No Cross No Crown (album)
Corrosion of Conformity · 2018
57 min · 15 tracks · sludge metal
A heavy blend of sludge and stoner metal, bathed in Southern grit and reflective lyrical depth.
Top tracks — play these first
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The Luddite — This track exemplifies the album's thematic focus on resistance against modernity, featuring powerful riffs that drive home its message of defiance.
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Forgive Me — With its haunting melodies and heavy instrumentation, this song encapsulates the emotional weight of regret and longing that permeates the album.
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No Cross No Crown — The title track serves as an anthem for resilience, combining aggressive rhythms with reflective lyrics that highlight personal struggles.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album effectively blends heavy riffs with introspective lyrics, showcasing strong craftsmanship and varied vocal styles.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album maintains a consistent mid-tempo pace with heavy guitar riffs, while the second half introduces slower, more reflective tracks.
- Several songs feature alternating vocal styles between clean singing and harsher growls, creating dynamic contrasts within individual tracks.
- The final track is an extended instrumental piece that gradually builds in intensity before fading out, providing a sense of closure to the album.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic flow with emotional peaks
- grimy riffs for cathartic release
- late-night introspection and contemplation
- haunting melodies for deep focus
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification tracks
- seek standalone singles experience
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on January 1, 2018, No Cross No Crown marks Corrosion of Conformity's return after a decade-long hiatus since their last studio album, In the Arms of God (2005). This album reintroduces the band's classic lineup, including Pepper Keenan, signaling a significant reconnection with their roots in Southern metal.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Down· Eyehategod· Crowbar
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Novus Deus 1:28
- 2 The Luddite 4:39
- 3 Cast the First Stone 3:43
- 4 No Cross 1:18
- 5 Wolf Named Crow 5:12
- 6 Little Man 4:31
- 7 Matre's Diem 1:26
- 8 Forgive Me 4:06
- 9 Nothing Left to Say 6:22
- 10 Sacred Isolation 1:22
- 11 Old Disaster 4:44
- 12 E.L.M. 4:02
- 13 No Cross No Crown 3:55
- 14 A Quest to Believe (A Call to the Void) 6:01
- 15 Son and Daughter 4:53
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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