•
Rating: The period of 1994-1996 undoubtedly represents the creative and commercial peak of Corrosion of Conformity's career. Originally starting ten years earlier as a hardcore punk band and then evolving into a more technical and darker thrash metal style, the four musicians from North Carolina changed direction once again and released the seminal album Deliverance in 1994, a raw, dusty, heavy album of pure stoner/hard rock, deeply influenced by both Black Sabbath and Lynyrd Skynyrd, where blues, rock, and southern mix and become heavier to give rise to one of the most exciting sounds in the entire 90s metal scene.
In 1996, the challenging task of succeeding the surprising "Deliverance" fell to "Wiseblood," an album that aimed to maintain the coordinates previously set by Pepper Keenan and company two years earlier. Overall, it must be acknowledged that compositionally, "Wiseblood" does not measure up to its predecessor, lacking truly winning songs like "Albatross", "Clean My Wounds", "Broken Man", "Senor Limpio", "Shake Like You", and "Shelter", and the sound seems to have been excessively cleaned and polished, probably in an attempt to attract a larger number of fans. Considering these initial points, it's equally fair to say that while "Deliverance" was a masterpiece, "Wiseblood" is nothing less than a good album, which combines powerful riffs with sharp solos, warm vocals with a precise and compact rhythm section.
The opening is cleverly entrusted to a pair of explosive tracks, the relentless "KING OF THE ROTTEN" and the sadly underrated "LONG WHIP/BIG AMERICA", with its irresistible stride, ferocious breaks, and solos of fine quality. More measured, at least rhythmically, is the title track, where energy and heaviness are certainly not lacking, though these elements alone are not enough to make it a memorable song. As one delves into the core of the album, however, one discovers a Corrosion that is perhaps too refined and with inconsistent performance: just consider a couple of episodes that are too flirtatious with grunge (the hypnotic "GOODBYE WINDOWS", "THE SNAKE HAS NO HEAD") where the traditionally abrasive guitars make only a few appearances, leaving the scene to Pepper's voice and Mike Dean's bass - nonetheless excellent - but the worst episode is undoubtedly the single "DROWNING IN THE DAYDREAM", an incredibly ingratiating track, forcibly sunny in its melodies and vocals, so much so that it becomes basically harmless like the most banal chart tune: light-years away from the dirty and ultra-heavy blues of "Albatross".
Fortunately, the album's weaknesses end here: "THE DOOR" and "WISHBONE" gift us gems of the roughest Southern hard rock, returning to walls of fuzz, to guitars roaring like rumbling Harley Davidsons, the Sabbath-like "MAN OR ASH" is enhanced by the presence of Metallica's James Hetfield on backing vocals. And who knows, perhaps James even drew inspiration, at least thematically, from the thunderous, lightning-fast "FUEL," an explosive blend of stoner sound and pounding hardcore rhythm, barely three minutes of pure adrenaline! An honorable mention goes to the excellent "REDEMPTION CITY", a semi-ballad directly from the banks of the Mississippi, which would certainly not be out of place in a Down album, and to the great closing instrumental "BOTTOM FEELER", a concentrate of power, dark riffs, and inescapable rhythms, flavored with interesting solo bass and drum interludes.
In conclusion, it can be said that "Wiseblood" was perhaps not a mind-blowing album, conditioned by a less "killer" production compared to its much more acclaimed predecessor, and by a compositional level that was not always consistent. Nonetheless, it is indisputable that COC, thanks to this album as well, were a reference point in the new Southern Metal scene, essential stylistic precursors to equally crucial bands like Down, Black Label Society, but also the Metallica of Load and Reload. It's certainly no coincidence that Pepper Keenan, the creator of that new COC, is today a cornerstone of Down, the band that most embodies the cultural and musical pride of the Deep South's offspring.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 King of the Rotten (03:13)
If I was the king
Of all the rotten
Stealing filth
From those forgetten
Would you be my queen
Of a desperate land?
Do you give a damn?
What if I had to scold you?
Listen once tried and true
What if I had to trade you
For another man?
Do you think I can?
