Nuclear Blast have announced that the Pepper Keenan-fronted version of Corrosion of Conformity have signed a worldwide deal with the label. They’ll be entering the studio next year to work on an album with John Custer, who produced the band’s other four albums with Keenan on vocals and guitar, including Deliverance and In the Arms of God. Here’s what Keenan says about the signing:
“To all the C.O.C. fans worldwide, Mike [Dean, bass], Reed [Mullin, drums], Woody [Weatherman, guitar] and I are proud to announce that we are starting our next sonic adventure with Nuclear Blast Entertainment! We are honored and psyched to be a part of the Blasted Family, both professionally and artistically.
“After all these years, it’s truly inspiring to reawaken the chemistry that the four of us have. We are seriously fucking with our pants off now! We do not take this journey lightly and cannot wait to return to the studio to drop Ze’ Hammer!
“All of this would not be possible without the global support of all you freethinkers and beerdrinkers. Much love and respect and look forward to to seeing you soon.”
In other C.O.C. news, the band have just released their cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “On The Hunt,” from Nuthin’ Fancy which turned 40 years old this year. The track was originally recorded back in 2004, with vocalist Pepper Keenan and produced by John Custer.
Back in 2004 guitarist Woody Weatherman posted an update about working on In the Arms of God, which would come out the next year, and their ‘Skynrd cover:
“It’s been a long few weeks here recently. A ton of new tunes for the next album have magically materialized down at our studio here in Raleigh. Looks like we are packing up stuff at the WiggShop and headed for the swamps of Louisiana at least temporarily next week. No telling what may happen but I know it’ll be interesting. We’re shooting for the beginning of next year for the new C.O.C. album, so we’ll see. We did just wrap up recording on a track for the SKYNYRD tribute record Sanctuary is putting out. ‘On the Hunt’ was our choice and we had a blast doing it. I have no idea when that thing is gonna be released.”
The song was supposed to appear on Under the Influence: A Jam Band Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd, but it came out later that year and Corrosion Of Conformity’s version of “On The Hunt” never made it on the record.
(via ThePRP, h/t to Chris Gordon, photo Linda Dahlberg)
