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| Dark Days | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 7, 2002 | |||
| Recorded | May 29 – September 21, 2001 | |||
| Studio | Rumbo Recorders (Canoga Park, California) | |||
| Genre | Nu metal[1][2] | |||
| Length | 41:15 | |||
| Label | Roadrunner | |||
| Producer | Ross Hogarth | |||
| Coal Chamber chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 7/10[3] |
| laut.de | [4] |
| Metal.de | 7/10[5] |
| Metal Storm | 6.9/10[6] |
| Now | [7] |
| Rock Hard | 7/10[8] |
Dark Days is the third studio album by the Americannu metal bandCoal Chamber. It was released on May 7, 2002.
In 2019, Joe Smith-Engelhardt ofAlternative Press included the song "Fiend" in his list of "Top 10 nü-metal staples that still hold up today".[9]
Coal Chamber began recordingDark Days with producer Ross Hogarth at Rumbo Recorders on May 29, 2001.[10][11][12] The band finished recording bass and drum tracks by mid-June 2001, after which guitars and vocals were recorded.[13][14] The album was mostly completed on September 18, 2001, with Dez Fafara going into the studio to re-record his vocals on September 21, 2001.[15] 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.[4] This was the last studio album from Coal Chamber before they disbanded due to personal differences.[4]
Dark Days is often regarded[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 albumChamber Music, mixing thenu metal elements with thegothic metal elements from Chamber Music.Dark Days received mixed reviews from music critics but was more popular with fans.
"Fiend" was the album's only single, releasing in March 2002.[16][17] It was accompanied by a video clip directed by photographer Paul Brown.[16] The clip found airplay onUranium, which also featured an interview with the band and the song "Glow" was also most notably featured on the soundtrack ofThe 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.[citation needed]
The album debuted and peaked at number 34 on the USBillboard 200 chart, selling more than 31,000 copies in its first week.[18][19]
On their last show, guitarist Meegs Rascón accidentally hit vocalistDez 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 releasedGiving the Devil His Due which was a collection of unreleased tracks, remixes, and demos by Coal Chamber. Afterward, he went on to start the bandDevilDriver.
The song "Something Told Me" was featured on theResident Evilend credits as the second song.
All songs written by Mike Cox/B. Dez Fafara/Rayna Foss/Miguel Rascón except where noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fiend" | 3:01 |
| 2. | "Glow" | 3:12 |
| 3. | "Watershed" | 2:37 |
| 4. | "Something Told Me" | 3:24 |
| 5. | "Dark Days" | 3:40 |
| 6. | "Alienate Me" | 3:18 |
| 7. | "One Step" | 2:39 |
| 8. | "Friend?" | 3:34 |
| 9. | "Rowboat" (Flood cover; written by Simon Daniels, Buddy Gheen, Dave Casey, Robert Marlette) | 4:49 |
| 10. | "Drove" | 3:13 |
| 11. | "Empty Jar" | 3:53 |
| 12. | "Beckoned" | 4:03 |
| Total length: | 41:15 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 13. | "Anxiety" | 3:15 |
| 14. | "Save Yourself" | 3:27 |
| 15. | "One Step" (Scott Humphrey Mixdownload download) | 2:39 |
Production
| Chart (2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA Charts)[20] | 61 |
| French Albums (SNEP)[21] | 69 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[21] | 61 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[22] | 34 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[23] | 43 |
| UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[24] | 4 |
| USBillboard 200[25] | 34 |
| Chart (2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Active Rock Top 50 (Radio & Records)[26] | 49 |
