LIVE REVIEW: Corrosion of Conformity @ The Ritz, Manchester

Since Pepper Keenan rejoined CORROSION OF CONFORMITY in 2014, the American metallers have been building serious momentum. A run of impressive live performances and solid reception to this year’s No Cross, No Crown has put them in good stead in 2018. Intending to build upon the foundations set by this summer’s schedule of festival appearances, sees the band return to our shores for a headlining run. And with ORANGE GOBLIN, FIREBALL MINISTRY and BLACK MOTH in tow, we ventured to The Ritz as the tour rolls into Manchester.

It feels like BLACK MOTH have, rather unfortunately, drawn the short straw in tonight’s billing and are pushed out on stage a mere ten minutes after doors opening and whilst the attendance is meagre for what they deserve, it does not stop the band from delivering a performance of glittering quality. Riffs come thick and fast as Jim Swainston and Federica Gianlanze combine wonderfully with the chugging tempo in final number Blackbirds Fall being a particular highlight whilst Harriet Hyde continues to bolster her impressive live reputation thanks to her powerful and equally brooding vocal deliveries. From the delicate and melodic charms of Istra to the up-tempo swagger of Moonbow, new cuts from this year’s excellent Anatomical Venus sound even more powerful on the bigger stage and the brand breeze through the set, rarely dipping in quality. It’s a set that’s over before you can blink and that comes as the only disappointment.

Rating: 9/10

By the time FIREBALL MINISTRY hit the stage the venue has swelled in numbers but it becomes increasingly apparent that the performance is not going as the band intended. Whilst the band’s brand of hard rock is easily digestible for anyone stood in attendance and the occasional slick passage of rocking riffs get heads bobbing, it does not seem to click totally with the crowd, much to the annoyance of frontman James A. Rota II. As the set passes, he becomes increasingly agitated with the crowd, urging continuously for more participation and interaction, but it never comes. As a result, any glimpses of quality are lost to an air of confrontation and that really pulls down the impact of their performance and leaves nothing but a bitter taste.

Rating: 5/10

ORANGE GOBLIN live and breathe heavy metal. The English metallers have fought for the cause for over two decades and they are arguably the definition of what it means to be a consistently solid band. And that’s what tonight’s performance exactly is; consistent. Bursting out the gates, the band’s energy on stage is second to none as guitarist Joe Hoare combines with bassist Martyn Millard to deliver riff after solid riff and Ben Ward‘s enthusiastic spirit demands attention. The aforementioned crowd interaction issues from earlier remain prevalent early on however, as despite their enthusiasm on stage, it takes time for things to fully click into gear. Thanks largely to the charisma of Ben Ward, when they do, the mood in the venue is infectious. From there on, ORANGE GOBLIN are a force to be reckoned with as they plough through their set with real swagger and confidence. New cuts from this year’s The Wolf Bites Back, in particular the title track, sound even more mighty live and by the time Red Tide Rising hits, ORANGE GOBLIN can rest assured that tonight has been a job well done.

Rating: 7/10

ORANGE GOBLIN may be the kings of consistency for the UK but CORROSION OF CONFORMITY are certainly a contender for the American crown. With a career touching a jaw-dropping near four decades and a resilient attitude to never compromise on their blues-tinged heavy metal, the band are veterans and proceed to give a performance that certainly lives up to just that attitude. “I hear you a tough crowd, well we are a tough band” Pepper Keenan growls, eluding to the earlier crowd interaction, his attitude oozing with grit and confidence and in fact, that is the best way to describe CORROSION OF CONFORMITY‘s live output tonight. Riffs laced with ample amounts of groove wash over the crowd as Keenan and Woody Weatherman keep the tempo high all whilst bassist Mike Dean prowls the stage adding weight to the mix. Keenan‘s vocal deliveries are on impeccable form here, adding an extra bout of conviction to their sound, with Vote With A Bullet sounding even stronger in the live environment than it does on record. Material from No Cross, No Crown, The Luddite and Wolf Named Crow, sit comfortably with the firm fan favourites, whilst the one two punch of Albatross and Clean My Wounds ends the night on a solid high. Sure, the sound at times becomes formulaic and the songs do begin to blur together half way through the set but, at this point in their career, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY need not worry of having to reinvent themselves to remain relevant in today’s metal climate. What tonight proves is that simplicity can be just effective and for that, they deliver in spades.

Rating: 8/10

Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action from Sabrina Ramdoyal Photography here: