Biography
Emerging from the Los Angeles alternative metal underground in 1997, Coal Chamber crafted a style frequently likened to Korn, even though both groups had originated around the same period and embodied the broader regional aesthetic through thick, detuned guitars echoing the murkiest Black Sabbath, grungy and abrasive textures recalling White Zombie or Tool, the white-knuckle ferocity of Pantera and hardcore punk, plus occasional hip-hop-tinged beats in the vein of Biohazard.
Vocalist and lyricist B. Dez Fafara joined forces with guitarist Miguel "Meegs" Rascon in 1994 after the pair connected via a classified ad; they soon recruited drummer Mike "Mikee" Cox and bassist Rayna Foss, who learned of the tryouts through her roommate, Fafara’s eventual spouse. Strong local word-of-mouth generated by shows at the Roxy and the Whisky a Go Go, combined with a demo tape promoted by Fear Factory’s Dino Cazares, earned the group a late-1994 deal with Roadrunner Records, yet Fafara abruptly departed amid disagreements with his wife concerning the band’s future. By spring 1995 he reversed course and rejoined, a choice that ended his marriage but restored momentum sufficient for Coal Chamber to secure another Roadrunner contract before year’s end.
The self-titled debut appeared in 1997, followed two years later by Chamber Music. Although the latter achieved modest commercial traction, its blend of goth-rock visuals and nu-metal aggression produced an inconsistent record. Extensive touring supported the release, but by the sessions for the subsequent album bassist Rayna Foss-Rose had exited to raise her daughter, with Nadja Peulen stepping in. Peulen had already substituted for Foss-Rose during an earlier pregnancy between the first two albums and now accepted a permanent role while the next record was being tracked. Dark Days surfaced in spring 2002.
That May the lineup began to fracture after an onstage clash between Fafara and Rascon. The following year, having issued the remix-and-rarities collection Giving the Devil His Due, the members declared an official split, after which Fafara launched Devildriver and ultimately released six studio albums with the new group. In 2011 Coal Chamber began signaling a possible reunion, and by 2013 the reformation was confirmed with a performance at Download 2013 and a tour alongside Sevendust, Lacuna Coil, and Stolen Babies. Rivals, the band’s first studio effort in 13 years, arrived in early 2015 on Napalm Records.
Vocalist and lyricist B. Dez Fafara joined forces with guitarist Miguel "Meegs" Rascon in 1994 after the pair connected via a classified ad; they soon recruited drummer Mike "Mikee" Cox and bassist Rayna Foss, who learned of the tryouts through her roommate, Fafara’s eventual spouse. Strong local word-of-mouth generated by shows at the Roxy and the Whisky a Go Go, combined with a demo tape promoted by Fear Factory’s Dino Cazares, earned the group a late-1994 deal with Roadrunner Records, yet Fafara abruptly departed amid disagreements with his wife concerning the band’s future. By spring 1995 he reversed course and rejoined, a choice that ended his marriage but restored momentum sufficient for Coal Chamber to secure another Roadrunner contract before year’s end.
The self-titled debut appeared in 1997, followed two years later by Chamber Music. Although the latter achieved modest commercial traction, its blend of goth-rock visuals and nu-metal aggression produced an inconsistent record. Extensive touring supported the release, but by the sessions for the subsequent album bassist Rayna Foss-Rose had exited to raise her daughter, with Nadja Peulen stepping in. Peulen had already substituted for Foss-Rose during an earlier pregnancy between the first two albums and now accepted a permanent role while the next record was being tracked. Dark Days surfaced in spring 2002.
That May the lineup began to fracture after an onstage clash between Fafara and Rascon. The following year, having issued the remix-and-rarities collection Giving the Devil His Due, the members declared an official split, after which Fafara launched Devildriver and ultimately released six studio albums with the new group. In 2011 Coal Chamber began signaling a possible reunion, and by 2013 the reformation was confirmed with a performance at Download 2013 and a tour alongside Sevendust, Lacuna Coil, and Stolen Babies. Rivals, the band’s first studio effort in 13 years, arrived in early 2015 on Napalm Records.
Albums
