Author and Photographer: Alan Welding
Corrosion of Conformity is one of those rare bands that seem to grow heavier, sharper, and more refined with age. Like a whiskey left to mature in charred oak barrels, their sound has deepened over the decades—gritty, smoky, and unapologetically raw, with just enough Southern haze to keep it dangerous. Much of that hardened character undoubtedly comes from perseverance through tragedy and transition, particularly following the death of drummer Reed Mullin and the departure of bassist Mike Dean. Yet rather than fade, guitarist/vocalist Pepper Keenan and guitarist Woody Weatherman continue to push forward with renewed fire, fueled by drummer Nick Shabatura and bassist Bobby Landgraff.
Opening with the devastating trio of “Asleep on the Killing Floor,” “My Grain,” and “Who’s Got the Fire,” COC wasted no time igniting the crowd. The opening sequence landed like a perfectly timed heavyweight combination, priming the packed room for a setlist that drew from every era of the band’s forty-plus-year legacy. Keenan’s voice sounded absolutely monstrous—weathered, powerful, and perfectly suited to the crushing riffs that have long defined the band’s identity. Meanwhile, Weatherman played with the hunger and intensity of someone half his age, feeding off the crowd’s energy with every blistering lead and thunderous groove. Behind them, Shabatura and Landgraff locked in with near-telepathic chemistry, giving the rhythm section a muscular precision that elevated both the classics and the newer material.
Throughout the 15-song set, Mr. Smalls Theatre felt less like a venue and more like a pressure cooker ready to erupt. COC absolutely leveled the capacity crowd, with standout moments including “Seven Days,” “Diablo Blvd.,” “Vote with a Bullet,” “Albatross,” and the ever-devastating “Clean My Wounds.” Their latest record, Good God / Baad Man—the band’s eleventh studio album—already feels right at home among the classics, with tracks like “Gimme Some More” injecting fresh venom into the set. Judging by the chemistry and energy on display, Corrosion of Conformity sounds far from finished; if anything, they appear revitalized and ready to keep melting faces for years to come.
Openers WHORES. and Crobot more than held their own and generated plenty of chaos and enthusiasm of their own. Crobot frontman Brandon Yeagley remains one of the most captivating frontmen in modern hard rock, combining powerhouse vocals with a relentless stage presence that keeps the audience fully engaged from start to finish. Guitarist Chris Bishop continues to deliver riff after riff with the same creativity and swagger heard on The Legend of the Spaceborne Killer and their latest effort, Supermoon. The Pottsville, Pennsylvania quartet is one of those rare bands that leave you wondering why they are not headlining arenas themselves.
Meanwhile, Atlanta’s WHORES. brought a punishing blend of noise rock and sludge metal that felt tailor-made for the Pittsburgh crowd. Their abrasive, grinding sound carried shades of Melvins, though with an even harsher and more confrontational edge. For many in attendance, this was their first time witnessing the trio live, and judging by the reaction, it hopefully will not be their last. Vocalist/guitarist Christian Lembach, alongside bassist Casey Maxwell and drummer Douglas Jennings Barrett, delivered one of the evening’s most pleasantly punishing surprises.