Corrosion Of Conformity – ‘Good God/Baad Man’

Corrosion Of Conformity – ‘Good God/Baad Man’

Heavy Rock

Nuclear Blast

Release Date – April 3^rd 2026

I honestly don’t know of another band that has gone through so many changes, not just in personnel but in musical style. Corrosion Of Conformity started as a hardcore punk band back in 1982. They subsequently refined (?) their sound into a heavy stoner/psych before incorporating all of it plus others into a huge melting pot of grooves.

Here they return with their first album since 2018’s ‘No Cross, No Crown’ and the untimely death of drummer Reed Mullin in 2020. Bassist/singer Mike Dean has gone to pastures so to fill the voids Keenan and Weatherman have brought in drummer Stanton Moore for his second stint and bass player Bobby Landgraf formerly of Keenan’s other band – Down.

It’s a gentle eastern flavoured start on opener Good God but it’s brief to say the least as the rhythm gets going and a one of those huge riffs C.O.C are renowned for takes you away. Keenan gives us his desperate roar over the chaos which is part punk and part metal and of course we get a catchy chorus to shout to. It’s all live in the studio as they mess about before ‘You Or Me’ where Weatherman shows his chops and Keenan gives us another grinding riff over a steady groove. New single ‘Gimme Some More’ has more than a touch of Motorhead with a real punk edge and backing vocals from Ministry’s Al Jourgensen and Monte Pittman. Someone shouts Woody and he obliges with short squally solo before ‘The Handler’ brings out the ‘wah-wah’ pedal and they’re off on a creepy dirge. We head back East on the instrumental ‘Bedouin’s Hand’ where Landgraf offers up a smooth bassline for Weatherman to noodle over in front of Moore’s tribal rhythm. It’s a welcome respite from all the noise before the sound of a helicopter brings us the doomy riff that opens ‘Run For Your Life’ which turns into a psych groove and has a spoken word piece from a military combat veteran. It really makes you stop and think. Yeah, war is futile but sometimes it’s a necessary evil and boy does Weatherman peel off an incredible solo. Oh yeah!

This is a double album of sorts, and the second half opens with ‘Baad Man’ and a spoken word patois intro before they bounce into a monstrous funky groove with a bit of Hammond adding some colour. You’ll move your hips to the rhythm and strut to the words like a Southside pimp. Oi – Chilli Peppers take a good listen!! This is how it’s done. By the way Keenan played Bee Gee Maurice Gibb’s Fender Strat on the number – the very same one used to record ‘Jive Talking’. They recorded some tracks at Barry Gibb’s home studio in Miami in case you were wondering. ‘Lose Yaself’ brings an electro intro before a Sabbathian riff takes over and they ride along on a stoner groove before the folky interlude of ‘Mandra Sonus’ leads to the crushing ‘Asleep On The Killing Floor’ which allows Keenan to sound like Wolfman Jack and Moore gets to twat anything within arm’s reach. ‘Hand Cuff County’ is a slow start before the ZZ Top sleaze chimes in. This is the dirtiest of blues that reeks of cheap whiskey, cigarettes and adult fun! ‘Swallowing The Anchor’ brings the funk back before the acoustic guitars come out on ‘Brick Man’ which is a dark brooding Skynyrd/ Neil Young hybrid that shows what a great touch Weatherman has. Final cut ‘Forever Amplified’ is noted as a dedication to all the people they have lost and includes some wonderful gospel backing vocals from Anjelika ‘Jelly’ Joseph of New Orleans jazz funkers Galactic.

Holy shit this is awesome. It has a touch of anything goes. If it sounds good, then they use it. The riffs and grooves envelope you like a big warm blanket and lead you away along the astral plane. There’s a whole raft of grooves and feels from Motorhead bangers, ZZ Top sleazy blues to Neil Young style protests. In my humble opinion Corrosion Of Conformity have made their definitive album and it’s a masterpiece.

Track List –

Good God

You Or Me

Gimme Some More

The Handler

Bedouin’s Hand

Run For Life

Baad Man

Lost Yourself

Mandra Sonos

Asleep On The Killing Floor

Handcuff County

Swallowing The Anchor

Brickman

Forever Amplified