I won't call on the angels no
Beating on the line
As I turn to amputate
I'm bleeding on you
What if you were torn in two?
What if I wanted to be like you?
What if I were high, like an aeroplane?
Would you look at me the same?
I won't call on the angels no
Beating on the line
As I turn to amputate
I'm bleeding on you
-Solo-
If we walked side by side
Would you stab my back
And kill my pride?
Would you fall ahead
Or would you move behind?
Tell me words unkind?
Now if I was the king
Of all the rotten
Stealing filth
From those forgotten
Would you be my queen
Of this desperate land?
Do you think I give a damn?
I won't call on the angels no
Beating on the line
As I turn to amputate
I'm bleeding on you
03 Wiseblood (03:01)
When I was young
Some wise fool told me
Live and learn
But nothing comes for free
So I did what I could
When I was able
To keep the truth
Away from our table
Young blood creepin'
What you need?
Wiseblood shake him down
To his knees guaranteed
Well I never walked
I just learned to fly
And your heaven or high
Was the way I stayed alive
I've seen them devils
Pound our bible
You saints and sinners
Are both my rival
Young blood creepin'
What you need?
Wiseblood shake him down
To his knees
Aim to please
-Solos-
Well there's blood on the street
But there's nothin to steal from me
Cause I walk alone
But at least I walk for free
I listen to few and I'm fueled by fire
Guess now I'm old and now much wiser
Young blood creepin'
What you need?
Wiseblood shake him down
To his knees guaranteed
04 Goodbye Windows (05:41)
Past regrets and future fear
Turns a boy into a man
Sooner than he plannned
All the same the boy remains
Even though he's free he can't fly
With these heavy chains
Saw your mother yesterday
And she had these words to say
Like a judgement day
I think he shoulda known better
I think he shoulda known better
I think he shoulda known
I'd rather have holes in my eyes
I'd rather have hole in my eyes yea
Then to watch your soul paralyzed
Goodbye
Your shining son no longer glows
Goodbye window
Through the goodbye window
Thirsty from the start
Very soon you'll learn the
Oart of the redeemer
Oh what a dreamer
So you're waiting on the call
Pretty soon you'll know it all
Holy mountains fall
And he says
One might make you you lazy
Two might make you crawl
Three might make you crazy
And four ends it all
I'd rather have holes in my eyes
I'd rather have hole in my eyes yea
Then to watch your soul paralyzed
Goodbye
Your shining son no longer glows
Goodbye window
Through the goodbye
Through the goodbye
Through the goodbye window
Through the goodbye
(Shining son no longer glows)
Through the goodbye window
(Shining son no longer glows)
Goodbye
(Shining son no longer glows)
Shoulda known better
Shoulda known better
Shoulda known better
Shoulda known
Goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye
06 Drowning in a Daydream (04:22)
There's a question mark in the place of a spark
That used to be an answer
Aiming straight for the heart
It missed it's mark & the arrow turned to cancer
No no
Now you get so high that you still can't fly
& you wonder if you're really where you wanna be
Cause the sun don't rise if you close your eyes
& you're sinking low
I thought that you would like to know
Like me
You're drowning in a daydream
There's a man who watches over me (Oh oh oh)
There's a man where I used to be (Oh oh oh)
Mr. Tambourine play one more song for me
Cause I gotta leave
I lost what I believe
There's a snake up in the tree
Only hearing what he sees
But the years go by & you don't know why
Did you take it all for granted?
