HallOfMetal.com recently caught up guitarist Rob Arnold of Cleveland metallers CHIMAIRA. Check out an excerpt from the interview below:

Q: What are the main influences for doing this album, which is very dark and personal I think. What were you thinking about?

A: "I wasn't thinking about anything in particular. When we began to record this record, the first thing that came out from the guitar was the beginning of the song ‘Try To Survive’. It was groovy, and dark, and doomie, we like it so we had the pattern for the rest of the album."

Q: Let's talk about the return of the original drummer Andy Herrick. Did he record the album Resurrection? Richard Evensand is a very experimented drummer, but I suppose it's good to have an old member back into the band.

A: "Sure, he left in 2004 and he came back in Resurrection and it was great to have him back in the band because we were friends so long, we went to high school together, we had a band before Chimaira and it's just good help to have a brother back in the band, everything is allright... is perfect."

Q: After listening many times to The Infection, I can only say that it's incredible. Very dark, personal, more death metal I think. I think that songs like ‘Broken Glass’ define the new sound. Do you think that with songs like ‘Secret Of The Dead’ people will need songs like ‘Power Trip’ or ‘Pure Hatred’?

A: "Well, I don't know. These songs are very fast, then songs like ‘Nothing Remains’ and ‘The Flame’ from the Resurrection, and the new one. But it's still Chimaira, and with this new record we don’t know what can happen."

Q: Any favourite songs on The Infection? I think that ‘Impending Doom’ is great with this atmosphere. Also ‘Destroy And Dominate’ and ‘The Heart Of It All’ are great songs. Especially the last one is perfect to finish off the album.

A: "Ohh... Probably ‘The Heart Of It All’ and ‘On Broken Glass’, but I like the most of them."

Read the full interview here.

The premiere of the band's new video, 'Destroy & Dominate' is taking place on the band's MySpace page later today.

Chimaira is currently touring as part of the Music As A Weapon tour, along with DISTURBED, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, and LACUNA COIL. The full list of remaining tour dates can be found below.

Chimaira on the Music As A Weapon tour:

May

6 - Peoria, IL - Peoria Civic Center
8 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Center
9 - Des Moines, IA – Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium
10 - Madison, WI - Alliant Energy Center
12 - Lacrosse, WI - Lacrosse Center
13 - Evansville, IN - Roberts Stadium
15 - Council Bluffs, IA - Mid America Center
16 - Chicago, IL - Charter One Pavilion

17- Green Bay, WI - Resch Center

Chimaira "off" dates:

May

1 - Ft. Wayne, IN - Piere’s (with Killswitch Engage and Lacuna Coil)
11 - Sioux Falls, SD - Ramkota Exhibit Hall (with Killswitch Engage and

Lacuna Coil)