Decades into a career of riffery, and Corrosion of Conformity are still a beast of a band - as they proved with 2018s No Cross No Crown.
It saw the band (guitarist Woody Weatherman, bassist Mike Dean, drummer Reed Mullin, guitarist/vocalist Pepper Keenan) reconnect on disc with Pepper for the first time in 12 years.
Some people have said that the classic line-up is back together. Is that how it feels for you?
"It does," Woody admits, "We have created a lot of our best music with this line-up, and especially some of our better known albums, Deliverance, Wiseblood, and all that stuff.
"Being able to play all that live over the past three years since we've been back with Pepper again means the world to me," Woody admitted.
"I love all those songs, and I had a blast writing the new stuff..."
The band are stoked with the support they've received from their label, Nuclear Blast.
"It's a real operation and they know what they are doing. We did our time with major labels back in the day, and that's fine and dandy, but the industry has changed so much now.
"Nuclear Blast has got a good grasp, and we are happy to be with them."
When it came to working on No Cross No Crown, the band kept with proven producer John Custer, but they changed the process this time around; Instead of hitting the studio with everything written, they went in bereft of material.
"We had very little figured out," Woody admitted, "We were doing four, five, six day sessions and we would turn up and write and record as we went along. It was a totally different way to do it, and I would have no problem working that way again.
"In the past, in preparation for an album, we have spent a couple of months rehearsing, writing and demoing stuff.
"So often we've done that, we've finished and then looked back and thought 'Hey, the demos are frickin' heavier and better than the record!
"So we took the opposite approach his time."
And with such a comfortable set-up between band and producer, they know pretty swiftly if they are on the money or not.
"If it's not right in five minutes, we know and start something else!"
And when the releases come out, Woody gets involved in the collecting too. He's loving the resurgence in vinyl.
"I think it’s kinda cool," he says, "People are getting back to that real product, you can see the artwork and get a feel for it, It's like the old days.
"Our last record came out on several different colours and swirls for the collectors. Pretty much everything we've ever put on vinyl, I've got one of 'em."
Much has changed in the industry since C.O.C first made a play for our ears, but this band rolls just the same as ever - by taking to the road.
"Mike, Reed and myself kicked off the band back in '82. That was the year we played our first show under the name C.O.C - we had been playing together before that, but didn't have any official name. It's always been about playing live.
"For me, it's always about 'Am I having a good time?' 'Is this fun?' 'Do I enjoy travelling?' Yeah. So I just keep doing it.
"I love to travel and I love to see stuff, so I don't plan on stopping anytime. We're really blessed that people have hung with is through the years, with all the new directions and experimentations."
Plenty of 2018 has been spent on the road Stateside with Zakk Wylde's Black Label Society too. Which we imagine was lively...
"Zakk is hilarious, of course he is an amazing guitar player, everyone knows that, but he jokes around and has a good time.
"He's in the dressing room every day giving us hell," Woody laughs.
"It's nice to go out with people like that. They are super professional, but they know how to tour and how to make it fun.
"That was an amazing tour. We've had the pleasure of playing with so many bands and have done all different sorts of stuff, and that tour was up there," he says, fondly.
Woody is speaking to us during a break from touring. When we call, he's at home in North Carolina, 'doing a bit of work and soaking in the sunshine.'
"We just had a pretty big hurricane blow through here, so it's nice to have the sun back," he says.
But after a while at home, he's keen to pack up the guitar, and ready to take No Cross No Crown to the masses again.
"I do the same things at home as I do on the road," he says, "I hang around and get whatever done.
"I do miss playing music live when I'm at home for any extended period....right now, I've been home for three or four weeks, and I'm ready to get back out now."
Luckily the band are eyeing up the UK once more, and begin a run of Irish and British dates on Monday.
It'll make up for a decidedly curtailed set at this summer's Download Festival: "I think there were some stage hand problems," he says in explanation.
"It can be frustrating, and it's a little freaky, but it's give and take, that's what it is. That's the nature of the beast when you do those festivals."
The aforementioned shows will put things to rights, although one C.O.C member will be absent.
Reed Mullin's drum stool will again be occupied by Manchester chap John Green, for the time being.
"Reed has had some health issues, and I've been speaking with him.
"I really wish Reed was gonna be there, but John is an exceptional player and he isn't going to let anyone down," Woody promises.
Catch Corrosion of Conformity live with Orange Goblin, Fireball Ministry & Black Moth:
October 22: Tivoli Theatre, Dublin
October 23: Dolans Warehouse, Limerick City, Ireland
October 24: Limelight, Belfast
October 26: Engine Rooms, Southampton
October 27: 02 Institute, Nottingham
October 28: Rock City, Nottingham
October 30: 02 Manchester Ritz
November 1: Garage, Glasgow
November 2: Plug, Sheffield
November 3: Cardiff University Great Hall
November 4: 02 Forum Kentish Town
