EMBR, a heavy metal, doom and sludge laced band hailing from the Birmingham, Alabama area have been building their collective craft since 2015. Known for their spellbinding stage performances, they have a growing fan base. With five EPs and one full length album, EMBR has proven their salt as song smiths.
Thrumm, from Atlanta, Georgia, is fairly new to the scene with an EP released in 2022. Their crisp sound, which has a stoner edge and plenty of classic metal vocals, is proof that hard rock is not a thing of the past.
EMBR and Thrumm paired up to record a cover of the song Albatross, by Corrosion of Conformity. The result of this collaboration is a powerful, crushing blend of impressive musicianship and strong vocals that equals a memorable homage to Corrosion of Conformity that can’t be ignored.
A brief history of Corrosion Of Conformity:
C.O.C, as their fans lovingly call them, has been on the scene for just about as long at this writer has been alive. From their hardcore punk early days starting in 1982, to their most recent heavy rock, earthy, blues infused 2023 single, they have built a legacy worthy of recognition.
Hailing from Raleigh, North Carolina, Corrosion Of Conformity formed in 1982 with bassist and vocalist Mike Dean, guitarist Woody Weatherman, drummer Reed Mullen, and singer Benji Shelton. On Animosity (1982), their debut album, they displayed true hardcore punk rhythms, fast and furious vocals, along with speed demon guitar work.
Moving forward to their second album, Technocracy (1987), a liberal dosing of thrash is sprinkled over solid punk tunes. Then, with the opening track of album three, Blind (1991), the tone is markedly changed. The first track hits heavy with a slower doom trudge then their previous work. Shadows of Black Sabbath and Judas Priest permeate this album.
By the time you get to Albatross, on the fourth album, Deliverance (1994), you get less punk and more heavy rock with a dose of the blues and a smidge doom. That line up had Woody Weatherman (who has been the one steady member for all these years), along with Mike Dean and Pepper Keenan.
Albatross made it onto a top 20 chart as a single on rock radio and became rather legendary for it’s heaviness among the lighter competition one would usually find on mainstream rock radio. Throughout their prolific run, they have worked with other artists, such as, James Hatfield, Warren Haynes, and Dave Grohl.
EMBR and Thrumm released a video for the cover track and it is evident that they love this song and wanted to do it justice. Visually, the video moves well and keeps the heart rate up. You get the sense that being in the studio would have been a blast.
All the vocals and musicianship on this track are golden, but I would be remise if I didn’t highlight Crystals Bigelows’ singing. Her delivery is absolute, no nonsense blues at their darkest and best! She tears at the ceiling with her grit and strength. It is inspiring. We do no get the breadth of her vocal skill set here, since she sticks to the mark on blues/rock in this one, so if you want a treat, I highly recommend you check out Corrupt on the EMBR title album.
Seeing and hearing this release from two bands in this new generation gives one hope for the future of heavy music. Both the nod to those who laid the path for them and their fresh take on a classic says that they will keep the fires burning. Heavy, stoner, doom, metal, hard rock, trash, and let’s not forget punk, are here to stay.
