Leading New Wave of American Heavy Metal contenders. Cleveland, Ohio's CHIMAIRA was created by guitarist Jason Hager, who had quit bass responsibilities in ASCENSION, during the autumn of 1998. He and drummer friend Jason Genaro contacted former SKIPLINE guitarist / SACRIFIX drummer Mark Hunter, living in Cincinatti at the time, to handle vocals, who in turn drafted Andrew Emrlick to occupy bass duties. Musing on possible bandnames, Jason Genaro stumbled upon the name CHIMAIRA in the dictionary. An Ancient Greek mythological monster, the Chimaira's anatomy is comprised of three sections, these being a lion's head, the goat's torso and a dragon's tail. Several spellings of the word are in usage, but this variant was specifically chosen due to its ambiguous meanings - an unreachable dream, the mind's fabrication is one such alternate meaning. Other proposed names included SPHERE, RUPTURE and BLOOD FOR NINE.

Andrew Emrlick would then recruit Rob Arnold in January 1999 as lead guitarist. A month later, Jason Genaro left, Andols Herrick filling this void behind the drumkit. The Flying Machine in Cleveland hosted the group's inaugural concert showing on March 20th, an opening slot with TODAY IS THE DAY and NAPALM DEATH. August witnessed the departure of Andrew Emrlick, Rob Lesniak undertaking the bass as a result.

The self-financed 'This Present Darkness' EP took through days to record, from November 1st-3rd. The band's sense of humour came into play with this outing, as despite boasting 69 tracks only eight would involve audio, including the spoof 'Satan's Wizards'. Hidden tracks 'Empty' and 'Silence' utilized their demo versions with original bassist Andrew Emrlick, the band wishing for his contribution to the recording process. Unfortunately, they couldn't afford the money to pay for the re-recordings, so this was deemed the next best option. Meanwhile, at its ending the song 'Sphere' exploited sampling, culled from the 1994 drama 'Shawshank Redemption' directed by Frank Darabont. Roughly a week after its recording, Chris Spicuzza joined the group after the demise of his own band, lending them an electronic edge. Previously, Spicuzza had conducted promotional and website work on their behalf also. Co-produced by Ben Schigel of Sw1tched and vocalist Mark Hunter, 'This Present Darkness' saw issue in January 2000 by East Coast Empire.

CHIMAIRA would sign to the Roadrunner label for their 2001 opus 'Pass Out Of Existence'. However, that same year Hager opted out.

The band donated a version of THE CURE's 'Fascination Street' to the Too Damn Hype tribute compilation 'Disintegrated'. They would also be responsible for a take on the ACCEPT classic 'Balls To The Wall' for another compilation.

Mark Hunter and Jim Lamarca announced a side venture, in alliance with vocalist / guitarist Ed Gandolf and drummer Drew Scalero, billed as HIGH POINT in August of 2002. Andols Herrick would stand in for ASCENCION shows during September upfront of recording of CHIMAIRA's new studio album 'The Impossibility Of Reason', produced by SW1TCHED frontman Ben Schigel. Japanese variants came with an extra track, a cover version of BJORK's 'Army Of Me'.

Jason Hager and Jason Genaro announced the formation of a new band in the Spring of 2003 entitled SHENOA, this act, issuing the 'Version 0.5' EP, including former members of ERASE THE GREY and RINGWORM.

North American touring throughout April and May of 2003 had the band packaged alongside LAMB OF GOD, EIGHTEEN VISIONS and ATREYU. A further round of dates saw the band hooking up with headliners IN FLAMES and road partners SOILWORK and UNEARTH for a month long trek commencing 26th June in Toronto, Canada. The SOILWORK connection was strengthened in December when the group parted ways with Andy Herrick, bringing in SOILWORK skinsman Rickard Evensand, a veteran of the Swedish Rock scene citing credits with EBONY TEARS, DOG FACED GODS, Funksters IT'S ALIVE, MANIC DEPRESSION, SOUTHPAW, EYEBALL, DEMONOID and SORCERER, in his stead. The live schedule continued into 2004 with February shows aligning CHIMAIRA with STAMPIN' GROUND and EVERYTIME I DIE after which the band joined SLIPKNOT and FEAR FACTORY for the fourth installment of the Jägermeister Music US tour, commencing 30th March in Orlando, Florida. Their next trek was set to be a month's duration co-headline tour in June with label mates KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, SHADOWS FALL and GOD FORBID.

The group was unable to continue with Evensand due to visa complications. Drafting a new drummer in the form of ex-DIETY, DYING FETUS, SUFFOCATION, M.O.D. and MISERY INDEX man Kevin Talley, the band forged an alliance with MACHINE HEAD and TRIVIUM for the August 'RoadRage 2004' dates in North America. The band then put in Australian dates in September, allied with IN FLAMES. On December 18th Matt DeVries reunited with his erstwhile ASCENSCION colleagues for a one off reunion show at Peabody's Down Under in Cleveland.

The band closed out the year with a special performance on December 27th at the Carling Apollo Hammersmith in London alongside LACUNA COIL, CALIBAN and IN FLAMES. April 2005 gigs in the US had CHIMAIRA allied with TRIVIUM. That same month former CHIMAIRA guitarist/co-founder Jason Hager re-emerged in a new Cleveland based band entitled YEARS OF FIRE.

