Coma (Romanian band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Coma


Img_capt =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Bucharest, ROMANIA
Genre = Nu metal
Years_active = 1999-present
Label = A&A Records, Bring The Noise
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.myspace.com/nerostitele coma's myspace page]
Current_members = Cătălin Chelemen Dan Costea Călin Marcu Sorin Petrescu Răzvan Albu Răzvan Rădulescu a.k.a Dj. Hefe
Past_members =

Coma is a Romanian nu metal band that has released two albums “Somn” (2001) and “Nerostitele” (2006).

Band history

The band formed around 1999, and so far they have released two albums “Somn” (2001) and “Nerostitele” (2006). Marching from the very beginning on the idea of DIY the band never expected any help from “outside”. In search of a record deal, Coma faced the problem of being a little hard for Romania in a time when easy dance summer hits were at the top of all charts. They were the first band in the Romanian rock landscape which alternated heavy riffs, profound lyrics and screamed and warm vocals. They were the first band to abandon the way old school rockers used to dress and gave Romania a glimpse of what was happening across its borders.

Somn

Finally a record deal landed from A&A Records a Warner Music licensee. While the record deal didn’t do anything for them, the guys worked hard at promoting their music in the old-fashioned way – as many concert appearances as possible. And the word spread quickly!

Their first video “Nu vreau fetito casa” ("Girl, I don't wantto"), which appeared in March 2000, was a parody of the Romanian music scene back then. This video did its job very well and attracted a great deal of attention towards the band. In the meantime the band was working their album. When it came to recording new videos Coma turned to Palme d’Or Award Winner Marian Crisan (at that time also a beginner in the directing business) and they did a very good job. Their first album has 3 more videos: "Bruzli vs. Vandam" (which is the writable Romanian prononciation of the names Bruce Lee and Van Damme) (November – December 2000), "Stai" ("Wait")(October 2001) and "In mine in soapta" ("In me in whisper")(February – August 2002).

After the record label sold out all the albums, the band faced the refusal of getting out even more copies. Nobody wanted to take a chance in Romania with rock bands although they proved that they can sell. They didn’t sell much in comparison with foreign bands (4000 copies) but due to the lack of interest from the record label it’s a miracle they sold even this much.

Both the country’s economic factors and the age of the members determined them to take a break and search for other ways to develop a good and stable base for their lives. Although they were in a break the public didn’t forget them and they appeared as opening acts for Sepultura, Soulfly, Deftones and Born from Pain. Also in this time they had some club gigs. In all this time their public supported them and gave them a reason to continue what they started. Finally they re-started working on their second album.

Nerostitele

The second studio album, "Nerostitele" ("The Unspeakables"), has been released on November 30th 2006, with a special concert held in Bucharest's Fire Club. The album’s first video is for the song "Coboara-ma-n Rai" ("Get me down in Heaven"), and has been made available at different websites, including YouTube and MySpace [http://www.myspace.com/nerostitele] . This video is filmed entirely in infrared and it is also directed by their long time director friend Marian Crisan. They also have filmed videos for two more songs from this second album.

Because the situation with the record labels didn’t improve Coma’s second album is a 100% independent product. Although independent the album has lots to offer, appearances from Faith No More bass player Bill Gould, and Adrian Despot - lead singer of Romanian alternative rock band Vita De Vie and also a collaboration with a Romanian hip hop artist – Brugner (B.R.G./Delikt/R.A.N.-S.). The album contains 14 songs and has an approximate length of 60 minutes. There has also been a second video for the song "Canta-mi povestea" ("Sing my story"), but, unfortunately, it appears that the communist age isn't too far away and the promoters' preconcepcions regarding these type of bands haven't faded yet. But still the video was played constantly on original member Hefe's TV show, "Bring the noise". Catalin has also collaborated with bucharest hip-hop band Dagga on their first release album, on the track "Cum am crescut" ("How I grew up") and Dan revealead, once again, his screaming skills on Romanian alternative-rap giants, Da Hood, on a track named "De cate ori" ("How many times").

Band members

*Cătălin Chelemen - vocals
*Dan Costea - vocals
*Călin Marcu - Guitar
*Sorin Petrescu - Bass
*Răzvan Albu - drums
*Răzvan Rădulescu a.k.a Dj. Hefe - Turntable

Discography

tudio albums

*"Somn" (2001)
*"Nerostitele" (2006)

External links

* [http://www.coma.ro coma.ro]
* [http://www.myspace.com/nerostitele MySpace page] - includes latest video and songs