The future of CORROSION OF CONFORMITY is looking brighter and more ambitious than ever, with a double album that promises a fresh, innovative listening experience. But here’s where it gets controversial—some fans might be surprised by the band's creative direction and the bold choices they’re making for their upcoming releases.
Recently, in a podcast interview on The Sonic Road Podcast, bassist Bobby Landgraf shared exciting details about the band's plans for 2026. Among the highlights are a U.S. tour with the band CLUTCH, tentatively scheduled for April, followed by a European tour spanning June and July. During this conversation, Landgraf revealed that their next studio effort, a follow-up to 2018’s acclaimed “No Cross No Crown,” will be a double album—a significant artistic statement that signals a daring new chapter for the band.
Landgraf took some time to delve into the recording process, noting the revitalized energy brought into the studio by renowned drummer Stanton Moore of GALACTIC fame. He described working alongside Moore as a transformative experience, emphasizing how Moore infused the sessions with a distinctive funk-laden heaviness that added a fresh layer to CORROSION OF CONFORMITY’s signature sound.
He explained, “Pepper [Keenan], our guitarist and vocalist, has a home studio in Mississippi. When I was in the studio with Stanton, we had a unique two-week period of living and creating together. It was intense but incredibly productive—no distractions, just pure focus on the music.” Landgraf credits Moore with teaching him new bass-playing techniques, helping him to hit the right notes and select the perfect moments to emphasize in each song. “Playing with Stanton raised my game more than I expected. He’s a huge inspiration. Pepper and Woody [Weatherman] also benefited from this experience...”
He further shared that the band recorded around 15 to 16 songs during their writing sessions, which naturally led to the decision to craft a double album—an ambitious project that seemed to develop organically, aided by the band’s strong relationship with their label. Pepper Keenan expressed a clear vision for the record, emphasizing its conceptual nature and the contrasting themes each side will explore.
Landgraf added that the album artwork will be stunning and resonant, emphasizing that listeners should approach it as a complete, immersive experience—ideally sitting at home with headphones on rather than just streaming it through earbuds on a commute.
The album is tentatively scheduled for release in late March or early April 2026 via Nuclear Blast Records. Some of the recording sessions took place at Barry Gibb’s private studio in Miami, Florida, thanks to connections through their producer Warren Riker and the Gibb family. These sessions included guitar recordings, with some additional parts done back in Pepper Keenan’s studio, demonstrating a collaborative and flexible recording process.
Musically, the band intends to blend heavy riffs with unexpected elements such as Floyd-like interludes, spoken narration, and sci-fi themes—showing that this record will defy simple genre categorization. Landgraf remarked, “While you might expect something straightforward like AC/DC, that’s not what’s going on here. Pepper deliberately designed the record to take listeners on unpredictable sonic journeys.”
In addition to new material, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY recently released a spontaneous cover of “Fire and Water” by the band FREE—recorded during downtime amid sessions for the new album—as part of their studio jam series, highlighting their love of classic rock influences.
The band just wrapped up a North American tour supporting legends JUDAS PRIEST and Alice Cooper, which included several headlining shows and ran from mid-September to late October. This extensive touring history, combined with their four-decade legacy, demonstrates their resilience and continual evolution as a band.
Since their formation in 1982, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY has continuously redefined heavy music, blending thrash, blues, and other genres across their ten critically acclaimed albums. Their 2018 record, “No Cross No Crown,” marked a significant milestone, returning Pepper Keenan to the line-up and delivering their highest charting success to date.
In the fall of 2024, the band welcomed bassist Bobby Landgraf—formerly of DOWN and PANTERA—who joined for touring and studio projects after the departure of founding bassist Mike Dean in September. Tragically, original drummer Reed Mullin passed away in January 2020, leaving a lasting impact on the band’s history.
Keenan’s rejoining in 2014 after nearly a decade of touring and recording with various projects reignited C.O.C.’s creative spark, culminating in the recording of “No Cross No Crown.” With their upcoming double album, the band appears poised to continue pushing musical boundaries, blending heavy riffs with experimental textures and conceptual artistry.
But here’s the question: Will this ambitious double album redefine what fans expect from CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, or will it challenge their loyal audience’s preferences? Do you believe in bands taking artistic risks like this, or should they stick to their roots? Share your thoughts—are you excited or skeptical about this new chapter?
