COAL CHAMBER — Rivals (review)

COAL CHAMBER — Rivals album cover Album · 2015 · Nu Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
Unitron
Coal Chamber - Rivals

'Rivals' is the fourth studio album by alternative metal band Coal Chamber. After breaking up following the release of their third album 'Dark Days' in 2002, vocalist Dez Fafara went on the form the groove metal band DevilDriver. Back in 2013 Coal Chamber reformed, and here is their first album in thirteen years, so how as a thirteen year hiatus done them?

'Rivals' pretty much starts at where the previous album left off, containing mostly grooving riffs, chugging bass, pulsing drums, and the occasional Korn-esque guitar work. In fact, this album shares many similarities with DevilDriver, with Fafara mostly singing with his aggressive vocals and the aforementioned grooving riffs are used the most throughout the album. The first song released, and the opening song, 'I.O.U. Nothing' starts out the album really well. It sets the tone of the album, having chugging guitar and pulsing drums.

Most of the songs follow this same pattern, but some are more memorable then others. Probably my favorite is 'Suffer in Silence', which features Ministry's Al Jourgensen on vocals. The guitar grooves and crunches, and Jourgensen's vocals are excellent as always with his aggressive snarl. Fafara's vocals and Jourgensen's vocals were meant to be together, as they fit so perfectly in this song. Fafara has a lower gruff voice which contrasts very well with Jourgensen's snarl. The songs that do sound different are the short songs, such as 'Orion' which has a really menacing atmosphere, it's a shame that it's not longer. It would've been really cool to hear it go on like that for a while then come to a heavy climax.

While the album may stay the same for the most part, I find it impossible to not get into the crunching groove of the whole album. The aforementioned songs, and songs like 'Wait', 'Over My Head', and 'Fade Away (Karma Never Forgets)' are incredibly addicting and begging for headbanging. 'Over my Head' especially has one of the best grooving riffs I've heard in awhile, which is made even more addicting with the chorus. The solos in the album also add a lot to the songs 'Suffer in Silence' and 'Wait'. They may be short, but they are certainly memorable.

Overall, "Rivals" is an excellent return for Coal Chamber. "Dark Days" was my favorite album from them, but I think "Rivals" has become my favorite. It takes all that the previous album did so well, and adding in a few new things to spice it up. Welcome back Coal Chamber, I'm excited for what they have coming next. Hope you found this review helpful.

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