Corrosion of Conformity

Yer Metal is Olde: Corrosion of Conformity – Blind

By Grymm on March 10, 2021 in Blog Posts, Yer Metal Is Olde, Doom Metal, Hardcore, Punk, Sludge, 21 comments

“Blind, Corrosion of Conformity’s third album, was an odd duckling for various reasons when it dropped in 1991. It remains the only album to not feature longtime bassist/vocalist Mike Dean in any capacity, but also the only album to feature his replacements, vocalist Karl Agell and bassist Phil Swisher. It also debuted guitarist/vocalist Pepper Keenan, who only sang lead on the album’s hit single, “Vote With a Bullet.” Above all else, Blind saw the band at a crossroads of sorts, with one foot planted in the band’s seminal punk/hardcore history, while planting the other foot into Sabbath-drenched doom/sludge territory. The end result captured lightning in a bottle and today, Blind joins the ranks of the Hallowed and the Olde.” Blind but farseeing.

Mr Bungle – The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo Review

By Saunders on November 6, 2020 in Reviews, Thrash Metal, 66 comments

“In a year of surprises, mostly of the nasty variety, a new album from Californian experimental legends Mr Bungle seemed an unlikely scenario. Yet here we are, but not as many would have expected. As has been well publicized, rather than pen an album of fresh tunes, the band has continued their streak for delivering the unexpected, revisiting their earliest teenage musical roots, and 1986 cult demo, The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny.” Bunny or die.

Yer Metal is Olde: DOWN – NOLA

By Carcharodon on October 25, 2020 in Yer Metal Is Olde, Heavy Metal, Sludge, Stoner Rock, 41 comments

“Supergroups. That exciting moment when you learn that members of two or more bands you love are coming together to create … well, if we’re honest with ourselves, usually disappointment. It’s rare that supergroups come close to fulfilling that promise and that’s probably because they can’t. That’s not their fault – expectations are always sky high as a new group coalesces but different fans want different aspects of their favorites to be front and center in the new entity. A rare example, however, of a supergroup not just living up to the hype but downright crushing – at least for this fan – is DOWN.” OLDEA

Volcanova – Radical Waves Review

By Steel Druhm on August 22, 2020 in Reviews, 14 comments

“When you see the word “Iceland” floating on the oily surface of the promo sump, your thoughts turn immediately to black metal. That’s been Iceland’s chief metal export for some time now and the scene is well regarded and expanding. You certainly wouldn’t think of that exotic locale as the home of desert stoner rock, but Volcanova is out to change that with their fuzzed out debut Radical Waves.” Smoke on the ice.

League of Corruption – Something in the Water Review

By Saunders on June 21, 2020 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Groove Metal, Sludge, 7 comments

“The shadow of the mighty Sabbath looms large over the album’s down and dirty mix of bluesy doom and groove-laden heavy rock. Add some burly gruffness to Black Label Society and Corrosion of Conformity influences, and whiffs of the NOLA school of rock and sludge, and you get a basic idea of what League of Corruption are all about on their debut LP, Something in the Water.” Sumpin’ pumping.

Warped Cross – Rumbling Chapel Review

By Grymm on February 3, 2020 in 2020, Black Sunset Records, Doom Metal, German Metal, Hard Rock, MDD Records, Reviews, Doom Metal, Hard Rock, 17 comments

“I’m about to drop a reality bomb on you that you’re probably already aware of; genre tags, on a collective whole, are oftentimes bullshit. Yes, I’m sure you’ve known that for ages, but when a band is characterized as a particular strain of metal, it’s either because the review writer in question needs some neat, easily identifiable box to put a band into so the listener can gauge whether or not the band is right for them, or said band is vastly stretching the idea of what they sound like to ridiculous lengths.” Rumble bumble.

GoatHawkBuffalo – Come to Temple Review

By Carcharodon on November 7, 2019 in 2019, Danish Metal, Hard Rock, Reviews, Self-released, Sludge, Stoner Rock, 21 comments

“It’s been quite a long time since I thought about ‘Portlandia,’ the I-have-to-assume wholly accurate depiction of life in Portland, Oregon. But reading the promo material for GoatHawkBuffalo’s full-length debut, I was put in mind of the particularly curious ‘We can pickle that’ sketch. Not because GoatHawkBuffalo are from Portland – the five-piece is based in Copenhagen, Denmark – but because of this statement from guitarist Asger Abel Sørensen, talking about how the band live-recorded Come to Temple but “subsequently recorded various crazy overdubs – we’ve had microphones in empty Jack Daniels’ bottles and buckets of water, we also ran a guitar signal through a pickle …”” Brine and brawn.

Cult of Sorrow – Invocation of the Lucifer Review

By Grymm on September 19, 2019 in 2019, American Rock, Black Doomba Records, Doom Metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, 13 comments

“After almost six years of reviewing here, I’ve noticed American bands latching on to certain trends. Just a decade ago, everyone and their cousin was aping the Gothenburg sound, mixing it with d-beats and hardcore (and some whiny) vocals, and calling it a day. Nowadays, doom is the nectar du jour, and many a band is gulping it. Here in America, you have two prevalent strains: the airy, dreamy, almost progressive take that bands like YOB, Khemmis, and especially Pallbearer have crafted, and then there’s the so-70s-your-sideburns-are-showing Blue Oyster Cult Scoobie-Doobie-Doom “Occult” doom that’s been sweeping the nation. So which side does Invocation of the Lucifer, the second album by Cincinnati upstarts Cult of Sorrow, land?” Culting the herd.

Rottendawn – Occult Review

By Ferrous Beuller on September 3, 2019 in 2019, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Finnish Metal, Reviews, Saturnal Records, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 32 comments

“Finland’s Rottendawn hold doom metal in the highest regard. Boasting once and current members of Impaled Nazarene, Unholy and Sinisthra, the pedigree on debut album Occult is enviable. Unfortunately, good breeding doesn’t always precede a good album.”When does good breeding become inbreeding?

Lightning Born – Lightning Born Review

By Cherd on June 19, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Doom Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Occult Rock, Retro Metal, Reviews, Ripple Music, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, Occult Rock, Retro Metal, 23 comments

“Indeed, my indirect memories of the 70s feature objects and trends grown shabby from age and eventually replaced by neon colors, Reaganomics and synth pop. Raleigh, North Carolina’s Lightning Born, on the other hand, remember the 70’s in living detail and have preserved them in pristine amber on their full-length eponymous debut.” Lightning born, time frozen.