Despite the changes going on around the group, most of "C.O.D." remains moderately consistent compared to what the band had released during the Wino years. Two noticeable differences are the surplus of quicker anthems and the lack of miserable beatings like "Dying Inside," although Saint Vitus is pretty much riding the doom train here. The group's sound simply feels like it had been mildly altered for Linderson's vocals and the clear production, but not for modernization or mainstream props. Dave Chandler's riffs still roast like brisket over a grill, and most of the tempos slowly hammer and crush onwards. The only thing "C.O.D." truly lacks, however, is a prime cut that rises above the rest. Some of its offerings are better than others, sure, but none are universally superb despite the stable consistency.

The fact that the twelve songs together clock out after an hour's running time without a true gem makes the record a little tedious towards its final moments. Needless to say, I could survive without "Bela" or one of its neighbors. Linderson, on the other hand, does a wonderful job filling the void left by Wino. His stylistic approach is reasonably similar to Wino's, and he in general delivers a filling performance within this garden of doom; he's a perfect example of a replacement vocalist who lives up to his or her predecessor's standards. The production, too, is a change of sorts; the thunderous drums and polished guitar tone are miles from the fuzzy characteristics of previous outings. It's an acceptable frontier, but it doesn't validate the total Saint Vitus experience.