The Elite (Chimaira, DevilDriver, Etc.) Surprise Release New Album Total Destruction

It’s been a minute since we heard from The Elite, the project featuring guitarist Rob Arnold (Chimaira, ex-Six Feet Under) and drummer Austin D’Amond (DevilDriver, Bleed the Sky, Chimaira). And by “a minute,” I mean four years. So it was a pleasant surprise to wake up this morning and find out that the band have surprise released a new full-length — their first, if I’m not mistaken! — called Total Destruction.

As I write this, I’m only a few cuts deep into Total Destruction, but so far, so good! My fellow Chimaira-obsessives, you are definitely gonna wanna get in on this. It would be unfair to say that The Elite sound exactly like Chimaira, not least of all because their vocalist, TJ Frost, leans far more into the hardcore influence than Chimaira frontman Mark Hunter ever did. Still, The Elite’s music bears all the hallmarks of The Rob Arnold Riff: Hannemalistic malevolence amalgamated with Dimebagian groove and Cazares-esque staccato pummeling. Plus, D’Amond is a fucking monster. Really, I can’t imagine any Chimaira fan not digging this. Hopefully some non-Chimaira fans get into it, too.

You check out the first single from Total Destruction, “My Last Murder,” below. Below that, you can stream the entire album. It’s available for purchase now in physical and digital formats! Look for more videos and bonus content in the not-too-distant future. Keep up with The Elite here!