out June 12: League of Corruption

Listen now to the title track from the album Something in the Water by League of Corruption, a Canadian band devoted to perfecting the sound of contemporary swamp rock and roll. The official information below points out that they love Corrosion of Conformity, Lynyrd Skynyrd and all things Zakk Wylde, for a stoner doom sound based on slow-burn, thick, simple riffs and that big-belly hollering that fans have come to expect. The album comes out on June 12th, 2020 and below is the Bandcamp link to everything League of Corruption.

Official information: There’s something about the grittiness of Southern-styled groove metal that instantly evokes the mental image of beer flowing, hair flying, and riff upon solo thundering from the speakers. But this is no backyard band on their first rodeo; this is League of Corruption, founded by scene veteran Chris Barlow (ex-Mecha Messiah), and with Canada’s underground legend Brian Langley (Aggression, ex-Infernäl Mäjesty) on guitar and backing vocals. Despite existing intermittently for 15 years, 2020 is the time to roll out their début full-length, Something in the Water.

So what does this group from the Great White North have to offer? “Save the Church” has that clear from the outset. We kick off with pounding drums and an instantly catchy guitar melody, topped off with a rough-n’-ready gravelly bellow, the bass filling out the low end neatly, though it too has its time to shine when a screaming solo takes centerstage. Zakk Wylde has had no small part to play in Brian Langley’s sidewinder guitar playing - not least that the latter fronts a Wylde tribute band - but their influences also spread to heavier and lighter climes. “Want Me Gone” channels that mournful Lynyrd Skynyrd vibe, while the title track brings in big gun riffing in the vein of Down or Corrosion of Conformity.

There’s a lot packed into these six tracks. It’s clear that if a soundtrack is needed for ice cold beers and reminiscing about the good ol’ days of rock and metal, then League of Corruption proves there is indeed Something in the Water in Vancouver. League of Corruption are a groove metal band emerging from the primordial ooze of the Vancouver heavy music scene. The band crafts a sound that fuses classics like Lynyrd Skynyrd modern icons such as Corrosion of Conformity. This leads to a southern tinged assault. Suffice it to say, League of Corruption like their metal groovy and their beers cold. It all ties into the band's ambitious vision.

Something in the Water by League of Corruption