Live Review: Corrosion of Conformity – Rebellion, Manchester
11th June 2026
Support: Ritual King
Words: Matthew Williams
Photos: Rich Price
After their storming Saturday night headline set at 2025’s Damnation Festival, Corrosion of Conformity were back in Manchester, albeit this time at a much smaller venue. The gig at Rebellion sold out in next to no time, as the legendary band hit the UK for three dates in support of their “Good God/Baad Man” album, before a festival appearance at Download.
The support for these three dates was one of Manchester’s finest, Ritual King, and it was great to see them back on the stage after an enforced eleven-month absence due to health issues. With a big smile, guitarist/vocalist Jordan Leppitt gives us a “Good evening Manchester” as they launch into an array of gloriously trippy/bluesy notes that flow across the venue. They get progressively heavier with the bass sounding as good as every from Danny Goodwin, with the harmonised vocals between Leppitt and drummer Gareth Hodges, making it feel like a psychedelic trip.
Leppitt announces that they’ll be playing “a few songs from the first record” before starting “Headspace” which showcases their drum and bass section with a slow build developing into a great rhythm, as they get heavier with an explosion of sound. “It’s been an honour to play with Corrosion of Conformity, this is our last song, it’s called Valleys” announces the frontman, as the song grows from its pensive state into a crushing riff fest that showcases the trio’s interplay to wrap up their short set.
There’s a decent amount of time between bands as the sound team and roadies do they final checks, but about five minutes earlier than scheduled, the intro blares out and touring drummer Nick Shabatura takes his place, as bassist Bobby Landgraff kicks things off. As he gets the crowd going, Pepper Keenan and Woody Weatherman appear to huge applause and Corrosion of Conformity burst into “Asleep on the Killing Floor”. It’s a powerful beginning as Landgraff swops vocals with Keenan and Weatherman has us drooling over the solo.
“Now that’s a true fucking story” shouts Keenan, as they waste no time and go straight into “My Grain” followed by wonderful “Who’s Got the Fire”. Their tempo changes are sublime and it’s so damn good seeing them up close in a sold-out venue like Rebellion, and after forty plus years of being a band, they are consummate professionals. “You like heavy shit? You like weird shit?” asks Keenan, “You like heavy weird shit?” as they generate real power during “Shake Like You” especially when they sing as one.
With a constantly smiling bassist wandering across the stage, they have an array of songs that hit the spot each time. “Lose Yourself” and “You or Me” follow, but the heads start to really move during the epic “Diablo Blvd” but they surpass that with the heaviness of “Paranoid Opioid” as the raucous nature of the song explodes across the room. “Stick that in your peace pipe” shouts Keenan at the end, before “Seven Days” and then we arrive at the brooding, slow, heartfelt song that is “13 Angels”.
There’s an echo on the vocals, as Keenan shows off his silky guitar skills but the song is a classic and played ahead of a new song, “Baad Man” where the crowd join in with the “ooo’s”. They go back into their extensive catalogue with 1996’s “Born Again for the Last Time” to demonstrate their exemplary blend of tempos and follow this with the fifth song of the night from their latest album, the heavy, no frills, heads down, rocking tune that is “Gimme Some Moore”.
“This song comes around every four years, as a way of dealing with our problems, and I know we’ve got our problems in the same way that you’ve got your problems” and heads get blown off with the vitriolic “Vote With a Bullet”. The whole crowd sing as one, and you realise that everyone here is united at this moment in time, enjoying a band who never fail to deliver. I put my pad and pen down for a while to just enjoy the spectacle that is Corrosion of Conformity and with a tap of the cymbal with the neck of his guitar, Keenan and the rest disappear, albeit briefly.
“It’s so damn hot in here, but we appreciate you having us back” says Weatherman as they re-emerge. “Manchester definitely has more swagger than the rest of England” says Keenan, as they begin my favourite COC song, the majestic “Albatross”. It is ridiculously sublime and a true classic in every sense of the word, and once more I’m stood watching in awe of their talent. “Love and respect to you for keeping music alive” mouths Keenan, as they end with another stunning song, “Clean My Wounds”. There’s a clap along, “Thin Lizzy style man” as the riffs tease but it feels like a huge jam session that we are all invited to, with the masses jumping around as we all clap off a band that show no signs of slowing down. What a night!!!
Photo credits: Rich Price Photography
