Album Review: Corrosion of Conformity – Good God / Baad Man (Nuclear Blast Records)

It has been a while, and plenty has changed, but Corrosion of Conformity are back and in a very creative place. A double album, ‘Good God / Baad Man’, which will be released on April 3rd, 2026, via Nuclear Blast Records.

One half filled with pissed off heavy power, one half filled with funkier, groovier, and rock-focused efforts, Corrosion of Conformity have let their imagination run wild here. Sometimes, unstructured and with jam session vibes, sometimes tighter than a finger-trap puzzle, but always interesting. Especially as it combines elements of the Corrosion of Conformity that was with elements of Corrosion of Conformity that is now. Nostalgic and fresh, equally with plenty of intriguing experimental touches too.

Some of which work well, especially when it results in psychedelia, some of which doesn’t. Naturally, being a double album with fourteen tracks overall, some tracks hit in different ways and individual taste matters.

Corrosion of Conformity have always been a favourite, and it’s great to have them back and in such a strong place. There’s no replacing those who have been lost (RIP, Reed Mullin) but this is a Corrosion of Conformity built on the bedrock of love, appreciation, and a desire to deliver something that lives up to the legacy of the band.

It’s hard to feel anything but joy too as Good God? / Final Dawn kicks things off in potent fashion. A straight-forward energised riff-driven head banger that gets the blood well and truly pumping in the veins. Then, for all those who really want some old-school Corrosion of Conformity vibes, we get You Or Me. Notable for its groovy guitars and big bass sound, leading to a trippy interlude that gives it more of a jam session feel.

If you weren’t sure just how creative Corrosion of Conformity were going to be on this album, this start answers that. Yet, there’s still so much more to come. Such as Gimme Some Moore (not a dedication to Bobby Moore) and its hefty, heavy, head-banging inducing riffy ways. A track that features backing vocals from Uncle Al Jourgensen of Ministry and Madonna guitarist Monte Pittman. Which is cool.

Then there is The Handler and Bedouin’s Hand, with the former’s guitar trippiness resulting in some cool soloing and the latter giving us a little slice of experimental weirdness that has a nomadic vibe.

Wrapping up the Good God portion of the album is Run for Your Life, and it’s a hefty effort. Not just in length, but in tempo and tone. Delivering layers of potent psychedelia, it’s heavier than you think, and is so interesting that it feels half its length. A spoken word section by a US military combat veteran friend is cool.

Kicking off album number two, it’s the title track of Baad Man. Corrosion of Conformity upping the funk factor and delivering an infectious and excitable body shaker. Before the groove of Lose Yourself showcases a commanding old-school sound, Mandra Sonos delivers a chilled piece of melody, and Asleep on the Killing Floor goes downright hyper with Pepper really throwing his all into the vocals. Easily one of the album’s best, but that extends across both when it starts to get a little ‘weird’ as it goes on.

I love that Corrosion of Conformity make this kind of experimentation sound so effortless too. When I use the word ‘jam’ I don’t mean it insultingly, this group of musicians can turn in solid gold when they’re seemingly just messing around. Even if not every track appeals, such as Handcuff Country.

Though I did say that it being a double album, you can’t expect to love everything and those who find themselves distracted easily will probably struggle to get to the end of the record. Still, I am surprised by how many tracks work, how varied an album it is, and how addictive it can be. Putting it simply, I dig it, right up to the end where a barn-burning, passionate, imaginative set of tracks thrill in different ways. Swallowing the Anchor, Brickman, and Forever Amplified.

It’s so good to have them back.

Corrosion of Conformity – Good God / Baad Man Track Listing:

1. Good God? / Final Dawn
2. You Or Me
3. Gimme Some Moore
4. The Handler
5. Bedouin’s Hand
6. Run for Your Life
7. Baad Man
8. Lose Yourself
9. Mandra Sonos
10. Asleep On The Killing Floor
11. Handcuff County
12. Swallowing The Anchor
13. Brickman
14. Forever Amplified

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