CORROSION OF CONFORMITY / ORANGE GOBLIN / FIREBALL MINISTRY / BLACK MOTH | LIVE REVIEW
Great Hall, Cardiff University Students Union, Sat 3 Nov
With a style owing to both the doom-ridden chords of early metal and the blues traditions from which all rock’n’roll stems, Corrosion Of Conformity [above] remain distinct. Not only that, their songs are ridden with sociopolitical concepts, lending weight to their angst and ferociousness. Tonight sees them bring a taste of that to Cardiff, with some equally fierce support acts sharing the pleasure.
Black Moth’s hard rock swagger begins the night powerfully: despite the Great Hall being less than half full throughout the entirety of their set, they command the stage with the presence of a room-filling act. Speaking to others in the room afterward, a few remember the London band’s time playing in local bars and pubs. Here’s hoping this tour gives them a key to greater appreciation.
Next up are Fireball Ministry, whose riffing is southern-tinged but whose home is New Jersey. Vocalist James Rota declares, of his state, “It’s a bit like Wales – everyone talks it down yet everyone wants to be there.” They have a hard task, with concertgoers still steadily pouring into the hall, yet through the anticipation in the room and the energy emanating from the performers, heads begin to shake and cheers grow louder.
By the time Orange Goblin [above] stride on stage to AC/DC’s It’s A Long Way To The Top… the room is full. Fans brimming with excitement for the headliners are clearly being no stranger to the chaotic showmanship of their main support. Unencumbered by their short slot, singer Ben Ward, chest puffed out and arms spread open like a battle god, leads the charge through classics like Red Tide Rising and Stand For Something, plus cuts from new album The Wolf Bites Back. Nearly every song is met with moshpits and crowdsurfing; “thank you for showing us the reason we keep playing!’’ Ward bellows as the set draws to a close.
If the initial feeling is that Corrosion Of Conformity’s sludgier take on metal would inspire a more tepid reaction, the audience defies that as circlepits swell and every lyric is screamed back to Pepper Kennan and company. Opening with Seven Days from 1994’s Deliverance, the bulk of COC’s catalogue is represented tonight. The Luddite and Wolf Named Crow come fresh from their crushingly visceral new album, No Cross No Crown; older staples Broken Man and Wiseblood are unsurprisingly well-received. Vote With A Bullet even nods to their roots in hardcore punk, inspiring some of the most frenzied crowd reactions of the evening.
Finishing the main part of their set with Albatross, the house lights go up and if looks as if there’ll be no encore. However, the foursome pay respect to the crowd’s desire to hear more, returning for a rendition of their most famous anthem, Clean My Wounds. While Corrosion Of Conformity may have been around for a while, it’s clear from this performance that they’re not planning to hang up their instruments soon.
words ALEX SWIFT photos JASPER WILKINS