Corrosion of Conformity

Eye for an Eye (Candlelight)

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.” ***.5

This article appears in February 8 • 2013.

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Michael Toland started writing about music in 1988 on the Gulf Coast, moved to Austin in early 1991, and has inflicted bylines upon the corporeal and digital pages of Pop Culture Press, The Big Takeover, Blurt, Amplifier, Austin.citysearch, the Austin American Statesman, Goldmine, Sleazegrinder, Rock & Roll Globe, High Bias, FHT Music Notes, and, since 2011, The Austin Chronicle.