Crobot, Whores., and Corrosion of Conformity Bring Heat, Grit, and Volume to Chicago’s Outset

By: Evan J. Thomas

Chicago got a full-spectrum dose of heavy on a night that felt less like a concert and more like a controlled demolition. With  Whores., Crobot, and Corrosion of Conformity  stacked on the same bill, the stage at Outset in Chicago didn’t stand a chance and neither did anyone hoping for a quiet evening.

The place was packed from the start as Crobot kicked things off, and the vibe shifted from pure aggression to groove-heavy swagger. Crobot was the muscle car of the night... loud, fast, and built to move.
What stood out immediately was their commitment to the future over nostalgia. Instead of leaning heavily on fan favorite classics like "Low Life" or "Rat Child", Crobot packed their set with a strong dose of new material off of their new album Supermoon, giving the audience a front row seat to where the band is heading rather than where they’ve been. It’s a bold move in my mind especially for a band with a catalog that fans love but it paid off and the reception was welcoming.

The new tracks hit hard live. They carried that signature Crobot DNA, dirty riffs, bluesy swagger, and infectious groove but with a fresh edge that felt more refined and confident. You could feel the band pushing themselves, evolving in real time, and trusting the crowd to come along for the ride.
That said, for longtime fans, the lighter presence of older favorites was noticeable. There’s always a balance to strike between showcasing new music and delivering the hits people came to hear, and Crobot leaned heavily into the former. But instead of feeling like a miss, it felt like a statement: this band isn’t looking backward they’re building something new. And live, it works.

Whores. took the stage next with zero interest in easing the crowd in. Their set was loud, abrasive, and unapologetically punishing in the best way possible. The band thrives in that sludgy, noise rock chaos, and live, it hits even harder. Guitars buzzed like a live wire, drums felt like blunt force trauma, and the crowd quickly realized this was going to be one of those nights. No frills, no filler just raw, aggressive energy that set the tone early.

By the time Corrosion of Conformity hit the stage, the room was primed for something massive and they delivered exactly that. Veterans of the game, C.O.C. brought a level of presence that only comes from decades of doing it right. Their set was thick with southern groove, heavy riffs, and that unmistakable weight that defines their sound.

They didn’t need to prove anything they just owned the fucking room. Every note felt deliberate, every groove locked in, and the crowd responded accordingly. It was the kind of performance that reminds you why bands like this still matter.
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By the end of the night, Outset had been through it all, three bands, three distinct flavors of heavy, all hitting from different angles but landing just as hard.

And if Crobot’s set proved anything, it’s this sometimes the most interesting move a band can make… is not playing it safe.

CROBOT

WHORES.

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY