UMUR "Animosity" is the 2nd full-length studio album by US hardcore/heavy metal act Corrosion of Conformity. The album was released through Death Records in October 1985. It´s the successor to "Eye for an Eye" from 1984 and features one lineup change since the predecessor as lead vocalist Eric Eycke has left the band. Eycke has not been replaced and Corrosion of Conformity opted to continue as a three-piece with bassist Mike Dean and drummer Reed Mullin sharing the lead vocalist duties.

Stylistically the band continue the hardcore sound of the debut album but with some added thrash/crossover metal and stoner/doom metal elements. The latter influence is pretty much only heard on the closing title track though, so it´s only a minor element of the band´s sound on "Animosity". The remaining material is pretty much pissed off aggressive hardcore featuring angry sounding shouting vocals, fast-paced rhythms, and hardcore punk riffs. It´s slightly more sophisticated than the material on their debut album, but only slightly.

"Animosity" features a raw sounding production which suits the material well, but let´s establish right way, that "Animosity" isn´t an over produced album. Featuring 10 tracks and a total playing time of only 26:20 it´s also a very short release, but as the music style is a bit one-dimensional (save for the stoner/doom metal influence mentioned above), it´s not something I lose sleep over. Upon conclusion "Animosity" is a step forward from "Eye for an Eye (1984)", but it´s not a giant leap. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.

FMOTP I'm amazed that nobody's reviewed this album yet; there's only one rating so far. Could it be that ANIMOSITY is too close to punk or hardcore for the followers of this site (of whom I'm one)? This is the first worthy album by one of the most important bands in the history of thrash and stoner metal. I think the term "album" is used very loosely BTW; although it contains 10 songs, this release clocks in at well under half an hour. Makes me wonder where the dividing line between EP and album lies?

The band starts to sound like musicians on this album, as opposed to teenagers making noises with instruments. In contrast EYE FOR AN EYE, their first release, comes off as just flailing. ANIMOSITY is a great combination of hardcore punk and thrash metal with some classic Black Sabbath influence thrown in. If singing ability is important to you, the vocals on ANIMOSITY, like a lot of hardcore, could be a sticking point. I think Mike Dean's voice suits the material. I sing in a church choir however, so I understand. Serj Tankian, for example, could sing an IRS tax audit and I'd still enjoy it!

I generally don't care to discuss individual tracks in reviews, but I will single out the last two songs on ANIMOSITY - "Hungry Child" and "Animosity". Together, they show the great range of sounds to be found on ANIMOSITY. I think the short playing time makes this is a particularly fine album to listen to in one piece. As reviewers on other metal websites have suggested, the album as a whole has a wonderfully grimy, sinister feel to it. The vocals and the sound quality are the only minor reservations I have when it comes to ANIMOSITY. This is perhaps the most important album by one of the most crucial bands in thrash and stoner metal history.