Has it really been eight years since the last Corrosion Of Conformity album? So much has happened since 2018 that it almost seems like a different lifetime. Leaving aside wars, visibly decaying presidents, and a global pandemic, the COC camp has seen the departure of co-founder Mike Dean, the bassist replaced by no less talented Bobby Landgraf (Honkey, Down live, tech for Pantera) in 2024, and, of course, the unfortunate passing of drummer Reed Mullin in 2020.

As its title suggests, the band’s eleventh full-length release Good God / Baad Man (Nuclear Blast Records), has been split into two distinctive halves. Both quite different, both utterly glorious. The first half kicks off with “Good God? / Final Dawn” and opens with an acoustic intro that manages to sound like The Doors, Alice in Chains, and Metallica‘s “Battery” all in the space of twenty seconds. When the song arrives properly, it’s with chunky Black Sabbath riffs, a rumbling rhythm section, and frontman Pepper Keenan spitting out lyrics in true plant-withering style.

“You Or Me” is driven by simple piledriving riffs and hits harder than a runaway steamroller while “Gimme Some Moore” is a wickedly abrasive throwback supported by an In The Arms of God vibe thanks to returning drummer Stanton Moore. A great song anyway, but backing vocals from Al Jourgensen and Monte Pittman of Ministry add even more to the beautiful chaos. “The Handler” delivers more Sabbath worship and a particularly tasty blues-infused guitar solo, “Bedouin’s Hand” is all Middle Eastern atmospherics and moody drums, and “Run For Your Life” is a nine-minute chilled-out Sabbathy blues jam.

Part two begins with “Baad Man,” an uptempo rocker that sounds like a fusion of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Clutch.“Lose Yourself” is powered by a main riff that owes a little something to Soundgarden‘s “Rusty Cage” while “Mandra Sonos” is a brief interlude that segues perfectly into the Iggy Pop meets Henry Rollins debauchery of “Asleep On The Killing Floor.” “Handcuff County” is pure Southern country-fried ZZ Top and is swiftly followed by “Swallowing The Anchor,” possibly the illegitimate offspring of “Low Rider” by War. Another fantastic cut, it earns extra bonus points for the comical use of “wanker” and could only be improved by even more cowbell.

Not many would have predicted a dark Southern country ballad would be arguably the album’s standout moment, but that’s exactly what the plaintive and emotional Nick Cave style “Brickman” manages to be without even trying. Much like the record itself, closer “Forever Amplified” is split into two clear sections. The first part is rooted in COC’s version of a Slayer riff before plunging into a thunderous groove, the song further enhanced by a memorable chorus and a female gospel backing vocal.

Instead of losing their way in the eight years since No Cross No Crown, Corrosion of Conformity know exactly where they are. Keenan’s vocals are rugged and diverse, and his playing is as gritty as ever. Woody Weatherman‘s guitar work is dirty but classy, and Landgraf and Moore sound like they’ve played together for decades. Another absolute masterclass, Good God / Baad Man has something for fans old and new. Who says you can’t please all the people all of the time?

Buy the album here:
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9 / 10
GARY ALCOCK
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