Corrosion Of Conformity are back with a vengeance as they return not only with a rockin’ new album in the form of “No Cross No Crown” but also with Pepper Keenan back on vocal and guitar duty. A role which although COC continued without in fine form with 2014’s “IX”, is also a firm reminder that Pepper’s presence undoubtedly remains one of the driving forces behind the band’s huge sound. It’s been 12 years since the epic “In The Arm’s Of God” blew us away which ultimately became Pepper’s last album with the band but COC cotinue where that left off but also return to a sound that remains a signature part of the band’s career.
“No Cross No Crown” is a return to glory in many ways. With the reintroduction of Pepper Keenan in the band, COC seemed to have incorporated a more laid back but completely riff driven style that harks back to the Deliverance and Wiseblood days. An era deemed by many as the gold standard in Sabbath inspired guitar riffs, big beats and a stoner rock edge that almost defines COC in many ways. Admittedly this album does a little warming up at the very beginning before things really start to take shape but once the thumping heart-beat intro “Novus Deus” leading into the cracking openers “The Luddite” and groove rocker “Cast The First Stone” gets things moving to the first real highlight of the album “Wolf Named Crow“, we are reminded of the power of Mike Dean, Woody Weatherman and Reed Mullin along with Pepper and why this band has a lot of muscle in it’s tank.
“Wolf Named Crow” is a brilliant Sabbath inspired number, sludgey in tone but has that “Wiseblood” feel that’s hard to not take notice. It definitely feels intentional that the band have somewhat returned to that hard rocking sound of such tracks as “King Of The Rotten” and “Long Whip/Big America“, sweeping melodies, cool little interludes that together make this all feel like a real album. Certainly if that’s the intention then they have done a remarkable job of making it sound in taste and not rehashed or dilluted in any way. “Little Man” continues that attitude with a southern rock vibe and a real guts and glory attitude that says, ‘Fuck it, this is who we are‘. “Forgive Me” is another throwback to yesteryear, a real groove rocker with a real laid back vibe in the vein of “Albatross” and yet another reason this album is a real winner.
The second half of the album steps off the pedal just a little and goes a bit more mellower but still throws in the harder stuff where needed. “Nothing Left To Say” is one of the more mellower affairs here but does contain some of the best guitar work on the album. “Old Disaster” is a layering of guitars that results in a fairly epic song that just oozes bigness while “E.L.M.” is a straight down the line, thrill a minute rock tune. Along the same lines as the various interludes thrown into the mix of all this is the title track with it’s eerie non-rhythmic style that evokes black hooded cults cloaked in darkness spewing evil chants and ghostly spirits. It may not rock out like the others but it’s the darkest track on here by far.
Rounding out the end is “A Quest To Believe (A Call To The Void)“, a sludgey hooky character that eventually fades out to complete the album. “No Cross No Crown” is exactly what rock and metal needs right now, it will kick your ass and then some and will most definitely appease the hardcore COC fans out there that keep going back to those 90’s albums that delivered blow by blow punches but with a real album-like feel to it all. The fact that Pepper returns here is cherry on an already awesome bloody cake but there’s no denying what many will know after hearing this album, Corrosion Of Conformity are well and truly back!
TRACKLIST
Novus Deus
The Luddite
Cast The First Stone
No Cross
Wolf Named Crow
Little Man
Matre’s Diem
Forgive Me
Nothing Left To Say
Sacred Isolation
Old Disaster
E.L.M.
No Cross No Crown
A Quest To Believe (A Call To The Void)
