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Venue

Theatre, Apollo Activity Center

104 N. State St., 61008, Belvidere, IL, US

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Additional details

Doors open: 19:30

Concert in your area for Metal and Rock.

Find out more about Metal and Rock.

Corrosion of Conformity biography

In 1982, somewhere in Raleigh, North Carolina, a band formed and named themselves, Corrosion of Conformity. With chart success and across seven studio albums, they have become one an influential band in the heavy metal scene.

In the early days of COC, the band honed their craft taking the shape of a hardcore punk style, with a 20-track debut, “Eye for an Eye” which was released in 1984 on Candlelight Records. They also released an album called “Animosity” in October 1985, but on Metal Blade Records. Their first album that struck the charts in a big way was an album called “Blind” released one November 5th 1991. It placed on the Heatseekers chart at number 24. They released “Dance of the Dead” and “Vote with a Bullet” as singles, both of which earning the band some valuable airplay on Los Angeles’ KNAC.

COC signed a deal with Columbia Records, and entered the studio in 1993. They emerged on September 27th 1994 with an album called “Deliverance”. Kerrang! described the album as a “True 90s classic”. Their song “Albatross” taken from the record has made it onto the video game Guitar Hero: Metallica. The album made it to number 5 on the Heatseekers Chart, and entered the Billboard 200 chart at number 155, and has since it’s release sold upwards of 379,000 copies. This record was followed with the ever-popular “Wiseblood” released on October 12th 1996 still on Columbia records. It made it to an even higher chart position of number two in the Heatseekers Chart, and this time, number 43 on the UK Albums Chart.

After a brief hiatus, which included the release of a live album entitled “Live Volume”, in 2005 on April 5th, the band released their album “In the Arms of God”. It was this album that managed to hit the top spot of the Heatseekers Chart and even number 41 in Sweden.

Their two following studio albums, the eponymous release on February 28th 2012, and IX on June 24th 2014, have both made it to number 5 on the Heatseekers Chart.

The Sword biography

The Sword (formed in 2003) is an American heavy metal and doom metal band, hailing from Austin, Texas, in the U.S.

Prior to forming the Sword in 2003, vocalist and guitarist J.D. Cronise had written and recorded as a solo artist, before enlisting the help guitarist Kyle Shutt and drummer Trivett Wingo. With the later addition of bassist Bryan Richie in early 2004, the band made their performing debut at Austin’s Sound in March that year and recorded the EP entitled “Freya”. Following a well-received appearance at the South by Southwest in 2005, the Sword signed with Kemado Records, who issued the band’s debut album “Age of Winters” in February 2006. Comprised of mainly Cronise’s early material , the album earned the group a significant fan base and led to touring with Lacina Coil, Trivium, Nebula and Lamb of God.

The Sword subsequently released a split EP with the Swedish doom metal band Witchcraft, which included a Led Zeppelin cover, and released their sophomore album “Gods of the Earth” in April 2008. Like its predecessor, the album was well-received by critics and fans, and was their first charting album reaching No. 102 on the Billboard 200. In support of the album The Sword embarked on their ‘Gods of the Earth Tour’ with support provided by Machine Head, Lamb of God and Clutch.

Taking their musical inspiration from a more science fiction base, the Sword’s third full-length album “Warp Rider” was a concept album with a hard rock focus. The album debuted at No. 47 on the Billboard 200 and the band supported Metallica, for the third time, on a number of their Australian and Asian tour dates. In 2010 drummer Trivett Wingo departed the group and was replaced by Kevin Fender on tour and later by Santiago “Jimmy” Vela III. The band combined fantasy and metaphysics on their fourth studio album “Apocryphon” in 2012, which peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard 200.

Live reviews

Sometimes it’s hard to believe that Corrosion of Conformity has been bringing their punishing brand of sludge/thrash metal to fans for nearly thirty years. Watching them perform at MetalFest Chile in 2013 is a testament to their dedication and talent as a live band. Of course, performing in Chile, a country long known for its passionate and excitable metal fans, makes this both easy and excitable.
Breaking it down in front of a packed crowd of literally thousands, Corrosion of Conformity look a bit older than when they first started, but no less enthused to be playing classics like their 1991 song Vote With a Bullet, as relevant to today’s political atmosphere as it was when released. Singer Pepper James Keenan (back after a brief hiatus from the band) looks entire comfortable as frontman, sporting the metal “uniform” of black shirt, blue jeans, and long hair, masterfully controlling his guitar riffs with the ease and talent of a seasoned pro.
Bandmates Mike Dean (bass), Woody Weatherman (guitarist) and drummer Reed Mullin are no less enthusiastic, performing their driving brand of metal with a practiced confidence that only 30 years as a band can bring. Watch out for the pit – but then, it’s a Corrosion of Conformity show. You know that already.

Anonymous

The flow of highly charged energy at a concert by The Sword is nearly unstoppable. Loud distorted guitar riffs are blared through stacks of massive guitar amps and the drums are beating with a brashness that resonates through your skull. The Sword is fierce when they take the stage. The dueling Guitarists, John Cronise and Kyle Shutt, perform in a way reminiscent of Judas Priest’s fast paced guitar solos and duets. The band is also known to play in slower tempos, and retain a sludgy sound of deep distorted guitars, and low, bellowing drumming, somewhat in the stoner metal style of Black Sabbath and Sleep. The Sword’s lyrics are also very interesting drawing inspiration from Norse mythology. John Cronise’s vocals are also presented in a yearning way, which is very similar to Ozzy Osbourne.
The Sword’s stage theatrics usually consist of fog covering every inch of the stage and dim lights of dark colors shining down upon them. The band is enthusiastic during their performance, head banging to each song. Their audience seems to be loving it as well, riotously rocking out to each song, crowd surfing, and signaling the devil horns with their hands as a rock and roll salute.
The Sword keeps things interesting with their retro sound of the golden age of metal, but still manages to keep their music fresh and youthful. The Sword is sure to meet high expectations of blasting their audience away with their heavy brand of doom metal.

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