Corrosion Of Conformity - Live Volume
Sanctuary Records - 2001
By Philip Whitehouse
Visit the Sanctuary Records website
Visit the Corrosion Of Conformity website
The evolution of Corrosion Of Conformity since their formation in 1983 has been fascinating to behold, both in terms of their shift from straight-forward punk-metal to sludgy, Black-Sabbath and southern influenced metallic bruising and in respect to their seemingly liquid line-up (former label Death actually dropped COC because of the band's internal instability!).
But it seems the band may have finally reached a nadir, a comfortable peak in their existence where things can stabilise and mature rather than being in a constant metamorpisis. Now then is perhaps the perfect time to release a live album. And lo and behold, here it is.
Covering material from just about all of COC's career, this CD begins with the feedback laden, hypnotic riff-voyage of 'These Shrouded Temples' (culled from 1991's Blind album) and then blasts from that straight into Diablo Blvd. Through every song, the riffs bellow with all the thick weight of some synthesis of lead and PVA glue, with Pepper Keenan's vocals carving a path through the sludge and the drums battering away behind.
The production, typically a sticking point for any live recording, is actually quite good. The double-guitar solo duelling on My Grain is perfectly executed, and not a note is lost behind the drums or bass. The other area where this disc triumphs is bringing a significant part of COC's more-than-impressive back catalogue all forward to the present day. It's good to hear old favourites played with the party-like air of a band who know that they can do this shit with their eyes closed, but that doesn't make them enjoy it any less.
This is an essential item for any COC fan's collection, and could serve as an excellent introuduction to their music for people who missed out on COC first time around.
9/10
Sanctuary Records - 2001
By Philip Whitehouse
Visit the Sanctuary Records website
Visit the Corrosion Of Conformity website
The evolution of Corrosion Of Conformity since their formation in 1983 has been fascinating to behold, both in terms of their shift from straight-forward punk-metal to sludgy, Black-Sabbath and southern influenced metallic bruising and in respect to their seemingly liquid line-up (former label Death actually dropped COC because of the band's internal instability!).
But it seems the band may have finally reached a nadir, a comfortable peak in their existence where things can stabilise and mature rather than being in a constant metamorpisis. Now then is perhaps the perfect time to release a live album. And lo and behold, here it is.
Covering material from just about all of COC's career, this CD begins with the feedback laden, hypnotic riff-voyage of 'These Shrouded Temples' (culled from 1991's Blind album) and then blasts from that straight into Diablo Blvd. Through every song, the riffs bellow with all the thick weight of some synthesis of lead and PVA glue, with Pepper Keenan's vocals carving a path through the sludge and the drums battering away behind.
The production, typically a sticking point for any live recording, is actually quite good. The double-guitar solo duelling on My Grain is perfectly executed, and not a note is lost behind the drums or bass. The other area where this disc triumphs is bringing a significant part of COC's more-than-impressive back catalogue all forward to the present day. It's good to hear old favourites played with the party-like air of a band who know that they can do this shit with their eyes closed, but that doesn't make them enjoy it any less.
This is an essential item for any COC fan's collection, and could serve as an excellent introuduction to their music for people who missed out on COC first time around.
9/10
