Artist: Corrosion of Conformity
Label: Sanctuary Records
Release Date: 10/10/00
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Title: America's Volume Dealer Artist: Corrosion of Conformity Label: Sanctuary Records Release Date: 10/10/00 |
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Abyss's Review:
COC are back with a laid back album full of hard rock that, given a chance, becomes very satisfying after a few spins. Notice I said hard rock and not metal, because it is impossible to listen to this and not see some inspiration from their best buddies Metallica. The good news is that, while they seem to be going for a similar vibe as Metallica, they do a much better job of it. The songs, while undoubtedly catchy and marketable, maintain a level of integrity that gradually won me over.
"A laid back album full of hard rock that, given a chance, becomes very satisfying after a few spins." This album sounds like it could have been produced in the 70s, drifting into stoner rock on many occasions. It takes this true-bred rock and roll and combines it with a heavy grunge sound that was so prevalent on the radio during the mid-90s. "Congratulations Song" is the most obvious example of this, but don't run away yet. While this album, in many ways, utilizes sounds that we, as metalheads, have been trained to despise, it packages them without pomp or pretense and the outcome is much better than its separate parts would have you believe.
Now I can't really say that the average fan into extreme music will find much on this to sink their teeth into, but I think it's worth checking out for anyone who may not be totally disenfranchised with grunge and the stoner scene. I just call it a guilty pleasure… something to cleanse the palette between scream infested gore-fests.
"Something to cleanse the palette between scream infested gore-fests."
Death's Review:
The venerable Corrosion of Conformity are back with a new slick-looking, southern-fried classic rock twist on their nineties sound on their new album, America's Volume Dealer. The attitude is still there from the hardcore days. The downtuned fuzz-thrashing of 1991's Sabbath/stoner-doom epic, Blind still subtly nestled underneath. But a more open Allman Brothers worship has surfaced, signaling the likely direction of the next C.O.C. evolution. Perhaps closer to Lynyrd Skynyrd than Sabbath at times (most dramatically on track three, the lazy southern ballad "Stare too Long," which features slide guitar from ex-Allman Bro. Warren Haynes), the album still rocks hard and can comfortably be described as fitting somewhere within the range of the world of metal. Fans of latter-era C.O.C. like Deliverance and Wiseblood will be happy to know that this new apple hasn't fallen that far from the old tree, with "Congratulations Song" and "Take What You Want," vying for the title of AVD's "Clean My Wounds" (meaning that they're similarly catchy, not that they sound the same.) "Diablo Boulevard" and "Doublewide" are nice and heavy, and "13 Angels" and "Sleeping Martyr" are starkly epic. A nice variety of quality tracks all around.
"A new slick-looking, southern-fried classic rock twist on their nineties sound." What's most interesting about C.O.C. though, is the convergence of these four simple facts: (1) they're angry, delivering the material with aggression and force; (2) they're unique, having successfully crossed Skynyrd and Sabbath as interpreted by a veteran hardcore band while retaining a powerfully unique voice; (3) they write commercially palatable songs, with power and wisdom, yet which are often still suitable for the more adventurous corporate rock radio stations; and (4) they're real - they mean every song and none of the above seems even remotely premeditated. Like Popeye, C.O.C. are what they are because that's all that they are. Sure, they shine up nice, but underneath, it's always just a little sleazy.
Should you, the metalhead on a limited budget, buy this record? If you like Deliverance and Wiseblood both, then god yes. And for those of you with a preference, I'd say AVD has more of the lighter, cleaner feel of portions of Deliverance than Wiseblood's crunch. Still, it's hard to compare. These last three C.O.C. records definitely go together (not surprisingly, this is the first time in their 18 year history that they've kept the same lineup for three consecutive records), but each has their own vibe and AVD is clearly both the poppiest and the most southern of the three. But the change is not all that dramatic.
"Unless you just hate anything without blastbeats, you'll find this a good record to play when you're looking for loud nasty hard rock. I approve." So if you're a fan, get the new record. Unless you only liked Blind or the hardcore eighties stuff. Then you might be a bit taken aback at how commercially mainstream the C.O.C. sound has drifted. Nevertheless, this is quality hard rock bordering on metal, with well-written songs and Pepper Keenan's distinctively cool voice. Unless you just hate anything without blastbeats, you'll find this a good record to play when you're looking for loud nasty hard rock. I approve.
Hel's Review:
For those of you who do not know, Corrosion of Conformity is a band that has always done their own thing, their own way. So is America's Volume Dealer any different? Shit, no. While the music may not be identical to that on Wiseblood, this is not unusual for COC. With each album they have ever released, the music has gone in whatever direction the band felt like going. The constant ties throughout all their releases being their skill, some measure of their southern-soul meets metal aggression vibe, and their "fuck you, I'll do what I damn well please" attitude.
All the above is joyfully still present, combining with some of the greatest variety and depth of songwriting displayed to date. Never a band to do anything the carbon-copy way, Corrosion of Conformity has once again boggled the proverbial mind with "Hydro-Phonic" sound that rocks, grooves, and makes you want to smash things (depending on which song you may be listening to at the time).
"I feel like I've struck gold with nearly every song." The longtime fan would have identified the obvious Allmans influence in Woody's guitar work years ago. Anyone who may have unreasonably denied this until now will get an immediate lesson in hushing up when "Stare Too Long" hits their stereo. Not only is the Allman influence as forceful as ever, but the guest appearance of the great Warren Haynes, formerly of the aforementioned Allmans, brings it all home. This is by far the most mellow song on Volume Dealer, but one of the most dynamic and enthralling as well.
I have previously professed my attachment to this band, and you may wonder at this juncture, my feelings on the album as a whole. Let me tell you, I feel like I've struck gold with nearly every song. The irrepressible "Take What You Want" with that cool, whiplike effect is one of my personal favorites, containing the most purely metal moment of the record within the truncated guitar solo at the end of the song. And, well, I think they may all be favorite songs at this point in the game, since I'm just so damn psyched to have new Corrosion of Conformity in my CD player.
"Come on, join the fun - you'll be hooked by the end of the first chorus of the first song." I find it impossible to believe that any longtime Corrosion of Conformity fan will dislike America's Volume Dealer. By virtue of being a "longtime" fan, you must have grown through a few sound changes along the way, and therefore nothing here will throw you at this point in the game. Fans of Pepper's impassioned raspy vocals will be psyched, as well as anyone who loves the band's unique southern-soul-metal sound of recent years. As for the uninitiated, come on, join the fun - you'll be hooked by the end of the first chorus of the first song, "Over Me".
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