The Summer of 2005 found CHIMAIRA participating in the US 'Sounds of the Underground' touring extravaganza, a collaboration between independent labels Ferret Music, Prosthetic Records, Trustkill Records and Metal Blade Records. The mammoth billing for these shows saw the band sharing stages with CLUTCH, OPETH, POISON THE WELL, FROM AUTUMN TO ASHES, UNEARTH, NORMA JEAN, EVERY TIME I DIE, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, THROWDOWN, HIGH ON FIRE, DEVILDRIVER, ALL THAT REMAINS, A LIFE ONCE LOST and GWAR. Regional additions included MADBALL and TERROR, splitting the East and West portions of the tour respectively, THE RED CHORD on the East Coast, FEAR BEFORE THE MARCH OF FLAMES in the Midwest and Southeast and HIMSA for Western gigs. Further Summer gigs had the band in union with SIX FEET UNDER, ALL THAT REMAINS, and 3 INCHES OF BLOOD.

The band's self-titled 2005 album was recorded at Spider Studios in Ohio with producer Ben Schigel. In the UK, the record also saw release as a limited edition "Black box", adding bonus material including two album outtakes, 'Clayden' and 'Malignant' plus seven live tracks recorded on the 2003 European 'Roadrage' tour. First week US sales of over 14,000 copies saw 'Chimaira' land at number 74 on the Billboard album charts.

The band had their track 'Eyes Of A Criminal' featured on the soundtrack to the 'Rainbow Six Lockdown' game issued by 3volution Productions. Mark Hunter also made time to see inclusion on the ROADRUNNER UNITED 25th anniversary album 'The All-Stars Sessions', featuring on the track 'The Enemy' penned by ex-FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares, while Matt DeVries laid down rhythm guitar parts for the Joey Jordison compiled 'Enemy of the State' and 'Constitution Down' respectively helmed by DEICIDE frontman Glen Benton and FLOODGATE vocalist Kyle Thomas. Even erstwhile sticksman Andols Herrick figured, utilized by MACHINE HEAD singer Robert Flynn on the tracks 'The Dagger', 'Independent (Voice of the Voiceless)' and 'Army Of The Sun'.

The band joined forces with the DANZIG headlined 'Blackest of the Black' US dates commencing in September, these shows accompanied by MORTIIS, BEHEMOTH, HIMSA and THE AGONY SCENE. A brief burst of German dates had the band supporting HATESPHERE and DARK TRANQUILLITY. In January 2006 the 'Chimaira' album saw an expanded re-release, adding seven live tracks and two previously unreleased studio songs. That same month the group welcomed original drummer Andols Herrick back into the fold.

North American gigging witnessed a union with BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE and CHILDREN OF BODOM in March. The band played their part in honouring METALLICA, contributing their rendition of 'Disposable Heroes' to the album 'Remastered', this set being a complete remake of 'Master Of Puppets' in joint celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the classic album's release and the 25th anniversary of UK Rock magazine Kerrang! In April 2006. This same month came with the news CHIMAIRA had parted ways with Roadrunner Records. Apparently the group requested to opt out of their contract agreement, to which the label obliged.

CHIMAIRA, ARCH ENEMY, NEVERMORE and HATE ETERNAL announced US shows for April, these shows later adding TEMPLE OF BRUTALITY. Crossing the Atlantic, CHIMAIRA alongside MADBALL, UNEARTH, TERROR, ALL THAT REMAINS and MANNTIS teamed up for the European edition of the 'Sounds of the Underground' tour, commencing May 10th in Manchester, England.

In mid October SABBAT guitarist Andy Sneap recorded the drum tracks for the 'Resurrection' album in Cleveland, Ohio with drummer Andols Herrick prior to the remaining material being cut with producer Jason Suecof at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida. The album then returned to Sneap for a final mix. An accompanying DVD chroncicling the making of the record would be directed by Tom Bell.

The group further announced they were to partner with DRAGONFORCE, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and HE IS LEGEND for the 'No Fear Music' 35 city North American tour commencing February 21st 2007 at the Atlantic City, New Jersey, House of Blues. Summer 2007 dates throughout July and August had the band involved in the gargantuan 'Sounds Of The Underground' touring festival accompanied by JOB FOR A COWBOY, NECRO, GWAR, DARKEST HOUR, AMON AMARTH, THE ACACIA STRAIN, HEAVY HEAVY LOW LOW, GOATWHORE, THE NUMBER TWELVE LOOKS LIKE YOU, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, THIS IS HELL and EVERY TIME I DIE amongst others.

CHIMAIRA played a secret show under the name PURE HATRED on Saturday, 18th October 2008 at the Roc Bar in the band's hometown of Cleveland. The group filmed a video for the track 'Destroy And Dominate' in February 2009. The album 'The Infection' was delivered in April, selling 15,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at no. 30 on The Billboard 200 chart. In Australia the album hit no. 76.

The group embarked on a European tour alongside UNEARTH and California's straight-edge outfit THROWDOWN. CHIMAIRA then announced summer dates supporting HATEBREED on the 'Decimation Of The Nation' tour that also featured WINDS OF PLAGUE, DYING FETUS and TOXIC HOLOCAUST. The trek kicked off on 31st July in Rochester, New York. 

CHIMAIRA toured Australia and New Zealand in January 2010 with support from DOUBLE DRAGON.