CONAN - Violence Dimension (Album Review)

Release Date: April 25th 2025. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl.

Violence Dimension - Tracklisting

1.Foeman's Flesh

2.Desolation Hexx

3.Total Bicep

4.Violence Dimension

5.Frozen Edges Of The Wound

6.Warpsword

7.Ocean Of Boiling Skin

8.Vortexxion

Members:

Jon Davis - Vocals/Guitars
Johnny King - Drums
David Ryley - Bass

Review

Violence Dimension is the new album from Doom/Sludge Metal legends CONAN and their first for new powerhouse label Heavy Psych Sounds. This record is quite a throwback to their earlier records but still maintaining their recent level of pure destructive heaviness. CONAN continue with their devastating style of Droned Out soundscapes which adds a more ice-cold effect to their own blend of CAVEMAN DOOM which is always imitated but never bettered especially on this record.

CONAN surround themselves with bass heavy and sonic fuelled sounds of their own cosmic making which stay beautifully heavy throughout with the stunning opening track Foeman’s Flesh with this track running over nine minutes in length. There are different levels of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal with a deft technical melody appearing with Jon Davis’s trademark vocals making a long overdue return to the world of CAVEMAN DOOM. The aura of Psychedelic and Drone based textures adds an of mystery to proceedings whilst still keeping with the full on harsh brutality that is still superbly melodic at the same time.

Sometimes Violence Dimension does feel like a companion piece to the recently released UNGRAVEN debut album (Hollows Made Homes In Their Sunken Cheeks) with the surreal Drone aspects that this record contains. Though, mostly it’s CONAN perfecting their classic style of full-on Doom/Sludge Metal which also has a modern SHAMANIC approach on certain parts of the record especially on tracks such as Desolation Hexx, Total Bicep and Violence DImension. The majority of the tracks run past the nine minutes mark with this perhaps being the most progressive leaning record of their career to date. 

There are a lot more Thrash based elements which doesn’t dilute the core Doom, Sludge and Stoner aspect of their trademark sound. This allows the heavier and more extreme growls to make themselves known with. Another highlight is the addition of David Ryley on Bass Guitar from UK Sludge Metal legends FUDGE TUNNEL who Jon is a massive fan. I loved FUDGE TUNNEL back in the day and David adds a classic level of extreme heaviness which allows CONAN to soar to new heights especially on the later stages of the record.

Johnny King once again puts in a brutal and blistering performance on Dimension Violence and I will have to say this is his best performance I’ve heard from him. He’s absolutely lethal throughout but shows a sense of calm and intelligence within the quieter moments of the album. 

Other standout tracks on the album are: Frozen Edges Of The Wound, Ocean Of Boiling Skin and Vortexxion (which is a track that appears on the Deluxe Edition only).

The fantastical themes and lyrics allows CONAN’s imagination to run wild which has been a major part of the band’s career for the best part of two decades now and it’s good to see that aspect of their creative work hasn’t been watered down but perhaps amplified to match the newfound level of heaviness they demonstrate on the record.

Violence Dimension allows CONAN to do what they do best and that’s delivering some of the heaviest and fuzzed up grooves known to the underground DOOM METAL scene that firmly solidates CONAN as one of the most incendiary and legendary acts currently around today. 

This will surely end up becoming the DOOM METAL album of the year and is already in my top three favourite records of the year so far. I don’t think it will be beaten on both of those aspects. My advice is to add this classic record to your collection as soon as you can.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for all of the details

New album "Violence Dimension" - Out April 25th on Heavy Psych Sounds
International preorder - US preorder

CONAN links

Website ⎜ Facebook ⎜ Instagram ⎜ Bandcamp ⎜ Spotify

UK Battle Doom Heroes CONAN release blistering new track off upcoming album "Violence Dimension"; out April 25th on Heavy Psych Sounds!

UK's louder-than-thou heavy warlords CONAN unleash a merciless third track taken from their highly anticipated new studio album "Violence Dimension", due out on April 25th through Heavy Psych Sounds Records.

“In our 2022 song 'Levitation Hoax', we used the idea of being the voice of the unborn son of the unborn son of the unborn. This time we take it one step further, we bring those ghosts to earth, and they don’t realise they were killed by a politician in an expensive suit in an expensive seat in a country not so far away,” says Conan axeman and frontman Jon Davis.

