Review Summary: That’s not how guitars are meant to be played…
Heavy is about being pissed off and being a warlord and laying down... like, just like, someone like, that was a battle, just if they had an axe, they just chop some dude in the head, and it landed... And you have a riff that plays the same way, that's heavy! - Matt Pike
Ever since she was knocked up by the almighty Father of heavy metal, Mother Britain has been giving birth to one bastard child after another, and it’s reasonable to conclude the offsprings of that union have not fared a better fate. Misfits and outcasts, forgotten children of the grave, an entire generation of abhorred loners and losers discovered their voice and found salvation unlooked for in the sounds of the almighty 5th chord. And ever since that first Sabbath record landed, they have tried to take the sonic attacks of Tony Iommi to new unprecedented levels of low-frequency revulsion.
Conan’s debut emerged from that fertile, albeit weighty, holy ground of the British doom scene and immediately impacted the scenery, offering soundscapes we rarely had heard in the modern doom/sludge landscape. Building upon the foundation laid by their debut EP and a noteworthy split with Slomatics, Conan refined their sound on
Monnos, resulting in a cleaner, yet undeniably powerful, listening experience. While this sonic clarity may initially deter some purists, it ultimately served as a catalyst for exploring new sonic territories, providing a more accessible platform for their crushing material.
Conan carves a unique space within a genre often accused of stagnation (even since the days of… Master of Reality), foregoing technical virtuosity in favour of visceral emotional resonance and immersive sonic landscapes. While not entirely revolutionary from the get go, their approach distinguishes them through a meticulous focus on tone and raw feeling. They craft an experience that transcends mere musical performance, inviting listeners into forgotten sonic realms. The band's appeal lies in subtle yet powerful elements: the ceremonial nature of their songwriting, a keen attention to sonic details and dynamic shifts, and an aesthetic steeped in mythic grandeur. Their lyrics, refreshingly unpretentious, complement the artwork's portrayal of distant, legendary figures, evoking tales of epic proportions. The vocalist, more than a mere singer, embodies the role of an ancient bard, a preacher delivering a grim saga of unending wars and heroic survival. Each song feels like a chapter in this epic, as the protagonist battles against insurmountable odds and emerges victorious, blade stained with the blood of his enemies and all. This narrative, combined with the music's sheer power, empowers the listener. Conan's music instills a sense of invincibility, a feeling of being able to overcome any obstacle. This effect on the essence is perhaps their greatest achievement, proving the profound impact that music can have on shaping our inner psyche.
Furthermore, this collection showcases a surprising level of density achieved through a dangerous yet masterful blending of genres. The producer definitely deserves some credit for this sonic onslaught, particularly the unbelievable tone of the instruments; Down-tuned and fuzzy, yet powerfully resonant, the instruments instantly reject any kind of old-school label. While being rooted in stoner doom, the record nudges the boundaries, approaching the realms of drone/minimal metal without sacrificing its core identity.
The album's opening trio,
Hawk as Weapon,
Battle in the Swamp, and
Grim Tormentor, stands as a masterclass in contemporary doom/sludge sonic - structure. Conan delivers lessons in simplicity and beauty, eschewing unnecessary embellishments in favour of raw, unadulterated heaviness. These tracks are characterized by slow-paced, colossal riffs, interspersed with mid-tempo passages, all underpinned by earth-shattering bass-lines and ritualistic drumming. This sonic onslaught creates an undeniably addictive and devastating listening experience, inspiring its audience to go rampaging into the wild with a guitar (or an axe) at hand.
While the album's initial impact is undeniable, the latter half of
Monnos presents a somewhat uneven scenery. The drone-like
Golden Axe is somewhat reminiscent of Dylan Carson’s sonic explorations with Earth, and lacks the distinct character of its predecessors. The closing tracks,
Headless Hunter and
Invincible Throne while undeniably doom-laden, fall into a more stereotypical down-tempo pattern, failing to evoke the same fervent response as the opening tracks.
Despite these inconsistencies,
Monnos remains a noteworthy release. The opening tracks alone solidify its place as a significant contribution to the doom/sludge genre. Conan's
Monnos offers a primitive, caveman-esque battle doom experience, challenging listeners to endure its sonic intensity. While perhaps not a perfectly balanced offering, its strengths cement its position as one of 2012 top releases within the extreme metal sub-genre.
Recommended Tracks:
Hawk as a Weapon
Battle in the Swamp
Grim Tormentor
