Phases & Stages

Corrosion of Conformity

Originally released in 1984 – seven long years before a Southern metal makeover – COC's debut forged a minor classic of crossover hardcore. Avoiding breathtaking tempos while still cramming 26 tracks into 42 minutes (including the reissue's Six Songs with Mike Singing bonus EP), the North Carolina ass-kickers demonstrate maximum efficiency on thrifty thrashers "Rabid Dogs" and "Poison Planet." The quartet peaks when it's stretching out, if 2½ minutes can be considered that, so relative epics "Coexist," "Not Safe," and "L.S." boast meatier melodies and well-developed song structures, along with a headbanging bash through Fleetwood Mac's "Green Manalishi."