Adema started out as a brainchild of Mark Chavez and it was his vision and Nu-Metal embrace that launched the career of Adema. At the time they were ready to sign a record deal a virtual war broke out with many record labels wanting to sign them up. A genre which had seen the likes of Korn, Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park make international superstardom; Adema was able make their own ground and achieve success. The band quickly rose to fame as their first album went Gold in 2001 as it peaked to No. 27 on the charts. The bands future success did wane as Chavez left. But in 2009 Mark Chavez returned and a much awaited album and tour has been lined up.

Adema - Nu-Metal Riders

"Hello to all. Marky here letting my fans, friends, and family know that I'M BACK" - Mark Chavez on his return to Adema

California Nu-Metal

Adema started out as a brainchild of Mark Chavez and it was his vision and Nu-Metal embrace that launched the career of Adema. At the time they were ready to sign a record deal a virtual war broke out with many record labels wanting to sign them up. A genre which had seen the likes of Korn, Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park make international superstardom; Adema was able make their own ground and achieve success. The band quickly rose to fame as their first album went Gold in 2001 as it peaked to No. 27 on the charts. The bands future success did wane as Chavez left. But in 2009 Mark Chavez returned and a much awaited album and tour has been lined up.

The Formation

Mark Chavez along with Mike Ransom (guitar), Tim Fluckey (guitar), Dave DeRoo (bass) and drummer Kris Kohls formed the band in Bakersfield, California in the year 2000. Mark Chaves family lineage notwithstanding, the band set out playing small clubs and recording demos. Their sound of melodic hard rock was Nu Metal was not completely original but it was the aggressive playing style filled with gloomy angst lyrics which gained near cult status.

As the band gained momentum through their demos and live performances in the local circuit, a rush to sign the band made the record labels literally fight over them. Finally they signed with Arista Records - then headed by the maverick Clive Davis.

The band started a lengthy recording session with producer Tobi Miller and Bill Appleberry. The self-titled album "Adema" was unleashed in Aug 2001. The two lead singles "Giving In" and "The Way You Like it" received significant radio airplay. It was the first single which also garnered speculation that it was about drugs. The accompanying video of Chavez being moved around as if on a conveyor belt was a hit on MTV. The album was a hit peaking at No. 27 and being certified Gold. The band received a spot on the main stage at Ozzfest which was an astonishing achievement considering they had released only 1 album

The Sophomore

In 2002, the demand for a new album was intense. The record label wanted to quickly release a follow-up, however as the band was not ready. Instead they released an EP entitled "Insomniac's Dream" It contained a remix for the Alice in Chains song "Nutshell". They also released a song for the soundtrack of Resident Evil.

During the recording of the second album, there were constant confrontations about the musical direction of the album. The effort was released in Aug 2003; "Unstable" was a commercial and critical flop. The album lacked in cohesiveness and song structures were poor. The hard core emotional lyric writing was gone. The band wanting to shrug off the "Nu Metal" tag wanted to be taken as serious rockers. Going in for raw improvisations rather then the atmospheric production of the first album, as a result Chavez and Ransom left the band after bitter disputes. It left the rest of band in complete disarray. However as part of the contractual obligations the band did tour on the back of the album.

The problems got much worse in 2003 as their record label Arista went through a huge shake-up. The label decided to drop Adema.

The Three Left Behind

The remaining members started the process of writing for their third album and also auditioning for a new lead vocalist. They recruited Luke Carracioli by Jan 2004. And within a few months the search for the record label ended when they signed with metal label Earache Records.

Released in 2005, "Planet" was not a commercial hit as their fans could not relate to the new vocalist despite his obvious talent. The band also covered Metallica's "The Things That Should Not Be"

A high point for the band wad the media praise which they got as they played for the US marines in the Middle East.

In 2006, a new vocalist Bobby Reeves joined the band after Carracioli left. They also had a new contract with Immortal Records.

In 2007, they released "Kill the Headlights" which was poorly received and did not even chart. It was obvious that the band was missing Chavez.