 Get hit at full speed by Conan's new single "Warpsword" 

Two decades into their career, UK heavy scene's three-headed colossus Conan are back with their heaviest sonic statement to date, "Violence Dimension" — their first recording with new bassist David Ryley (formerly of legendary '90s sludge band Fudge Tunnel).

From the initial shockwave of "Foeman's Flesh" to the feedback-laden nightmare of "Vortexxion" through the fierce and merciless sludge of "Frozen Edges of the Wound", the band feeds from the growing violence and negativity of our society, turning it into an empowering formula for us to fight our way through. Skulls will be crushed, ears will be punished upon this massive, dimension-opening call to arms from the mighty trio. Stream their latest singles Frozen Edges of the Wound and Desolation Hexx!

About the album, the band states: "Violence Dimension is our seventh full-length release. We have come quite a distance in time and space since we released Horseback in 2010. One thing that binds us all is violence, be that within a video game, or in a movie or on the daily news. Violence affects our daily life, perhaps more than love or kindness ever will. We are all bound by death, whether we like it or not. This release explores the hinterland between being scared to live and bring scared to die, and punches holes in the idea that we must live our life by one set of rules. We all live in the violence dimension, and there is no escape.”

New album "Violence Dimension" - Out April 25th on Heavy Psych Sounds
International preorder - US preorder

Conan’s doom is singular. Carved of granite. Yes, of course there have been changes since guitarist/vocalist Jon Davis founded the group in 2006, but the intention at the time toward superlative heavy – tonal extremity wrought with impressionist lyrics stripping ideas to the core where sometimes the whole line is just one word; they’ve always called it “Caveman Battle Doom” – remains at the root of everything they’ve done since. And across five studio records in the decade from 2012-2022, Conan have set the standard by which much of “heavy” anything is judged. And in comparison, most is found wanting.

But for every time you’ve heard about Conan’s music being like galloping steeds or frost-covered sharp-peaked mountains, etc., imagery of largesse and violence, the truth is Conan are an exercise in frequency. It’s the low resonance that shakes your chest, the depth of the bass – now handled by David Ryley (ex-Fudge Tunnel) – the push of air from Johnny King’s kick drum, or the way the dark-fuzz distortion of Davis’ guitar is offset by shouting vocals cutting through that sometimes punishing onslaught, rarely to offer comfort so much as add viciousness to the crash, plod and pillage.

In 2024, Conan signed to Heavy Psych Sounds as a recognized name and one of the foremost acts of their generation, wildly influential in their home country of the UK and well beyond; headliners in practice and theory alike. Their fifth LP ‘Evidence of Immortality,’ brought a dark ambience to coincide with its outright attack. With experiments in darkwave and synth adding breadth to the stated root purpose of aural force, it’s never been harder to guess where the next few years might take their sound, but whatever’s coming, Conan will make it kill.

CONAN is

Jon Davis - Vocals/Guitars
Johnny King - Drums
David Ryley - Bass

CONAN links

Website ⎜ Facebook ⎜ Instagram ⎜ Bandcamp ⎜ Spotify

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS links

Website ⎜ Facebook ⎜ Bandcamp ⎜ Instagram ⎜ Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for all of the details.

UK Caveman Doom Titans CONAN release new track "Frozen Edges Of The Wound"; new album "Violence Dimension" out April 25th on Heavy Psych Sounds

UK battle doom legends CONAN announce the release of their anticipated seventh studio album "Violence Dimension" on Heavy Psych Sounds this April 25th and unleash an earth-shattering first track "Frozen Edges of the Wound" today.

“A song for anyone fighting, whether that be an external or internal foe. Have strength for death comes to us all, just don’t make it an easy kill.”

Get crushed by Conan's new single "Frozen Edges of The Wound"

In 2024, Conan signed to Heavy Psych Sounds as a recognized name and one of the foremost acts of their generation, wildly influential in their home country of the UK and well beyond; headliners in practice and theory alike. Their fifth LP, 2022’s ‘Evidence of Immortality,’ brought a dark ambience to coincide with its outright attack. With experiments in darkwave and synth adding breadth to the stated root purpose of aural force, it’s never been harder to guess where the next few years might take their sound, but whatever’s coming, Conan will make it kill. The better part of two decades later, their reliability remains unshakable. Which you want when your band is so heavy that the floor and your ribcage both start to vibrate.

