They say good things come to those who wait. For Coal Chamber fans, the wait has been incredibly long. 13 years have come and gone since their last album “Dark Days,” an album fueled by internal strife, and the subsequent breakup of the band. The Nu-metal legends are back in rare form with a brand new album on Napalm Records, “Rivals,” which just may qualify Coal Chamber for comeback of the year.
From the opening track and first single “I.O.U. Nothing,” it’s clear that the band has something to prove. With Mikey Cox’s pounding drums and Nadja Peulen’s grooving bass driving the tempo, the record is filled with hard hitting, in your face metal. Songs like “Bad Blood Between Us” and “Fade Away (Karma Never Forgets)” are punishing and brutal yet have catchy riffs and hooks that make them instantly contagious. The title track lends an evil feel to the album as does the instrumental “Dumpster Dive” and the spoken word “Orion.” Perhaps the darkest of all is “Suffer In Silence” with frontman Dez Fafara’s raw growls and the chaotic vocals of the one and only Al Jourgensen of Ministry who makes a guest appearance.
“Rivals” is the heaviest and best thing Coal Chamber has ever done. It’s blistering and wicked from beginning to end and is sure to please long time fans as well as garner the band many new ones.
