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Class 6(66)

Corrosion Of Conformity: Deliverance

06/07/09  ||  Trauma

Released: 1994

Introduction

Four years prior to this album, COC was primarily a thrash band, a crossover one from their punkish days. After hearing “Animosity” and then “Blind”, it sounded like a really good progression was happening. The songs were getting heavier, more confident and just, well, better. Karl Agell was definitely a better singer for their style than Mike Dean was. “Blind” was great. Agell was fired, Swisher (bassist) left, Mike Dean came back, and Pepper pretty much took over. So, now that the band was officially Peppered, we have “Deliverance”. A worthy followup to “Blind” or in a different league?

Songwriting

10. Definitely not in the same style as the previous album, and not a bad thing whatsoever. Completely different yet just as good. They slowed down and got their groove and heavy on. I dig every single song on this album, from the opener “Heaven’s not overflowing” to “Deliverance” (my personal favorite) right until the end, “Pearls before swine”. This here is like one part music and two parts awesome. This isn’t some uninspired manure, no sir. Each song is unique and the album never feels tired. I don’t like the little interlude type tracks even though they are very good like “Without wings”, just a little personal taste that honestly doesn’t even get in the way. They in themselves are like wings that I couldn’t see the album without (shoot me now).

Production

6. It’s pretty muddy, and not very crisp. Their next disc certainly holds a far superior production, and I’d like to have heard this album with that sound. But I usually don’t get what I want so I gotta make due with not so good production. If I said it made me hate the album the least bit I’d be lying.

Guitars

9. Outside of the wah pedal and a couple small effects few and far between, it’s pretty much just straight through the amp. Easily re-creatable for when I want to play along. Distorted and gritty. Pepper always writes a cool riff, and Woodroe’s leads are instantly recognizable. Definitely a more laid back guitar sound and style than their previous output and it works perfectly.

Vocals

8. Pepper’s voice is Pepper’s voice (and occasionally James Hetfield’s). I really dig his vocals. He doesn’t experiment or change it up much, keeps it simple and straightforward, which I like. Mike Dean sings on the title track, and sounds better than he did on “Animosity”.

Bass

9. Mike Dean is very good. I can pick out his bass lines in the songs and it’s got a good sound. He’s no Steve DiGiorgio, but he doesn’t have to be with this kind of music. He suits it and suits it well.

Drums

9.5 While CoC from this point on was all about Pepper, I really don’t think they’d have been the same band without Reed Mullin. He’s not the best nor the be all end all of drummers, but this man had a lot of input into the songwriting and it shows. I love his fills and his overall approach. He’s never flashy and never stands out too much. But most of all I think he’s got a damn good groove.

Lyrics

7. It’s none of the militant political stuff of CoC old, it gets a little more personal with the lyrics this time around. A little too much Jesus for my tastes, but Pepper is a southern boy.

Cover art

6. A flaming speaker, a couple lizards, some kinda flying saucer like things in the corners shining light… I don’t quite get it.

Logo

5. Really simplistic. Band name in block lettering.

Booklet

5. Typical lyrics and band photos.

Overall and ending rant

9. Personally I hold this record to high regard. Outside of it’s production I honestly think it is a perfect record for what it is. I’m being as unbiased as I can with the score, and when all I can really fault it for is its production it’s score is pretty deserving. When the material is good, even a muddy sound can’t hinder it much. I highly recommend this album. Southern heavy rock at it’s best.

  • Information
  • Released: 1994
  • Label: Columbia Records
  • Website: www.coc.com
  • Band
  • Pepper Keenan: vocals, guitar
  • Woodroe Weatherman: guitars
  • Mike Dean: bass
  • Reed Mullin: drums
  • Tracklist
  • 01. Heaven’s not overflowing
  • 02. Albatross
  • 03. Clean my wounds
  • 04. Without wings
  • 05. Broken man
  • 06. Senor limpio
  • 07. Mano de mono
  • 08. Seven days
  • 09. #2121313
  • 10. My grain
  • 11. Deliverance
  • 12. Shake like you
  • 13. Shelter
  • 14. Pearls before swine

Class 6(66) -reviews

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