Corrosion of Conformity

Formed in Raleigh, North Carolina, in the early 1980s, Corrosion of Conformity initially belonged to the local hardcore scene before moving toward a crossroads of punk, thrash and heavy metal. The band, built around Woody Weatherman, Mike Dean and Reed Mullin, released a debut album, Eye for an Eye, in 1984 and Animosity in 1985, which placed them within the crossover current. With Blind in 1991, Corrosion of Conformity began a turn toward a heavier sound, marked by slow riffs and a darker atmosphere that presaged the sludge and stoner aesthetics of later years. The arrival of Pepper Keenan as vocalist and guitarist reinforced this direction on Deliverance (1994) and Wiseblood (1996), where a blend of southern metal, heavy rock and remnants of punk culture took shape. The albums America’s Volume Dealer (2000) and In the Arms of God (2005) continued this work with massive rhythms and abrasive melodies, while Corrosion of Conformity and IX, released in 2012 and 2014 with a trio core, refocused the band on a more direct formula. Pepper Keenan's return materialized with No Cross No Crown in 2018, consolidating Corrosion of Conformity's place on the sludge, stoner and contemporary metal scenes, between a hardcore heritage and riff-oriented songwriting.