Spring Break
Spreading the 'Infection' with Chimaira
Stephen Ortiz
Issue date: 4/20/09 Section: Focus
With each album that they released, Cleveland-based metal band Chimaira proves time and time again that is is one of the hardest bands in the genre. Tomorrow, fans get two swift - yet awesome - haymakers to the face: Chimaira's fifth and heaviest, most progressive album to date, "The Infection," hits stores, and an amazing lineup that not only features Chimaira, but also Disturbed, Lacuna Coil and Killswitch Engage, takes over Bridgeport as the Music As A Weapon Tour hits the Arena At Harbor Yard.
Recently, The Daily Campus caught up with Chimaira guitarist Rob Arnold to talk the tour, the album and future plans for the band.
Daily Campus: Let's talk your current tour, Music As A Weapon. You've got Disturbed, Killswitch Engage and Lacuna Coil. How's the road been treating you?
Rob Arnold: Yea, it's been an excellent opportunity for us to come out. It's the first major tour for the new album, "The Infection," and to be on a big tour like this with a high-profile band like Disturbed has been great. Every night is packed.
DC: So, you guys are stopping here in Connecticut Tuesday night, in Bridgeport - the same day that "The Infection" drops in stores. What should fans expect?
RA: Just a killer show, like they've all been. It's just another day for us performing, but it's great that our album is coming out that day as well. Really looking forward to that. There's been a lot of anticipation, a lot of hype around it. We can't wait for the day.
DC: There certainly has been quite a lot of hype. Every Web site or album preview you come across just loves it. I've had the opportunity to listen to the album over the past few weeks and I think it kicks ass. You guys have had this huge marketing campaign what with your Web site - spreadtheinfection.com - whose idea was it?
RA: Basically, our singer Mark [Hunter] came up with the idea and he worked the label. And then our keyboardist Chris [Spicuzza] got together with them and decided that, with the name of the album, we can do this great marketing campaign and get the whole band and the fans involved. It's different though, because street teams of the early 2000s were just employees getting paid to go hand out fliers and stickers and stuff after the show. With this, it's about the actual band, and we're all passionate about our work so when they go hand out a sticker or make a flyer or spray paint our logo on a wall, it's because they actually love the band and they want people to know about it.
Recently, The Daily Campus caught up with Chimaira guitarist Rob Arnold to talk the tour, the album and future plans for the band.
Daily Campus: Let's talk your current tour, Music As A Weapon. You've got Disturbed, Killswitch Engage and Lacuna Coil. How's the road been treating you?
Rob Arnold: Yea, it's been an excellent opportunity for us to come out. It's the first major tour for the new album, "The Infection," and to be on a big tour like this with a high-profile band like Disturbed has been great. Every night is packed.
DC: So, you guys are stopping here in Connecticut Tuesday night, in Bridgeport - the same day that "The Infection" drops in stores. What should fans expect?
RA: Just a killer show, like they've all been. It's just another day for us performing, but it's great that our album is coming out that day as well. Really looking forward to that. There's been a lot of anticipation, a lot of hype around it. We can't wait for the day.
DC: There certainly has been quite a lot of hype. Every Web site or album preview you come across just loves it. I've had the opportunity to listen to the album over the past few weeks and I think it kicks ass. You guys have had this huge marketing campaign what with your Web site - spreadtheinfection.com - whose idea was it?
RA: Basically, our singer Mark [Hunter] came up with the idea and he worked the label. And then our keyboardist Chris [Spicuzza] got together with them and decided that, with the name of the album, we can do this great marketing campaign and get the whole band and the fans involved. It's different though, because street teams of the early 2000s were just employees getting paid to go hand out fliers and stickers and stuff after the show. With this, it's about the actual band, and we're all passionate about our work so when they go hand out a sticker or make a flyer or spray paint our logo on a wall, it's because they actually love the band and they want people to know about it.
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