Rob: It’s going pretty good. How’s it going with you?

I’m alright. 

So you’ve not been to the UK for ages, is this like the first tour for “Resurrection” really?

Rob: Yeah, just the summer festivals were really the only times that we came over for “Resurrection”. You know, we were planning to come over for that Eastpak [Antidote] tour but unfortunately we just weren’t able to make it. But we’re back now and it’s better late than never. 

How’s the tour been so far?

Rob: It’s actually been great, all the shows have been awesome, better than we expected and this is the first time we’ve ever done this where we’re ending a tour in the UK but its actually cool because all the UK shows have been awesome, so we’re ending the tour on a great note. 

You seem to be playing much smaller venues that you did on the last time you were here, is there any particular reason?

Rob: Erm, well that didn't even occur to me. I don’t even remember venues. I don’t remember where we played last time in Manchester or the time before or anything like that. 

Recently there was a MySpace bulletin to say that this will be the last UK tour for quite a while, are you off to do some recording?

Rob: Yeah, we’re gonna do a new record, probably before we come back. We realise now that we need to come back earlier in the cycle so we’re making a point to try and do that on the next record. 

Overall, how do you think that “Resurrection” was received by the UK fans?

Rob: Great. They sing along to it, you know. 

Chimaira have had quite a long career, what would you say has been the highlight for you?

Rob: Playing at Download last year, it was the biggest show we’ve ever played, pretty much all the Downloads. The first year we played it in ’03, we got to meet Metallica, my favourite band, played with them, same stage, everything like that. Then in ‘05 that was cool and then of course in 2007 playing the main stage in front of god knows how many people. That was definitely quite a highlight, and see it was in the UK, we love the UK. 

Is the UK a special place for Chimaira then? Did the fans accept the band more quickly?

Rob: Yeah I guess so, I mean even since the beginning the UK has been good to us you know.

Are there any upcoming bands out there that you really like at the moment?

Rob: Up and coming, no. There’s just nothing I know of, I don’t actively seek out new bands or anything, I just don’t have time. Maybe if somebody shows me something like, dude this is badass check it out and I like it while were just sitting around then maybe I’ll check it out but otherwise I don’t care. But a band I am checking out a lot is Opeth, I really like them, and I know they’ve been around forever but I just recently discovered them. 

So, if you could play with any band past or present, who would it be and for what reason?

Rob: Pantera and Alice In Chains, two of my favourite bands that we’ll never have the opportunity to play with obviously. You know, I mean original line ups, Alice In Chains they’re touring again but without Layne. There’s two right there that I regret we never had the opportunity to play with.  

Finally what would you say has influenced you over the years, or what have been the major bands that have contributed to your style of playing?

Rob: Metallica, Pantera, Slayer, Megadeth, Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel, Alice In Chains, Sepultura, Machine Head, Fear Factory, Deicide, to name a few.  

What has the rest of 2008 got in store for Chimaira then?

Rob: Just one more American tour which I’m not allowed to talk about yet, and then just writing the record. Writing and recording. New album probably in February, March something like that, 2009.  

Is there anything planned for the record yet or are you just going to see how it goes?
Rob: See how it goes, that’s what we wanna do. We wanna show up on the first day that we start writing and just see what happens.

Is there a message you’d like to give to the readers and the UK fans?

Rob: Just, thanks for all the support, thanks for being patient with us and just keep spreading the word about us.