Prior to
Corrosion of Conformity's 2005 release,
In the Arms of God, many fans wondered if the group was over. After all, it had been a long time since the band had issued a studio set (2000's
America's Volume Dealer). During this extended break, singer/guitarist
Pepper Keenan did double duty in
Down (2002's
Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow), and of course, had a much publicized tryout for the vacated bass position in
Metallica (as seen in the indulgent Some Kind of Monster docu-film). But now
COC is ready to roar once more, and the group does so on their eighth studio album overall. Joining
Keenan once more are other mainstays
Woody Weatherman (guitar) and
Mike Dean (bass), as well as a big surprise on drums --
Galactic timekeeper
Stanton Moore. To prime themselves for the sessions, the group immersed themselves in old hardcore and metal albums they hadn't listened to in years, and the approach worked, as
In the Arms of God is a straight-ahead and raw set. The beginning of the album opener "Stone Breakers" closely resembles a
Tony Iommi-led
Sabbath jam, while such other ragers as "Paranoid Opioid" and "Never Turns to More" are classic
COC. Along with
Black Label Society,
COC continue to wave the biker metal flag high. ~ Greg Prato