Released 30 years ago
Wiseblood
Corrosion of Conformity · 1996
58 min · 13 tracks · sludge metal
A gritty blend of sludge and stoner metal that channels Southern rock's raw energy and lyrical introspection.
Top tracks — play these first
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King of the Rotten — This track opens the album with aggressive riffs and biting lyrics, setting a tone of defiance that resonates throughout Wiseblood.
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Born Again for the Last Time — Here, the combination of haunting melodies and raw lyrical themes captures the album's exploration of personal redemption and existential struggle.
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Drowning in a Daydream — With its atmospheric build-up and intense emotional release, this track exemplifies the band's ability to fuse heavy instrumentation with contemplative songwriting.
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Fuel — This short yet powerful track distills Wiseblood’s essence in under three minutes, showcasing relentless energy while addressing themes of desperation and survival.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Wiseblood combines heavy riffs with introspective lyrics, showcasing a strong Southern metal identity.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a heavy, distorted guitar riff that sets a gritty tone, which is maintained through the first half of the record.
- Several tracks feature tempo shifts, moving from slower, sludgy sections to faster, more aggressive passages, particularly in 'Long Whip/Big America'.
- Lyrically, the songs often explore themes of introspection and existentialism, with a focus on vivid imagery and storytelling.
- The final track, 'Bottom Feeder', closes the album with a slow build-up that culminates in an intense climax, leaving a lasting impression.
- 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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8/10
- 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
- wave-like pacing with peaks
- introspective moments of reflection
- dynamic journey through emotions
- heavy riffs for cathartic release
Maybe skip if you
- prefer straightforward song structures
- seek instant gratification tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in January 1996, Wiseblood marks Corrosion of Conformity's fifth studio album and their first with the lineup featuring Pepper Keenan as the sole guitarist. This album came after a significant shift in their sound towards a more accessible yet heavier style, following the success of their previous work, Deliverance, which had pushed them into the mainstream metal scene.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Down· Eyehategod· Crowbar
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 King of the Rotten 3:13
- 2 Long Whip/Big America 4:52
- 3 Wiseblood 3:01
- 4 Goodbye Windows 5:41
- 5 Born Again for the Last Time 4:39
- 6 Drowning in a Daydream 4:22
- 7 The Snake Has No Head 4:13
- 8 The Door 3:28
- 9 Man or Ash 5:13
- 10 Redemption City 4:50
- 11 Wishbone (Some Tomorrow) 3:59
- 12 Fuel 2:39
- 13 Bottom Feeder (El que come abajo) 7:51
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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