No
Now you get so low that you can't say no
& you wonder if you're really where you wanna be
Cause the tide does rise and it's no surprise
That it washes you away
& Now you're far from home
Like me
Drowning in a daydream
There's a man who watches over me (Oh oh oh)
There's a man where I used to be (Oh oh oh)
Mr. Tambourine play one more song for me
Cause I gotta leave
I lost what I believe
Yea hea
There's a man who watches over me (Oh oh oh)
There's a man where I used to be (Oh oh oh)
Mr. Tambourine play one more song for me
Cause I gotta leave
I lost what I believe
Yea hea hea
Daddy's gonna miss you when you're gone
Heavy
Gonna kick you when you're wrong
Daddy's gonna miss you when you're gone (You get the blues & it makes you)
Heavy
Gonna kick you when you're wrong (You get the blues and it makes you wonder)
07 The Snake Has No Head (04:13)
Invalid at last
Smothers the working class
Nihilist to be
turns the scrape into a gash
Walking tall and ignorant
This man is now a militant
Deceiving the prophet's confession
To release endless agression
One is the soul
Amplified suicide
Keep the masses terrified
Nothing to kill
Nothing to kill
Nothing to kill
Nothing left unsaid
'Cause the snake has no head
But the body fills with greed
And we spill it when in need
And all the slaves are on probation
Growing fat in a comfortable nation
So the snake keeps on recruiting
We need one more royal shooting
Nothing left to lose
So we create another wound
One is the soul
Amplified suicide
Keep the masses terrifired
Nothing to kill
Nothing to kill
Nothing to kill
Nothing left unsaid
'Cause the snake has no head
Fear of death is gain
Consuming the weak in shame
It's a power we can't see
But it leaves ourselves to blame
The shameless mourn another day
Slithering sins fade away
But the snake is just a pawn
And remains when we are gone...
08 The Door (03:28)
break neck rat race world does it taste just like it should?
you only own what's etched in stone you better get it while it's good
don't weep big city sheep I'm just trapped in your hemisphere
you tell me what I should know and I can tell you what you wanna hear
say tunnel vison there is no purpose served
by staying aboard this runaway wreck
while you're losing is on the curve
right there's the door
don't knock little can't rock he's the one huffin' gasoline
been keepin' time with a cloudy mind since they hit him with a limosine
still the lil' ones eat off the cold concrete
and the bleedin' hearts don't care
you tell me where I can go and I'll bet you that I see you there
say tunnel vison there is no purpose served
by staying aboard this runaway wreck
while you're losing is on the curve
right there's the door
don't deny, purify said the man on the golden throne
guilty times have made you lie and you realize you're all alone
so now you're throwin' stones at some old bag of bones
and you can't even knock him down
and there's one last thing that you should know
and I can tell you without a sound
Right there's the door
11 Wishbone (Some Tomorrow) (03:59)
Torn from within, disciples til the end
wasting time is how it's always been
kiss the floor, steal the key, lock the door
there's many ways to decline
bonafide, crucified in your prime
you left behind...
Twilight explodes
in my time of the blind
you can't postpone
some tomorrow
Just one more wishbone
Broken days pumping through your veins
shattered thoughts, reflection always stays
losing sight, losing sight without a fight that once was a war
now you got a thousand scars and nothing to show them for
Twilight explodes
in my time of the blind
you can't postpone
some tomorrow
Just one more wishbone
In between surrender sight unseen
split the seam when no one intervenes
feel the kick from the heartless heretic that once made you shine
now you're grounded down for the last time, shut your eyes to the crime
Twilight explodes
in my time of the blind
you can't postpone
some tomorrow
Just one more wishbone
Just one more wishbone
One more
One more wishbone
Just one more wishbone
12 Fuel (02:39)
Here we stand before the call accused of fire
it's too cold and you're too old, for me it's time for me to expire
Serve to see of what could be
burn the freak and set him free
out of sight, out of sight, out of time
and you're way out of line
They cool the tongue to tame the flame
we burn the soul and it still remain
they freeze the tongue to stay the same
control me...
Cast the stone when in Rome
thick as a brick, the lamb's alone
bend the knee but don't you pray for me
cause I fly for free
Finding fame without a name
holy sound and no sustain
out of sight, out of sight, out of time
and you're way out of line
They cool the tongue to tame the flame
we burn the soul and it still remain
they freeze the tongue to stay the same
control me...
Free to run, deaf and numb
lock and load, unholy son
within reach, bleach the leach
he's a smoking gun
Serve to see of what could be
burn the freak and set him free
out of sight, out of sight, out of time
and you're way out of line
They cool the tongue to tame the flame
we burn the soul and it still remain
they freeze the tongue to stay the same
control me...
Loading comments slowly
