Release Date: August 19th 2022. Record Label: Napalm Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Evidence Of Immortality - Tracklisting
A Cleaved Head No Longer Plots
Levitation Hoax
Ritual Of Anonymity
Equilibrium Of Mankind
Righteous Alliance
Grief Sequence
Members
Jon Paul Davis - Vocals/Guitars
Chris Fielding - Vocals/Bass
Johnny King - Drums
Review
Doom Metal Heavyweights Conan are back with their new album Evidence Of Immortality and it's another masterclass of BATTLE CAVEMAN DOOM. Their self styled Down Tuned blend of Doom Metal has been entertaining the underground hordes for over a decade now and that will be continuing with this record. Heavy slabs of Doomed Out Fuzz and Stoner Metal with more thunderous drumming allowing the band to be a heavier unit than ever before.
Conan brings a more Psychedelic and Fuzzier down-tuned sound for the album which you're treated to on the excellent opening track A Cleaved Head No Longer Plots which has a more sinister Progressive feel.
The superb vocals from Jon and Chris breathe life into this heavy tale of Doom based debauchery with the fantastic drumming being one of the main highlights of the album. Epic guitar solos reign supreme on the later stages of the song that does allow Conan the opportunity to try some wonderfully inventive Psychedelic vibes that we haven't heard from them before.
The next two songs of Levitation Haze and Ritual Of Anonymity are classic CONAN through and through. This is their "bread and butter" within the Doom Metal underground. The distorted and down-tuned sounds of both tracks are brutally loud with the instrumental work building up solid rhythms throughout especially on Levitation Haze. The vocals are eerie and full of violent intent that Jon truly revels in.
Amplifier Distortion is ever present here with Conan bringing their most brutally entertaining album since their classic debut full length Monnos. I'm a huge fan of Conan's impressive discography with Monnos being my absolute favourite release. Evidence Of Immortality is right up there with Monnos followed closely by Blood Eagle.
The final three songs of Equilibrium Of Mankind, Righteous Alliance and Grief Sequence is why I rank this album up there with Monnos and Blood Eagle. As Conan go all out playing, refining and even re-inventing themselves won this album especially on Equilibrium Of Mankind and Grief Sequence. Ambient sounds run amok with their trademark Fuzz based CAVEMAN DOOM grooves. The lyrics and vocals are bleak with a sense of danger to them.
Grief Sequence is where we see a different side to Conan with the band playing an epic fourteen minute plus instrumental song. The band play an eerie style of Funeral Doom with elements of Psych Metal, Sludge Metal and Stoner Metal. The song is wonderfully dark and quite abstract with the creative choices of music that Conan plays here. Perhaps taking a SUNN 0))) and even Pallbearer approach that can be quite daunting and uncomfortable to hear but ultimately leaving the listener wanting to hear more.
The real standout of the album is Johnny King on drums. He's absolutely amazing on this album and sounds like a true BEAST on this record. Jon and Chris do their part as well but Johnny impressed me the most on the album.
Evidence Of Immortality is an exceptional and must have album from Conan that is helped along by first rate production values with Chris doubling down on Producer, Engineering and Mixing duties for the album. James Plotkin helped with mastering the album and it leaves the listener feeling they've taking a right physical beating along the way.
Words by Steve Howe
Evidence Of Immortality is available to buy now CD/DD/Vinyl now via Napalm Records.
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