Corrosion of Conformity is pretty much always a great band, no matter the personnel. While Pepper Keenan continues on in the great Down with Phil Anselmo and Kirk Windstein, the early members Woody Weatherman, Mike Dean and Reed Mullin have reconvened C.O.C. to great result. Longtime fans will obviously recognize this as the trio format that brought the crossover classic Animosity in 1985. Needless to remind, Animosity was a watershed moment for the melding of metal and hardcore.

Is the shift back to a trio cause for celebration? You bet. This self-titled disc, the first since 2005’s Keenan-led (and really strong in its own right) In The Arms of God, isn’t merely a nod to the old school but a reinvestment into the energy, aggression and warped groove that made C.O.C. such trail blazers in the first place. Listening to the sonic blast of “Leeches” it is hard to believe this is a band with 30 years of history behind it. The instrumental “El Lamento de las Cabras” demonstrates that this band still has innovation and new ideas to spare.

Back on lead vocals, bassist Mike Dean still has a crazed intensity to his bark. Drummer Mullin, who was sidelined for a long while with injury, shows no signs of fatigue (and it’s always been his boogie-bent that helps propel this band). Guitarist Weatherman impossibly bridged the worlds of Black Sabbath and punk in the 1980s. He remains a wellspring of riffs that seemingly dart from out of nowhere to make the Corrosion of Conformity of 2012 more exciting than we as fans really have any right to expect. Check the lock-step groove of “Your Tomorrow” with the shape-shifting structure of “The Doom” (which isn’t as obviously named as you might think) and you’ll hear how crucial this band still is.

Expect “Corrosion of Conformity” to be part of the conversation at the end of the year when we’re discussing the best discs of the year. Welcome back, Animosity-era!

(Out on Candlelight Records)