Corrosion of Conformity Phoenix, AZ 3/30/05
Live Review by Zane Ewton
With a new album and a tour with the mighty
Motorhead in full swing, COC has returned after a 5 year absence.
Not content with just the Motorhead support dates, the band has added a
few headlining stops, including one in Phoenix, Arizona.
Reviews of COC’s new album “In the Arms
of God” have been glowing, declaring it a “return to form”. So anticipation
was running high for the select few who crowded into the dingy brickhouse
grill, impatiently putting up with three bands before COC took the stage.
The North Side Kings played a short set
while one kid flailed in the mosh pit alone. NSK is probably best
known for creating the internet sensation when the lead singer knocked
out Glenn Danzig on camera. Zeke was next, playing a roaring set
of indecipherable songs that melted together into one blast of pure fury.
Only the occasional Led Zeppelin reference or useless between song banter
would lighten the bludgeoning.
Finally, COC took the stage and proceeded
to crush, maim and destroy everything within their path. It is amazing
that the building, which really is just an old converted brick house, is
still standing after the sonic assault. COC tore through songs both
old and new with nary a misstep.
A few songs in and the band officially
had the whole floor shaking for the first time with “Vote with a Bullet”,
following up with “King of the Rotten” and the smoking new track “Stonebreaker”.
You never know how much you miss an old
friend until they come back looking and sounding better then ever.
COC is back and have all guns blazing. Don’t miss this if they come
to your town with Motorhead. This tour includes two classic bands
on a path of destruction. Too much metal for your mind to handle,
your brain will become mush. Worth every ear bleeding second.
