Cleveland metal band Chimaira are well aware that all the turmoil going on within the group for the past couple of years — revolving-door band membership, occasionally spotty songs, etc. — has pissed off more than a handful of fans.
Frontman Mark Hunter just released a statement to fans that basically says, “Yeah, things have been pretty fucked up, but I promise they’re gonna get better.”
The nearly 1,000-word statement starts off, “The last few years have been bizarre, to say the least.”
Hunter then goes on:
Chimaira went through an insane amount of changes that would have killed 99% of the bands out there, and all things considered, probably should have killed us, too.
Since 2009, we’ve switched labels, management companies, booking agents, merchandisers, and unfortunately, band members.
Like many bands, we were tested in order to survive an ever-changing industry. There were various suggestions implemented to try and improve our situation; some methods worked, some not so much. Regardless, we all had different ideas and life goals that ultimately led to where we are today.
There’s more — lots more — but the gist of Hunter’s words is that yes, he knows there’s been plenty of bitching from the band’s longtime fans (“I empathize with the fact there are a few upset fans disappointed in the changes that happened”).
But there’s some bright light ahead:
We have every intention of preserving the quality you expect from this band, while at the same time raising the bar to unreachable heights. It’s a powerful time.
He ends the statement with “the Age of Hell is over.”
The band — Hunter, Matt Szlachta, Emil Werstler, Sean Z, Austin D’amond, and Jeremy Creamer — are currently working on some new music and plan to rock your balls of sometime in the near future.
You can read Hunter’s entire statement after the jump. —Michael Gallucci
This article appears in Aug 15-21, 2012.