CORROSION OF CONFORMITY: ANIMOSITY

Corrosion of Conformity's 1985 release is a masterpiece of a crossover between hardcore punk and heavy metal. This is my personal favorite Corrosion of Conformity album of all time. Their sound in the 1980's was radically different than their more commercial retro 1970's metal form the early 1990's "Blind" album and on. "Animosity" is a pure blast of adrenaline, insane, sped up retro Black Sabbath riffing, some evil mid-paced grooves, and plenty of anger. The pace of this album is ferocious and blinding. Every song is intense, and before you know it, all ten tracks are over, and if you have to hear it again. The line up on this album is Mike Dean on vocals and bass, Reed Mullin on drums, and Woody Weatherman on guitar. Mike Dean's vocals are an acquired taste, but they suit Woody Weatherman's often way out there and always viscous Black Sabbath meets Black Flag guitar playing. There is not a weak track on here. This album is best experinced as a whole, as one blinding burst of adrenalin. Pick this one up now, it will not disappoint.

MR. BUNGLE

Mr. Bungle's self titled debut album released in 1991 is a mind and genre bending masterpiece. Mr. Bungle is Faith No more vocalist Mike Patton's other band, where his creativity is allowed to run wild. While Faith No More had their adventurous and frightening moments, their material was more focused and targeted towards the mainstream. Mr. Bungle did not worry about the mainstream, they just did what they wanted to do, and this is where they truly shine.

Their self titled debut is my all time favorite Mr. Bungle disc. The music blazes through ska, funk, soul, jazz, metal, death metal, carnival music, psychedelia, and noise art, switching styles at the drop of a hat, often in the same song. The sense of melody and song writing is incredible and tightly focused. Mike Patton's vocal delivery is smooth, snotty, serene, frightening, humorous and impeccable. The musicianship is top notch, with a horn section that really adds a punch to the proceedings. Experimental jazz master and composer John Zorn's production is so full it is difficult to comprehend in one sitting. There are so many sounds on this album, that even after a couple of hundred listens, you still always hear something new. The lyrics are a bit of a challenge...surrealistic yet brash, loaded with an obsession with porn, juvenile humor, violence, alienation, and loneliness.

It is hard to name a favorite track. All of the songs bleed into each other with amusing, and disturbing transitions. "Mr. Bungle" is one of those discs that has to be listened to as a whole to fully appreciate. Here's "Stubb A Dub" and "Quote Unquote" . Highly recommended, easy to find, and cheap at Amazon (8.99 US ).