Corrosion Of Conformity

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, the Grammy-nominated heavy rockers from North Carolina, will release In The Arms Of God through Sanctuary Records on April 5, 2005. It's the band's first studio album in five years.

Lead vocalist/guitarist Pepper Keenan, guitarist/vocalist Woody Weatherman and bass guitarist/vocalist Mike Dean are joined on the album by special guest drummer Stanton Moore, a member of the highly respected jazz/funk band Galactic. He is a longtime friend of Keenan's, and both men are natives of New Orleans.

The 12 tracks on In The Arms Of God are "Stone Breaker," "Paranoid Opioid," "It Is That Way," "Dirty Hands Empty Pockets/Already Gone," "Rise River Rise," "Never Turns To More," "Infinite War," "So Much Left Behind," "Backslider," "World On Fire," "Crown Of Thorns" and "In The Arms Of God."

The first video is for "Stone Breaker." Directing was Rio Hackford, son of Ray director and Academy Award nominee Taylor Hackford.

COC's latest work reflects the band's long tradition of evolution. "We started writing songs, and they somewhat had the vibe of Blind, Deliverance and our earlier material," says Keenan. "We started thinking from that perspective, and it evolved into a heavy, classic sound but with a modern wisdom to it."

"We really got back to our roots with this one, listening to old records that we all grew up on and headbanging at Woody's farmhouse," he adds. "It was a good time putting it together."

The result, Keenan says, is a "bombastic, epic record, staying clear of the three-minute formula. It's not a nostalgic record by any means; it's big and ugly and heavy. Thematically, there's a lot of disgust, directed inwardly and towards society in general, reflecting these times we all live in. A lot of people will be able to relate."

Producing was COC's longtime collaborator and knob-twisting, speaker-blowing genius, John Custer. Besides working on four of the band's previous albums, Custer also produced COC bassist Mike Dean's track "Access Babylon" on Dave Grohl's Probot project and COC's contribution to Nativity In Black, the Sabbath tribute compilation.

The band was very excited to work with Moore. Over the past year, COC found themselves writing intense material and needed a drummer who could not only handle it but take it to another level. Keenan, who had since moved back to his hometown of New Orleans, called his old friend Moore to ask him if he knew any drummers up for the task. Moore laughed. "Yeah, me, " he said.

Within four days, COC was in New Orleans undertaking a musical adventure without a map. It's the type of creative situation in which the band thrives and distinguishes itself as an original force in heavy music. Though COC's onslaught represented a departure for Moore, he was more than up for the challenge.

"He's one of the most progressive drummers I know," Keenan says of Moore. "In the heavy metal world nobody really knows who he is, but after they hear this they will. He's an accomplished jazz drummer playing manic heavy music — I've never heard anything like it."

In The Arms Of God is musical statement from men who care about the world.

"It's disturbing and full of ugly power, but ultimately there's a shred of optimism," says Keenan. "It was worth the wait."

To promote In The Arms Of God, COC is embarking on a major North American tour this spring with Motorhead. Keenan, Weatherman and Dean have recruited longtime friend and former Cry Of Love member Jason Patterson as their touring drummer. Schedule permitting, Moore might sit in occasionally with COC.