Corrosion Of Conformity - In The Arms Of God (2005)

For me, C.O.C.'s 'Blind', 'Deliverance' and 'Wiseblood' were some of metal's most monolithic records. 'Americas Volume Dealer' slightly more mellow and stripped down, disappointed majorly so how would 'In The Arms...' fair. Well, the gargantuan Sabbath riffs are back, 'It Is That Way' is pure juggernaut metal, Keenan's more vicious vocal delivery opposes the more casual/cool delivery on 'Deliverance'. Meanwhile 'Dirty Hands...' writhes like a concrete serpent. As usual, the band muster several mellower tracks, mingling a dirty blues with flaky hardcore, all the while enabling the band to sift between styles without restriction.

C.O.C. were certainly one of the first, and coolest bands to try the weightier sounds of say Metallica and Sabbath, but still cross it with an alterno-metal that would also attract fans of say Faith No More. The raging electric blues of 'Infinite War' may crumble the castle, whereas 'So Much Left Behind' follows a trippier, more soulful route.

One of metal's most criminally underrated acts, and although it seems cooler that way, any band that can reinvent the timeless noise created by Sabbath, must surely be high on the list of essential bands for any metalhead to lend his ears to. The druggy 'Crown Of Thorns' wouldn't seem out of place on 'Sabotage' or 'Volume 4' and the album ends with the drum tumble of the title cut. Sadly however, despite numerous listens, I don't hear the cutting energy or innovation of 'Deliverance', and still prefer the metallic grooves of 'Blind'.

I don't think C.O.C. have gone down hill, but those clutch of classy records were hard to better and 'Americas Volume...' did them no favours. Even so, C.O.C. remain a mystifying force, almost elusive in their ice cool drone, they seem forever condemned to the pit of 'cult', knowing full well that their lazy talent has been recognised, but just not often enough. Frustratingly, this type of sludge may also require the listener to roll up a fat joint before lending an ear, and as that's something I'm not inclined to do, C.O.C. fail to move me anymore.

7/10