### Corrosion Of Conformity: Live volume

#### 25/07/11 || InquisitorGeneralis

Being a Corrosion of Conformity fan these days can be a tricky affair. There are literally seven hundred versions of the band currently existing in our galaxy. are a few…

COC: Animosity Line-Up (classic 80’s punky style)

Karl Agell’s Blind (features former lead singer Karl Agell and plays only material from the boobstastic record “Blind”)

Pepper’s of Conformity (Everything with Pepper on vox, good shiznit)

Corrosion of Conformity feating Animal Muppet on Drums (The Henson sessions)

Corrvzion ov Conformvity to Baal (All Svalbardian black metal COC cover band)

Poggione of Nightwishity (Recorded vaginal whining of pussy metal musicians played overtop instrumental COC outtake tracks)

“Live Volume” features the Pepper Keenan fronted brand of COC dishing out some pretty classic tunes in Motor City, Detriot USA. While I am huge fan of “Blind” and it’s line-up, you can’t fuck with a foursome consisting of Pepper, Woody, Mike Dean, and Mr. Power himself, Jimmy Bower on the drums. If you are fan of the Pepper-era of the band and albums like “Deliverance”, “Wiseblood” and “America’s Volume Dealer” this is a record you need to own. Like so many other bands over the years, a live record is what got me into COC. This live record.

Things get going with “These shrouded temples”, the excellent instrumental intro from “Blind”. Sadly, the only other cut from “Blind” is “Vote with a bullet” due to Pepper being the vocalist. Coarse Ground however is no slouch on vox, and his southern twang comes through perfectly on “Live Volume”. The band lights up classics like “King of the rotten”, “Albatross”, “Clean my wounds”, and “My grain” and you can tell the crowd is enjoying the show. One mark of a solid live album is being able to feel the crowd enjoying the band and vice versa. That vibe is definitely flowing here between COC and the crowd at Harpo’s in beautiful Detroit, Michigan.

The two standout tracks on here are “Zippo” and “13 Angels/seven days” On here, COC’s southern swank and from-the-gutter charm shine the brightest. While these are not the fastest tracks in the set, something about their heavy, soulful delivery makes them my favorite. I also pop wood every time I hear “Vote with a bullet” but there is nothing different about the live version done here. It kicks ass though all the same. The whole damn CD does. My only tweaks would be dropping “Congratulations song” and “Who’s got the fire” for some “Blind” or earlier material. Both of those songs are good, but don’t really stand out for any reason. A rocking version of “Dance of the dead” would be tits. So would the title track from “Deliverance”. Still, these are minor complaints. The band, the crowd, the production, and (for the most part) the set are all on point.

I have just recently somewhat rediscovered “Live Volume” due to the overwhelming amount of heavier, technical death metal that has been ass-fucking my ear drums and musical tastes as of late overpowering much of the easier stuff that got me into metal music in the first place. Fuck me for that, because “Live Volume” is some good shit. With Pepper in the lead Corrosion of Conformity has released two absolutely awesome records (“Deliverance” and “In the Arms of God”) a whole bunch of good ones two. Besides the “In the Arms of God” material, “Live Volume” pretty much captures the best and brightest from that phase of the band’s long and twisting career. I have seen three different versions of the band in concert over the years, and even though “Blind” is my favorite record by COC it was Pepper’s of Conformity that delivered best in the live setting.

- Information
- Released: 2001
- Label: Sanctuary
- Website: www.coc.com
- Band
- Pepper Keenan: vocals, rhythm guitar
- Woody Weatherman: lead guitar
- Mike Dean: bass
- Jimmy Bower: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. These Shrouded Temples
- 02. Diablo Blvd.
- 03. Senor Limpio
- 04. King of the Rotten
- 05. Wiseblood
- 06. Who’s Got the Fire
- 07. Albatross
- 08. My Grain
- 09. Congratulations Song
- 10. 13 Angels/7 Days
- 11. Vote With a Bullet
- 12. Zippo
- 13. Long Whip/Big America
- 14. Shelter
- 15. Clean My Wounds