Damned for All Time? A Review of COC’s Blind Album
Corrosion of Conformity (COC) is an American heavy metal band from Raleigh, North Carolina, formed in 1982 as a hardcore punk act. The band’s original lineup consisted of Woody Weatherman on guitar, Mike Dean on bass and vocals, and Reed Mullin on drums and vocals. They released two influential albums in the mid-1980s, Eye for an Eye (1984) and Animosity (1985), which combined hardcore punk with thrash metal and crossover elements. In addition, they became known for their anti-authoritarian and anti-war lyrics, as well as their iconic spiked nuclear skull logo.
Blind is their third
studio album, released on November 5, 1991, via Relativity Records. It marks a
significant change in their musical style, from crossover thrash to a
more straightforward metal genre, influenced by Metallica, Black
Sabbath, and punk. The album also features a new lineup, with Karl Agell on
lead vocals, Pepper Keenan on rhythm guitar and vocals, Phil Swisher on bass,
and Weatherman and Mullin retaining their original roles. Blind was COC’s first
album in six years since the release of Animosity, their first release with Keenan, and their only recording with Agell and Swisher.
I would like to analyze and evaluate the album in terms of its music,
style, songs, lyrics, and extra tracks, and compare it to other albums by COC in the same genre. The rating
for the album is 4 out of 5 stars, based on the criteria of
originality, quality, diversity, and impact. The album is considered by many
fans and critics as one of the best and most important heavy rock albums of the
1990s.
Sound and Style
The sound and style of
Blind are different from the previous and later albums by COC, as it shows a
more metallic direction, with heavy riffs, grooves, melodies, and vocals. The
album is influenced by Metallica, especially their self-titled Black Album
(1991), which also saw them adopt a more mainstream metal sound. For example,
the song “Painted Smiling Face” has a similar chugging riff and vocal style to
Metallica’s “Sad But True”. The song “Damned for All Time” also borrows the
main riff from Metallica’s “Enter Sandman”. The album is also influenced by
Black Sabbath, as it features some doom metal elements, such as the slow and
heavy intro of “Damned for All Time” or the dark and atmospheric instrumental
tracks “These Shrouded Temples…” and “…Remain”. The album also retains some
punk roots, as it features some fast and aggressive songs, such
as “Vote with a Bullet”, which is a political anthem against North Carolina’s
notorious right-wing Republican senator Jesse Helms.
The strengths of the
sound and style are that they are catchy, powerful, and
diverse, as they combine different elements of metal and punk. The
album also has a dark and atmospheric mood, created by the instrumental
tracks “These Shrouded Temples…” and “…Remain”, which serve as bookends for the
album. However, the weaknesses of the sound and style are that they
are sometimes too derivative of Metallica and Sabbath and that they
lose some of the originality and intensity of the earlier COC albums. Some fans
also felt that the band sold out or compromised their punk ethic by pursuing a
more commercial sound.
Songs and Lyrics
The songs and
lyrics of Blind reflect the themes, messages, and
emotions of the band, such as social criticism,
personal struggle, anger, despair, and hope. The songs are generally well-written, composed, arranged, performed, and produced, as they showcase the skills and talents of the
band members.
The opening track “These Shrouded Temples…” is an instrumental track that sets the tone for the album with its ominous guitar riff and eerie keyboard melody. It leads into “Damned for All Time”, a heavy metal song that features a catchy chorus and a guitar solo by Weatherman. The lyrics deal with the theme of fate and free will: “Plowing through the land to annihilate for peace / Another war child is spawned / Sowing seeds of destruction in the name of the beast. / Damned for all time”.
“Dance of the Dead” is one of the singles from the album that saw regular radio play on popular stations such as Los Angeles’s KNAC. It is a melodic metal song that features a hooky chorus with harmonized vocals by Agell and Keenan. The lyrics deal with the theme of living in a dystopian society: “If you give in to the deadly dance / You've got to take that chance / The dance of the dead / Its all in your head”.
“Painted Smiling Face” is a metal song that features a chugging riff and a vocal style similar to Metallica’s James Hetfield. The lyrics deal with the theme of hypocrisy and deception: “Painted smiling face / Pockets filled, lust fulfilled - the butchered know no mercy / Painted smiling face”.
