COAL CHAMBER's DEZ FAFARA On 'Rivals': 'Don't Expect A Throwback Record'

The Age Of Metal recently conducted an interview with COAL CHAMBER singer Dez Fafara. You can now watch the chat below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On what fans can expect from COAL CHAMBER's forthcoming comeback album, "Rivals":

"We put a lot of work into it, and it seems to be getting just a very positive [response]. But what you can expect is a record that, when it's done, you're gonna wanna push 'play' again. I mean, we really, really honed in on it, and I think that's pretty evident."

On the writing process for "Rivals":

"We locked ourselves in a room and just waited until it was very tight. Then [the other guys in the band] would throw me songs and I would throw them back lyrics, and that's how it came together. It's a very democratic process when it comes to COAL CHAMBER and the writing. And I think they did a great job. It was extremely freeing to do this record, 'cause I could use anything I want — I could use high screams, low screams, clean vocals, whisper tracks… all sorts of stuff — which was very freeing as an artist to do. It was a great time to record. And I think you can feel that within the record. We didn't record with a click track, so [there are] ebbs and flows. Nothing was copied an pasted; everything was sung. I hit most of the stuff the first time I did the vocals, and the music itself is really raw and has a really great feel to it. I think it has a fresh feel to it. Don't expect a throwback record. It's not gonna sound like a throwback record. It's us moving forward."

On whether any of the stuff he has done with DEVILDRIVER has carried over into the new COAL CHAMBER album:

"[The other guys in the band have] done things in [the] thirteen years [since the release of 2002's 'Dark Days'], I've done things in thirteen years, and I think everything bleeds into everything. But when it all spills out onto the table, it's pure COAL CHAMBER. So no matter what I've done — whether it be DEVILDRIVER or BORN OF THE STORM or any number of things — I think when it does go on the table, it becomes COAL CHAMBER."

"Rivals" will be released on May 19 North America via Napalm. The group's first CD in over thirteen years was recorded in part at Audiohammer studio in Sanford, Florida with producer Mark Lewis (DEVILDRIVER, CANNIBAL CORPSE).

Support on COAL CHAMBER's current U.S. trek — which runs through April 12 in Dallas, Texas — is coming from FILTER, COMBICHRIST and AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE.