SOURCE – Coal Chamber is currently on the tour right now. How’s the tour going so far and how are the other bands?
Mikey Cox (Drummer) – I’m actually doing this interview as I’m getting ready to go to the airport to catch a flight to Europe for our headlining run that starts tomorrow!
We start with a string of shows in The U.K. that should be extremely sick as we have not headlined over there in a LONG time. Dome of the shows are already sold out and most are close. It is such an amazing feeling to get the response we are getting after all this time off.
We recently just got back home from South America and Mexico and those shows were insane! Doing the Monsters of Rock was a dream come true for all of us and cant wait to get back!
SOURCE – Now that you have a new album to play material from, how much of your set list is going to be classic stuff, and how much will be new songs?
Mikey Cox (Drummer) – We have been doing two new songs leading up to the release of the new album. After we get back from Europe, the record will be out so we will most likely be doing 4 or 5 new songs. Its a great feeling to be back and playing NEW material. It now feels like we have evolved and officially CAME BACK. Playing new material makes it REAL that we have returned!
SOURCE – Being 20+ year industry veterans, what new elements do you bring with your upcoming release Rivals?
Mikey Cox (Drummer) – There is a huge difference in everything we do after taking that much time off. The new record has a maturity to it and the production is SICK. The record is very emotional, extremely heavy and has a ton of groove. Its a Dark, Nasty record. Everyone in the band really stepped up there game for this one. Very proud of all involved. Its not a throwback record at all. We have all advanced musically and personally.
SOURCE – What are your expectations for the album?
Mikey Cox (Drummer) – Having expectations on what it will sell is something you cant do after taking that much time off. Its a really hard thing to do these days with the stealing of music and how music is sold. We just know that we put our heart and souls into this record and we really are stronger then we have ever been. We know its going to be a fight to where we want to be, but we love the challenge! We have always been the underdog band… always had to fight for everything we have had. We want to work as much as possible on this record. So we will see where it takes us!
SOURCE – How was the video shoot for I.O.U. Nothing?
Mikey Cox (Drummer) – The Directors concept was just that. It was a directors CONCEPT video. Its about the 2 different sides of your brain fighting with one another. Kinda like a good side/bad side. WE are working on a new video right now that will feature the whole band and really set the tone for how we are as a band in 2015!
SOURCE – Were there any artists you were listening to as inspiration for the material on Rivals?
Mikey Cox (Drummer) – Me personally NO. My biggest influence in Coal Chamber… is Coal Chamber. We all feed off one another so well that its hard to bring in outside influence! I don’t sit down and listen to a record from another band and say I want to write like That.
SOURCE – Throughout the early years of Coal Chamber, many rising nu metal bands claimed your group as one of their main inspirations. Is the term nu metal something you relate to your band nowadays?
Mikey Cox (Drummer) – There was no such thing as Nu Metal when we started… Its something that came later in our career. We don’t mind the term at all. You can call us whatever you want we don’t give a shit. Its not going to change anything we do as a band. I personally love all the nu metal bands having grown up with them and shared the stages around the world with them. The Nu Metal umbrella covers so many different areas of music that its hard to pin point it into one thing.
SOURCE – Currently Coal Chamber is your main priority, but what is the status on your other projects?
Mikey Cox (Drummer) – Coal Chamber is the Main Priority at the moment. When time comes where we have a break then we will figure it out then.
SOURCE – Any chance of a Brazilian tour?
Mikey Cox (Drummer) – We just did the Monsters Of Rock festival in Sao Paulo and it was insane. We would like to get back as soon as possible. We want to play everywhere in the world! Brazil has always been good to us!
SOURCE – Is there anything you’d like to tell your fans or anyone interested in checking out any of your projects?
Mikey Cox (Drummer) – GO BUY “RIVALS” you will not be disappointed ! Thank you to all the fans who have stuck by us through the years and we welcome the NEW ones to the Coal Chamber family!
Video: