Dark Days (Coal Chamber album)
Template:Use mdy dates Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox album Template:Music ratings Dark Days is the third studio album by the American nu metal band Coal Chamber. It was released on May 7, 2002.
Background and production
Coal Chamber began recording Dark Days with producer Ross Hogarth at Rumbo Recorders on May 29, 2001.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band finished recording bass and drum tracks by mid-June 2001, after which guitars and vocals were recorded.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album was mostly completed on September 18, 2001, with Dez Farara going into the studio to re-record his vocals on September 21, 2001.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Bassist Rayna Foss-Rose left the band after this album was recorded; she was replaced by Nadja Peulen, who had already previously replaced her for Coal Chamber's tours in 1999 during Rayna's pregnancy.<ref name="Laut">Template:Cite web</ref> This was the last studio album from Coal Chamber before they disbanded due to personal differences.<ref name="Laut" />
Composition
Dark Days is often regardedTemplate:By whom as the band's most aggressive and heaviest album; while past Coal Chamber albums had softer songs scattered throughout them, Dark Days stays mostly aggressive all the way through. Dark Days mostly combines the styles from the band's debut album with their second album Chamber Music, mixing the nu metal elements with the gothic metal elements from Chamber Music. Dark Days received mixed reviews from music critics but was more popular with fans.
Release and promotion
"Fiend" was the album's only single, releasing in March 2002.<ref name=billboard/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was accompanied by a video clip directed by photographer Paul Brown.<ref name=billboard>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The clip found airplay on Uranium, which also featured an interview with the band and the song "Glow" was also most notably featured on the soundtrack of The Scorpion King. It is one of the band's most well known songs and is thought to be about how the band and the nu metal genre were getting heavily criticized at the time.Template:Citation needed
The album debuted and peaked at number 34 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling more than 31,000 copies in its first week.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On their last show, guitarist Meegs Rascón accidentally hit vocalist Dez Fafara on the head with his guitar, with Dez walking off stage only to reappear claiming that this was to be Coal Chamber's last show. Dez then released Giving the Devil His Due which was a collection of unreleased tracks, remixes, and demos by Coal Chamber. Afterward, he went on to start the band DevilDriver.
The song "Something Told Me" was featured on the Resident Evil end credits as the second song.
Track listing
All songs written by Mike Cox/B. Dez Fafara/Rayna Foss/Miguel Rascón except where noted.
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Credits
- Dez Fafara - lead vocals
- Miquel Rascon - guitars, backing vocals
- Rayna Foss-Rose - bass
- Mike Cox - drums
Production
- Ross Hogarth - production, engineering, mixing, mastering
- Jeremy Blair - assistant engineering
Charts
| Chart (2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA Charts)<ref name="ARIA">Template:Cite Ryan</ref> | 61 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)<ref name="FRA"/> | 61 |
| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 43 |
| UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 4 |
| US Billboard 200<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 34 |
| Chart (2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Active Rock Top 50 (Radio & Records)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 49 |