they’ve done anything to accommodate a more mainstream audience ~ just the opposite, in fact, they’re bringing “it” even harder and heavier than ever before. The title to their brand new album, “Resurrection,” explains a lot about why they’re in a fresh mind state to destroy anything that’s haunted them in the past and anything in their way now. But after hearing this album that absolutely DOES NOT let up, and seeing a live performance that does exactly the same, I definitely needed to get some details about the guys themselves and how this domepiece wrecking ball rose to devour. So I sat with bassist Jim LaMarca to get a few details about the band and how they have gone about shedding some skin.

Pulse: So, any mixed feelings about coming back on tour this time around?

Jim: Uh, no. We have the new record so we want to be pushing it, you know what I mean? We want to get out there and support it, so we’re prepared to be out on the road. Everybody’s gung-ho, and we’re ready to go, you know?

P: How did you guys end up leaving Roadrunner [Records] for Ferret?

J: We asked to be let off the label quite a while back, and the process took six or seven months before it actually came about. So, we asked to be let off the label, and they let us off and Ferret was definitely the first one to jump on board and say, “Hey, we want you guys to be on Ferret, and we’ll take care of you.” Plus there are former employees of Roadrunner that were actually there that work for Ferret now, and they were the ones that were like, “Hey, we know how to work your record. We know what to do.” So, that’s what was going on.

P: Does the change of labels have anything to do with the new album title at all?

J: Um, yeah, I mean we were resurrected from the hell that we were in before, and I shouldn’t say “Hell,” but it’s like, it was for us because we wanted to be something more than what they could make us, you know? And now we’re on a different label, and this is where we wanna be. This is what we wanna do. They really push us. They’re behind us full force like a steamroller where we didn’t have that before.

P: Who’s currently winning the tattoo contest?

J: Uh, I would say it’s a tie between Matt [rhythm guitar] and Mark [lead vocals]. They both have a lot of heavy duty ink. I’m next, and then Chris [keyboards] is after me.

P: Alright, You’re a metal band.

J: Yup.

P: The album’s called “Resurrection.”

J: Yup.

P: Now, shouldn’t that include you guys bringing back the ass-length, permed hairdo?

J: That has nothing to do with us. If somebody wants to do that kind of crazy sh*t, let ‘em. It has nothing to do with us. So, yeah, heh, that’s up to them.

P: I’d say that one of the biggest accomplishments for most bands, especially in this genre, is not having to carry in all of their sh*t. Beyond that, with your style of music, do you think there are a lot more levels of popularity to reach before you guys have to start sacrificing any kind of integrity?

J: Um, I mean, honestly, I’m sure everyone would be happy if we stayed at this level, but everyone wants to achieve more goals, and do more things beyond what we’ve already done. But the thing is everyone’s happy, and that’s the most important thing, to be happy being in the band. So when you actually think about it, we could do whatever, and lose some of that integrity as you said. But, honestly, we’re gonna stick with what we got, and stick with what we’re doing, and, hey, people are going to like us for what we are. We’re not gonna change for someone else. [Pause] Not right now, at least. Maybe when I’m forty I’ll be like, “Alright, dude, it’s time to write some f**kin’ radio sh*t and retire.”