Coal Chamber was an American Heavy Metal/Nu Metal band from Los Angeles, California. The band formed in 1994 and disbanded in 2003.
Coal Chamber broke out of the Alternative Metal scene in Los Angeles, California with a sound often compared to Korn. Originally formed in 1994 by vocalist/lyricist Dez Fafara and guitarist Miguel Rascón (These two met through a classified ad). They then added drummer Mike Cox and bassist Rayna Foss. After the huge local stir following their gigs at The Roxy Theatre and the Whisky A Go Go, and from a demo tape championed by Dino Cazares of Fear Factory. Coal Chamber finally got the opportunity to sign with Roadrunner Records in late 1994, but very suddenly Fafara quit due to some disagreements with his wife about the band. But, in the spring of 1995 Dez reunited with his band, and with this decision his marriage would soon end. Now the group would gain a renewed sense of energy and regain their deal with Roadrunner by the end of 1995. In 1997 their debut self-titled album Coal Chamber was released; followed two years later by Chamber Music. They toured very heavily for this album as it wasn't very successful with its mix of nu metal and goth rock imagery. In between the two album releases bassist Rayna Foss had become pregnant. When she eventually had to have the baby, the band invited Nadja Peulen to fill in for Rayna while on tour, and she gladly accepted to do so. By the time they were ready to start recording their new album, Rayna Foss was off raising her new daughter. As before when Rayna was pregnant Nadja Peulen was recruited to become the new bass player and record their new album entitled Dark Days, released in the spring of 2002.
