COAL CHAMBER |
|
Coal Chamber is just a happening name. It's got a sort of strength to it that draws you in. Wwell not literally we would hope. How about Blast Furnace? Yeah I like that one too! These self-proclaimed "underdogs" of "Spooky-core" take a sharp left turn on their second Roadrunner release, "Chamber Music". Underdogs? That's putting it mildy. how about societal dregs late of an asylum choir? "Chamber Music", combined terms likely meant to imply a form of expression uniquely their own, and for much of the time they've accomplished just that. By now rock fans will be clamoring over the oddly contrived cover of old Gabriel Peete's "Shock the Monkey" which drew the attention of Ozzy Osbourne while the whole lot of 'em ran roughshod over poor Peter's original. "Chamber Music" is an advanced composition that might well be one whole piece broken into several different parts whether intended or otherwise. Expanding on their aggro-rock past that really took them to a new level in terms of recognition but really offered little in the way of personality, this album features all of that and more. If one were to examine what exactly "chamber music" is in the real world, it's hard not to distinguish the not so subtle differences that bridge the gap from then till now. Grinding guitar work prevails in many instances where a "Tragedy" or "What's in Your Mind" backs you up like a slug in the gut. yet gives way in an instant to atmospheric processions that lend to an expansive nature that sees them jump away from the corner and fragment to all points of the gothic realm-"Tyler's Song", "Burgundy" and "My Mercy". Dez Fafara, a determined vocalist and flesh desecration personified, pours every ounce of energy in a stirring performance that's bound to make your neck skin crawl if the driving buzz of the bass doesn't complete the job! Distorted rage and demented tension team up to result in horrific gratification in the form of the darkly theatrical "Chamber Music". Released by Roadrunner
Records |
Coal Chamber COAL CHAMBER |
|
I waited a fairly long time to get to this one because I just didn't know what to say that wouldn't sound overly ingratiating. It was also educating to read the almost universally negative response to the album in other media. One reviewer said it was "The
smallest piece of KORN in a huge pile of shit." Released by Roadrunner
Records Review by David Lee |
|
While “DARK DAYS” is easily identifiable as a COAL CHAMBER product, (“Glow” and “One Step” are both so familiar that they border on self-plagiarism), there is much new and different happening here. The lyrical tone for instance, where previous records were bloated with radiant energy from an over-abundance of anger this disc has taken a “Now I know why I was so pissed” kind of tone. The instrumentation is much more processed than on the first disc but not nearly as much as on the second and the general pace has slowed enough to let each chord or drum beat sink deeper before the next one comes rolling over. Adult? Mature? Whatever, I call it compelling. The title track of a record usually sums up how the artist sees a particular collection of their works but for me it is “Friend?” that best conveys the abilities of COAL CHAMBER at this point in their career. It is dark and plodding yet so divinely infused with a frantic psychosis that only teenagers and mental patients could ever fully understand it. The remainder of the record is filled with similar sentiment, which belies the strangely happy, even syrupy “thank you's” in the liner notes. Whatever the group’s inspiration there is just no arguing that COAL CHAMBER have become masters of exercising sentiments most need a pill to deal with. COAL CHAMBER has been psychotic, creepy and occasionally, just plain cheesy but on this record they are real and that facet of the group more than any other is what makes “DARK DAYS” shine so brilliantly. Released by Roadrunner
Records Review By David Lee |