After spending a little time with Coal Chamber singer Dez Fafara, you get the feeling that Dez and his mates are more of a family than a regular rock band. Every member brings their own special element to the group, and they thrive off of each other. They have a serious personal commitment to each other, evidenced by the Coal Chamber tattoos that Dez and guitarist Meegs sport on their arms.

"I got that way before the band got a deal," explains Dez. "Meegs did his way before we got a deal."

They're just as committed to their fans and their music. Dez tries to spend time at each concert talking to the fans and listening to what they have to say. He loves to know how many times the fans have seen them, what their favorite songs are and how they thought the band performed that evening. It's a rare trait - a band that actually gives a shit.

The commitment to their music is just as strong, if not stronger. They have stayed true to their style and craft without succumbing to the idea of the band needing a radio hit. They know that the fans get it. And plenty of them go out and get it - their records sell as well as some mainstream acts and the spooky-core crowd loves the music and firmly support the band.

Coal Chamber's music touches on a variety of subjects. "Tyler's Song" is Dez's ode to his son, telling him, among other things, that listening to his mother is most important. "Untrue" deals with a lover that has been unfaithful. Other songs work with ideas that range from love to various forms of hate. Coal Chamber take the various ideas, meld it with their heavy rock to make a sound all their own.

Of course, it wouldn’t matter at all if the band couldn't back it up in the live show. Touring almost incessantly in support of their records Coal Chamber and Chamber Music, the foursome that also includes drummer Mikey and bassist Rayna leave all they have emotionally and physically out on the stage. Fans know they're going to get their moneys worth each and every time. When we caught up with them at Hollywood's Palladium, it was no different. Though they were opening for label mates Type O Negative, they played like a headliner. If the show had ended there, the crowd would have left satisfied.