I was so stoked to see the new CORROSION OF CONFORMITY album on the list that I couldn't wait to scoop it up and hear it. I haven't followed CORROSION OF CONFORMITY much since their last album "In The Arms Of God". That album is fucking amazing; the opening track "Stone Breaker" is CORROSION OF CONFORMITY at their very best in my opinion. Their new self-titled record features a 3-piece line-up of the band as it hasn't been seen since their 1985 album "Animosity". Now I am fully aware that Pepper Keenan didn't join CORROSION OF CONFORMITY until years after that record, but his absence on this record really bothers me, even though the album itself is fucking solid.

You see, I first started listening to CORROSION OF CONFORMITY around the time "America's Volume Dealer" came out, and so to me; Pepper Keenan IS CORROSION OF CONFORMITY. Listening to CORROSION OF CONFORMITY without Pepper is like listening to MEGADETH without Dave Mustaine, or KORN without Jonathon Davis; it just doesn't feel right. I can dig it though, as I know this is a throwback album for hardcore CORROSION OF CONFORMITY fans from back in the day. It just seems strange. Especially since I was so in love with "In The Arms Of God" a few years back.

With all that being said, this is still a badass album. It has Woody Weatherman'susual guitar kick-assery complimented by addictive drums by Reed Mullin. The bass is a bit lacking here, but it's a minor gripe. Despite there being no Pepper Keenan, the vocals still work and are easy to get into groove with. Woody Weatherman nor Mike Dean can touch Pepper in the vocal department though, so the power that we had on "Stone Breaker" is definitely missed.

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY has put together an all around solid record here though. My Favorite tracks on this sucker are "Psychic Vampire","The Doom", and"The Moneychangers". I loved how they just keep delivering the killer riffs in solid and groovy fashion all the way through. Sometimes more groove than I would expect, "The Doom" reminded me a little bit of ELECTRIC WIZARD; which of course makes me mark out. Even without Pepper, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY are in top shape on this record. Buy this album; it's definitely worth it. It's nowhere near as good as the last record, but it's still damn good.