Chimaira - Rob Arnold Interview

Here's a chat I had with Rob Arnold of Chimaira just prior to departing on their two month US tour; be sure to read Buzz Magazine next month for more Chimaira news!

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A phage is spreading across the metal realm and it about to be released by metalcore pioneers Chimaira. Their latest album, The Infection and its accompanying sensory onslaught seeks to instill a sense of dread from every direction, taking on a dirge-like quality that invokes the bleak and inevitable. However Rob Arnold, founding lead guitarist didn’t have plans for such a grandiose, conceptual piece; he tells us it “sorta just happened.”

“We go into every record saying ‘let’s see what happens when we get together and start writing,’” he straight-forwardly confesses. “That sludgier, sort of doomy more brutal sound was just what was swirling [around our heads] at the time.”

The record’s genesis began rather unceremoniously in the back of a tour bus with Mark and Rob setting up a makeshift studio during the latter stages of their Resurrection world tour.

“We set up a studio in the back lounge of the tour bus at the end of the Resurrection cycle [of tours] and we said ‘Hey, its about time we wrote a new record.’ So, on the first day we got it all together, got my guitar plugged in and the first riff played was the opening riff to the song Try to Survive. Its just got this cool groove. (starts to sing song) It’s got this cool heavy vibe to it.

“We liked it and we finished up that song that night. The other guys were popping their heads in there and saying ‘Hey, that sounds cool.’ We just knew we were on to something. It just really set the tone for the rest of the tunes.”

And they were written similarly quickly; the “first seven songs were written over the course of a month, on the rest of that tour,” Rob reveals. “The whole process probably took around three months or so.”

Even though the buzz around the record has been momentous for the band in their eleven year career, the no-nonsense Rob doesn’t seem to see it. He insists that the recording took place under routine circumstances, even enlisting former keyboardist Ben Schigel to handle the production again.

“[Ben] has been our long time friend and producer [who’s] done a bunch our stuff. We had all the songs written and we just went in and did our thing. There wasn’t anything really special about the recording.”

The Infection, when released on the 21st of April, will feature a ton of goodies and bonuses for fans; those who are lucky enough to snag the first 580 “metal briefcases” will also receive a flag, a DVD documentary and a syringe shaped USB stick with demos, pictures and other bonus tracks among other merchandise. (“We had to sign about 100 of them” Rob tells me, “we had a little assembly line going in our practice space”) Rob’s involvement was limited to playing the songs on the record and giving a final tick of approval to the finished artwork.

“Mark and Chris, our singer and keyboard play have a ton to do with that stuff. I’m the kind of guy where they make the stuff and they show it to me and then I’m like ‘Hey, that looks good.’ Those guys are heavily involved in the artwork and every concept of what goes on with each record and they work real closely with [label] Ferret Records and their team.

“They always make cool looking stuff. Its just for fans that like something a little extra special.”

Constantly on the road, Chimaira certainly aren't afraid of a little hard work with Rob describing their touring schedule as "definitely intense", especially when they've begun writing on tour.

"We're gone for the long part of the year and we don't get to spend much time at home. But that comes with the territory. We're a metal band and we have to get out there and work it. We have to rely on the word of mouth; play as many shows as you can and get as many people to see you as possible.

"In metal, you can't really rely on radio at all, so this something we know we have to do. For ten years now it's been write a record, record it, tour on it. Now, like you said, we're even writing while we're already on tour."

Despite the fatigue of the road (and sea), Rob and the crew are already psyched up to play Australia and New Zealand again.

“We had a great time last time and we’re really looking forward to coming back in [Autumn.] Our last show with Korn was in New Zealand and we’re really excited to go back.”