Corrosion of Conformity – Good God / Baad Man (Nuclear Blast) (13th Floor Album Review)

When Corrosion of Conformity’s Blind (1991) featuring the absolute banger Vote with a Bullet arrived, ears pricked up, and they stayed erect when Deliverance was delivered in1994. Albatross and Clean My Wounds, two singles from Deliverance, announced CoC had found a groove, a heavy groove, and a trio of shows, including two supporting Pantera in Aotearoa in 2001, confirmed they could also deliver the goods live.

Almost eight years since their last album, 2018’s No Cross No Crown, CoC return with their 11th album – Good God / Baad Man produced by Warren Riker who has mahi credits with Fugees, Cathedral and DOWN. On Good God / Baad Man long timers Woody Weatherman, Pepper Keenan were joined by bassist Bobby Landgraf (Honky, DOWN) and drummer Stanton Moore (who had previously featured on CoC’s 2005 In the Arms of God)

As the title infers, Good God / Baad Man, is a beast with two heads, two sides, not distinct, but like brothers from a different mother. Both of the advance singles, Gimme Some Moore (featuring Uncle Al Jourgensen of Ministry) & You Or Me feature the harder roots of CoC, whilst songs like Lose Yourself & Swallowing The Anchor encapsulate the groovier, whimsical, acid taking side of CoC. If Good God / Baad Man were a witches brew, then one would definitely taste Discharge. ZZ Top, Neil Young. Black Sabbath and of course Black Flag.

The rollercoaster ride on Good God / Baad Man is intense. CoC have managed to synthesize all that is good in hardcore, metal, acid rock and punk DIY, creating 14 songs, 66 minutes of the good stuff. As songs flow and crash against each other, lurching between hardcore energy, acid-rock grooves, punk craftings, metals riffs, and Sabbath inspired doom. CoC have crafted an album that continues to prick up the ears, to announce they are back with a thirst.

Simon Coffey

Good God / Baad Man is out now via Nuclear Blast