Pass Out of Existence is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Chimaira, released on October 2, 2001. According to vocalist Mark Hunter, as of 2003, the band has sold 44,000 copies of the album in the United States alone. Pass Out of Existence features an altogether different sound when compared to the band's later albums, leaning more towards nu metal rather than the groove metal style featured in later material.[3] Its heavy use of electronics has also been noted.
Prior to the album’s release, the track "Dead Inside" was performed on the short lived USA Network program Farmclub.com. This appearance prompted Roadrunner Records to sign Chimaira.[4]Pass Out of Existence features re-recordings of two songs that were included on the band’s previous release, This Present Darkness, which are “Sphere” and “Painting the White to Grey”.
Production and sound
Unlike other Chimaira records, Pass Out of Existence was recorded with seven-string guitars in dropped A tuning.[5] It emphasizes programming and sampling and, consequently, has been considered less heavy than Chimaira's following albums. In a 2004 interview, synthesizer player Chris Spicuzza acknowledged this but pointed out that it was largely an issue with the mixing that gives this impression.[6] Vocalist Mark Hunter would later disparage the sampling as "ear candy" and stated that the band's 2003 effort The Impossibility of Reason had a more focused approach to sampling.[7]
Despite some criticisms and the band's later sound change, the album was still positively praised by some. Worship Metal stated "Chimaira’s bizarre melding of death metal, groove metal and nu-metal’s penchant for electronic noises marked them out as an anomaly from the start."[8]
Some editions of Pass Out of Existence include a hidden track at the end of "Jade," extending the track's total runtime to 13:57. The Japanese/Australian pressing includes the bonus track "Without Moral Restraint."
Touring and promotion
In October 2001, Chimaira would join and befriend Slayer on their God Hates the World Tour. This would later prove beneficial when drummer Ricky Evensand left Chimaira in 2004; going on advice from Slayer guitarist Kerry King, Mark Hunter contacted Kevin Talley who would go on to fill the role for two years.
^"Nu Metal's 10 Most Underrated Albums!". Worship Metal. 11 September 2018. Admittedly, Chimaira's bizarre melding of death metal, groove metal and nu-metal's penchant for electronic noises marked them out as an anomaly from the start, the likes of "Dead Inside" still appealed them to the nu-metal fan who was looking for something that little bit heavier!
