Adema

After being bounced around in a bidding war among major labels for months, Adema finally saw the smoke clear, emerging as a band with not only a contract, but also the buzz of a much-awaited debut album.

Springing from Bakersfield, Calif., Marky Chavez, Mike Ransom, Tim Fluckey, Dave DeRoo and Kris Kohls have put together a record that either impresses or disappoints, and Adema’s lead singer would have it no other way. “People really love it or they don’t,” Chavez says, “and that’s when you know you have a successful band, because if people just go, ‘eh, it’s OK,’ you know they’re not even gonna buy the record.”

The problem with people being so divided over an album is that while some will buy it without giving it a second thought, many won’t buy it without giving it a second thought. Then a band is much more susceptible to just fading away like a good little soldier.

Though Adema has been heralded as a combination of Korn, Orgy and Linkin Park and subsequently defined as members of the “nü-metal” scene, they still seem to have fallen short of coming across as unique. They suffer from a sterile sound of power chords and forced rock lyrics.

There are some highlights to the record, one being the first single, “Giving In,” which has received a good deal of airtime. Another is the gynecologically named “Speculum,” which comes across with a definitive rock sound even if Chavez’ lyrics are a bit elusive.

Ultimately, however, Adema blends in with the crowd, which seems to be the problem for a lot of nü-metal bands. Even the group’s miniposter included within the liner notes (two rock babes bound together by lengths of rope) feels a little trite. Too bad it’s a bad record, but at least they don’t have somebody on turntables.

Chris Czochara is a Metro Times intern. E-mail comments to letters@metrotimes.com.