Corrosion of Conformity - No Cross No Crown

Artist: Corrosion of Conformity
Album: No Cross No Crown
Year: 2018
Rating: 86/100

With Pepper Keenan returning to the fold after a lengthy spell in Down (that also saw Phil Anselmo and the other members of the NOLA supergroup turn their attentions back to their other projects), the classic Corrosion of Conformity line up (Keenan, Woody Weatherman, Mike Dean and Reed Mullin) returned for their first album together as a line up since America's Volume Dealer. The big question is, however, how does it stack up?

The second that "Luddite" roars into life, it's clear that Pepper Keenan's return was worth it. This is Corrosion of Conformity doing what they do best: crunching riffs, powerful drumming and Keenan's distinctive vocals. The gloomy trudge of "Nothing Left to Say" and "Old Disaster" provides a neat counterpoint to tracks such as "Cast the First Stone" and "Wolf Named Crow", the sort of fare that wouldn't have sounded out of place on Wiseblood or Deliverance.

The only real criticism of No Cross No Crown I have is that the interlude tracks stretch the album out a little too far. Otherwise, it's a solid album. It might not be breaking any new ground, but it's the Corrosion of Conformity that we know and love, and that's the main thing.

Track listing

1. Novus Deus
2. The Luddite
3. Cast the First Stone
4. No Cross
5. Wolf Named Crow
6. Little Man
7. Matre's Diem
8. Forgive Me
9. Nothing Left to Say
10. Sacred Isolation
11. Old Disaster
12. E.L.M
13. No Cross No Crown
14. A Quest to Believe (A Call to the Void)
15. Son and Daughter