Coal Chamber - Giving the Devil His Due by Tim Byrnes
Coal
Chamber - Giving the Devil His Due
Coal Chamber have always been one of those bands I want to like more than I do. They have, to my mind, a different take on heavy music, one that seems to have a well considered psychological basis rather than just being anti for the hell of it. The down-tuned guitars and Cookie Monster vocals are the same as other nu-metal/industrial bands, but where a band like, say, Korn, seem satisfied with being unsatisfied and content to simply yell at the devil, CC look inwardly and confront their responses to the s***storm of modern life and honestly consider just where they fit into the equation. This CD of remixes, B-sides and demos is really a 'stand-alone' window into the mind and soul of a young band wrestling with the drama of the day to day. The clockwork guitar guitars of the CDs opener "Headstone and the Walking Dead" signal a band on the move. The almost spoken word vocals on the verses lend the right amount of tension (and, surprise, literacy) to a genre I fear has been running itself ragged trying to out-evil itself lately. Throughout this CD, but especially on "Big Truck (Hands on the Wheel Mix)", Coal Chamber deftly escapes the ordinary death(metal)trap of bogus fear-mongering by infusing each cut with a lingering sense of paranoia, as opposed to mindless brutality. This is a fine distinction, indeed, but one that separates a band with a future, like Coal Chamber, from the myriad of scary monsters out there going through the ghoulish motions. If they hadn't of broken up I would look forward to Coal Chamber's next 'official' CD as they were clearly a band in transition and "Giving The Devil His Due" is a strong enough statement to keep me interested and I don't see why this shouldn't be the case for you. Listen to samples and Purchase this CD online
|
On the Blue: New Horizons Cruise Days 4 & 5: Starship Lands on the Pearl, Alan Parsons Takes It Home
Kandace Springs - Run Your Race
On the Blue: New Horizons Cruise Day 1: Marbin Gets the Fun Started
Hot In The City: Prog Band Tu-Ner Coming to Phoenix
Watch Motley Crue's 'Dogs Of War' Video
Richie Sambora Returns With 'I Pray', The First Of Four New Songs
The Smashing Pumpkins Reveal New Guitarist
Linkin Park Top Hard Rock And Vinyl Albums Charts With Papercuts
Watch Black Veil Brides' Cinematic 'Bleeders' Video
Singled Out: Evan Boyer's Cedar Creek
Pink Floyd's David Gilmour Reveals Song From First New Album In Nine Years
AC/DC Launching High Voltage Dive Bar At Stops On Power Up Tour