Los Angeles, CA · nu-metal

Coal Chamber

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Spooky-kid nu-metal with detuned bounce and a goth streak the genre mostly abandoned — 'Loco'-era heaviness back from the grave.

Coal Chamber began in Los Angeles in 1992 as She's in Pain, formed by vocalist Dez Fafara and guitarist Miguel 'Meegs' Rascón out of a shared love of Sisters of Mercy. Bassist Rayna Foss was recruited through a newspaper ad, and the band settled on its current name in 1993, combining the words 'coal' and 'chamber.'

A demo championed by Fear Factory's Dino Cazares drew attention at shows at the Roxy Theatre and Whisky a Go Go, leading Roadrunner Records to sign the band in late 1995 with drummer Mike Cox now in place. The following year Coal Chamber played the first Ozzfest and came under the management of Sharon Osbourne.

Coal Chamber were among the first wave of nu-metal bands on Roadrunner, combining downtuned, bouncing guitar riffs with gothic and industrial touches, heavy makeup and dark imagery setting them apart from their peers. Their 1997 debut album produced the single 'Loco,' which remains their best-known song and eventually pushed the record to gold certification.

Chamber Music followed in 1999 and included the band's only US charting single, a cover of Peter Gabriel's 'Shock the Monkey' featuring Ozzy Osbourne on guest vocals. A third album, Dark Days, arrived in 2002 with Nadja Peulen now on bass.

The band split in 2003, with Fafara going on to front DevilDriver, before reuniting in 2011 and again after a further breakup in 2016. Coal Chamber released a fourth album, Rivals, in 2015 and returned once more in 2022.

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nu-metal