Deliverance

Corrosion Of Conformity: Pepper Keenan (vocals, guitar); Woody Weatherman (guitar); Mike Dean (bass, background vocals); Reed Mullin (drums, background vocals).
Additional personnel: Bruce Smith (pedal steel guitar).
Engineers: Jeff Tomei, Mark Richardson, John Custer.
Recorded in Atlanta, Georgia.
The state of the music scene circa 1995 reflects a younger generation's disenchantment with society's standards, and pontificating about such matters is one of alternative rock's most popular themes. This nihilism goes beyond the realms of third or fourth generation punk. Corrosion Of Conformity touches upon this pessimistic outlook on DELIVERANCE.
Musically, C.O.C. is much darker and heavier than the more stripped down punk bands who look to the Buzzcocks, not Black Sabbath, for guidance. Pepper Keenan's vocals, coupled with guitarist Woody Weatherman's Iommi-an leads (particularly on "Albatross") bring to mind vintage Sabbath. Religious themes, dealing with the proliferation of evil and the disintegration of faith, are continually touched upon. "Broken Man" deals with a broken spirit, and "Heaven's Not Overflowing" is about a decayed society. Sin's use as a tool of power by organized religion is the crux of "Shake Like You," while the title track delivers a message of self-reliance rather than expecting salvation in the zero hour. A settling balm to these thunderous pronunciations is the inclusion of songs like "Without Wings," and "Shelter" whose gentle strumming and swooping pedal steel accompaniment is provided by guest musician Bruce Smith.