Corrosion of Conformity

Corrosion of Conformity
Corrosion of Conformity performing in 2018
Corrosion of Conformity performing in 2018
Background information
Also known asC.O.C.[1]
OriginRaleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
Genres
Years active
  • 1982–1987
  • 1989–2006
  • 2010–present
Labels
MembersWoody Weatherman
Pepper Keenan
John Green
Past membersMike Dean
Reed Mullin
Karl Agell
Phil Swisher
Simon Bob Sinister
Eric Eycke
Robert Stewart
Benji Shelton
Jimmy Bower
Jason Patterson

Corrosion of Conformity (also known as C.O.C.) is an American heavy metal band from Raleigh, North Carolina, formed in 1982. The band has undergone multiple lineup changes throughout its existence, with lead guitarist Woody Weatherman as the sole constant member. Weatherman, founding bassist Mike Dean, founding drummer Reed Mullin and vocalist/rhythm guitarist Pepper Keenan (who joined the band in 1989) are widely regarded as its "classic" lineup.[6] After a hiatus in 2006, Corrosion of Conformity returned in 2010 without Keenan, who had been busy touring and recording with Down, but announced their reunion with him in December 2014.[7] More lineup changes have happened since then, with John Green replacing Mullin after his death in 2020 and Dean (who first left Corrosion of Conformity in 1987 and rejoined in 1993) departing from the band once again in 2024.[8]

They started as a hardcore punk band but later moved towards a slower and blues-tinged heavy metal sound. To date, the band has released ten studio albums, four EPs, one compilation, and one live album. Their first three studio albums―Eye for an Eye (1984), Animosity (1985) and Blind (1991)―attracted the attention of Columbia Records, who signed the band in 1993. Corrosion of Conformity found success with the release of their 1994 fourth studio album, Deliverance, which peaked at number 155 on the Billboard 200 and spawned the hits "Albatross" and "Clean My Wounds".[9] Their 1996 follow-up Wiseblood was also successful, and at the time, it was the band's highest-charting album in the United States, peaking at number 104 on the Billboard 200.[9] Their latest album, No Cross No Crown, was released in 2018 and became the band's first album to enter the top 100 on the Billboard 200, where it peaked at number 67.[9]

  1. ^ Huey, Steve. "America's Volume Dealer - Corrosion of Conformity | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "A Hardcore Critical Analysis". CMJ. Vol. 142. September 2006.
  3. ^ "Corrosion of Conformity, 'IX' - Album Review". Loudwire. June 24, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  4. ^ Steininger, Adam (July 24, 2013). "The ten best Southern metal bands". Westword. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  5. ^ Sharpe-Young, Garry (2005). New Wave of American Metal. Zonda Books Limited. p. 93.
  6. ^ "Corrosion Of Conformity: "We didn't sell ourselves out to get a record deal"". Metal Hammer. January 10, 2018.
  7. ^ "Corrosion of Conformity Featuring Pepper Keenan To Begin Work On New Album In January". blabbermouth.net. December 17, 2014.
  8. ^ "MIKE DEAN Announces Departure From CORROSION OF CONFORMITY". Blabbermouth.net. September 20, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  9. ^ a b c "Corrosion of Conformity Billboard 200 Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2018.