Everything about Coal Chamber: biography, style & influences

Formed in 1993 in Los Angeles, Coal Chamber quickly became one of the pioneers of nu metal alongside Korn and Deftones. Fronted by Dez Fafara — who would later go on to front DevilDriver — the band stood out with its dark, gothic-industrial aesthetic, heavy riffs, and raw emotion. Their self-titled debut (1997), featuring cult tracks like Loco and Big Truck, cemented their place in the 90s metal landscape.

The follow-up, Chamber Music (1999), explored more melodic textures while keeping the band’s signature intensity intact, including a striking cover of Peter Gabriel’s Shock the Monkey. In 2002, Dark Days pushed their aggression further before internal tensions led to a hiatus. Reunited in 2011, Coal Chamber released Rivals (2015), a fierce and modern return that reaffirmed their impact on the alternative metal scene.

On MusikMachine, fans of metal can find official Coal Chamber patches and collector postcards — perfect for battle jackets and for celebrating one of the most distinctive forces in 90s metal, alongside icons like Korn.