“Mine Are the Eyes of
God” is one of the most complex and diverse songs on the album, with multiple
tempo changes, riffs, solos, and vocal parts. It features guest vocals by James
Hetfield (of Metallica) on the chorus. The lyrics deal with the theme of
religious fanaticism and violence: “Mine are the eyes
of God / And what I see is not what was meant to be ”.
“Shallow Ground” is an
instrumental track that features a softly strummed acoustic guitar melody. It
serves as a contrast to the heaviness of the previous songs and as an interlude
before the next song.
“Vote with a Bullet” is another single from the album that features an odd flanger effect on Keenan’s vocals during the verse. It is a punk metal song that features syncopated guitar chugs and a catchy chorus. The lyrics deal with the theme of political activism and rebellion: “So unleash the dogs - the only solution / Forgive and forget, fuck no / I'm talking about a revolution”.
“White Noise” is a metal song that features a melodic chorus and a guitar solo by Weatherman. The lyrics deal with the theme of media manipulation and propaganda: “Howling like a jackal, begging to be heard / Growing like a cancer, beliefs that fight the word / White noise”.
“Echoes in the Well” is one of the most powerful songs on the album, with a driving riff, bass, drums, and vocals. It features guest vocals by Hetfield on the bridge. The lyrics deal with the theme of isolation and despair: "Then they whisper to me that's the way it was meant to be / These things will never be".
“…Remain” is an
instrumental track that closes the album with its haunting guitar riff and
keyboard melody. It echoes the opening track “These Shrouded Temples…” and
creates a circular structure for the album.
The strengths of the
songs and lyrics are that they are memorable, expressive, and meaningful, as they convey the band’s vision and
attitude. The songs also have a lot of variety and contrast, as they range from
fast and furious to slow and heavy. However, the weaknesses of the
songs and lyrics are that they are sometimes too repetitive or simplistic and
that they lack some of the creativity and experimentation of the later COC
albums.
Extra Tracks
The extra tracks that
are included in the reissue of the album are “Condition A/Condition B”, “Future
Now”, and “Jim Beam And The Coon Ass”. They were recorded during the same
sessions as Blind but were left out of the original release.
The quality, style,
and relevance of the extra tracks are mixed. “Condition A/Condition B” is an
instrumental track that has a similar mood to “These Shrouded Temples…” but is
more experimental and chaotic. It features some dissonant guitar noises,
feedback, samples, and effects. It is an exciting track that shows some of
COC’s avant-garde tendencies.
“Future Now” is a
cover of a song by MC5 (a proto-punk band), which fits with COC’s punk
influences but sounds out of place on Blind. It is a fast and energetic rock
song that features some catchy riffs, solos, and vocals. It is a fun track that
pays tribute to one of COC’s inspirations.
“Jim Beam And The Coon
Ass” is a jam session that features guest vocals by James Hetfield (of
Metallica) but sounds amateurish and sloppy. It is a bluesy metal song that
features some improvised riffs, solos, and vocals. This track sounds like a filler.
The strengths of the
extra tracks are that they add some more diversity and interest to the album.
They also show some of the influences and collaborations that COC had at the
time. However, they are
not as polished or consistent as the original tracks. They don't add much
to the overall quality or appeal of the album.
Conclusion
Blind is one of the
most important heavy rock albums of the 1990s. It shows COC’s transition from a
hardcore punk act to a heavy metal band, influenced by Metallica, Sabbath, and punk. It features some of their best songs and lyrics, as well
as some of their most catchy and powerful riffs and grooves.
The rating for the
album is 4 out of 5 stars, as it is a strong and diverse album that has
a lot of originality, diversity, and impact. However, it
also has some flaws and limitations, such as being too derivative of Metallica
and Sabbath, losing some of the intensity and creativity of the
earlier COC albums, and having some extra tracks that are not as good as the
original ones.
My recommendation is to listen to or buy this album if you are a fan of COC or metal
in general. It is a classic album that deserves recognition and appreciation.
However, you should also check out other albums by COC or similar
bands, such as Deliverance (1994), Wiseblood (1996), or Down (a band
that features Pepper Keenan as the lead vocalist).
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