About their new album "Violence Dimension", the band comments: "Violence Dimension is our 7th full-length release. We have come quite a distance in time and space since we released Horseback in 2010. One thing that binds us all is violence, be that within a video game, or in a movie or on the daily news. Violence affects our daily life, perhaps more than love or kindness ever will. We are all bound by death, whether we like it or not. This release explores the hinterland between being scared to live and bring scared to die, and punches holes in the idea that we must live our life by one set of rules. We all live in the violence dimension, and there is no escape.”

"Violence Dimension" will be issued in various limited vinyl editions, classic vinyl edition, CD digipack and digital, with preorders available now from Heavy Psych Sounds.

New album "Violence Dimension" - Out April 25th on Heavy Psych Sounds - PREORDER

TRACKLIST:

1. Foeman's Flesh
2. Desolation Hexx
3. Total Bicep
4. Violence Dimension
5. Frozen Edges Of The Wound
6. Warpsword
7. Ocean Of Boiling Skin
8. Vortexxion (Bonus Track)

Conan’s doom is singular. Carved of granite. Yes, of course there’ve been changes since guitarist/vocalist Jon Davis founded the group in 2006, but the intention at the time toward superlative heavy – tonal extremity wrought with impressionist lyrics stripping ideas to the core where sometimes the whole line is just one word; they’ve always called it “Caveman Battle Doom” – remains at the root of everything they’ve done since. And across five studio records in the decade from 2012-2022, Conan have set the standard by which much of “heavy” anything is judged. And in comparison, most is found wanting.

But for every time you’ve heard about Conan’s music being like galloping steeds or frost-covered sharp-peaked mountains, etc., imagery of largesse and violence, the truth is Conan are an exercise in frequency. It’s the low resonance that shakes your chest, the depth of the bass – now handled by David Ryley (ex-Fudge Tunnel) – the push of air from Johnny King’s kick drum, or the way the dark-fuzz distortion of Davis’ guitar is offset by shouting vocals cutting through that sometimes punishing onslaught, rarely to offer comfort so much as add viciousness to the crash, plod and pillage.

Asia tour 2025

2/24 – Moonstep, Tokyo, JP
2/25 – Bears, Osaka, JP
2/26 – Nine Spices, Tokyo, JP
2/27 – Jack Studio, Taipei, TW
2/28 – Rave By Phil's Studio, Singapore
3/2 – Mr. Fox Livehouse, Bangkok, TH

New Zealand tour (with Borer)

3/6 – Valhalla, Wellington
3/7 – Sydenham Underpass, Christchurch
3/8 – Double Whammy, Auckland

Australian tour (with Pallbearer)

3/12 March – Max Watts, Melbourne
3/13 – Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide
3/14 – Crowbar, Sydney
3/15 – Crowbar, Brisbane

CONAN is

Jon Davis - Vocals/Guitars
Johnny King - Drums

David Ryley - Bass

CONAN links

Website ⎜ Facebook ⎜ Instagram ⎜ Bandcamp ⎜ Spotify

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS links

Website ⎜ Facebook ⎜ Bandcamp ⎜ Instagram ⎜ Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for all of the details.

UK Doom Metal Titans CONAN sign to Heavy Psych Sounds Records; new album coming in the spring of 2025.

UK's battle doom giants CONAN join the Heavy Psych Sounds roster for the release of their next two albums, with the first to be released in the spring of 2025.

About signing to Heavy Psych Sounds, the band says: "We are delighted to announce we will release our next album on Heavy Psych Sounds. We have watched the label grow in both size and stature, and watched awesome bands join, and we feel that now is the right time to join too. Gabe and the team have a hands-on approach with appeals to us, and we’re excited to explore this new relationship."CONAN’s doom is singular. Carved of granite. Of course, there have been changes since guitarist/vocalist Jon Davis founded the group in 2006, but the intention at the time toward superlative heavy — tonal extremity wrought with impressionist lyrics stripping ideas to the core where sometimes the whole line is just one word; they’ve always called it “Caveman Battle Doom” – remains at the root of everything they’ve done since. And across five studio records between 2012 and 2022, CONAN have set the standard by which much of “heavy” anything is judged. In comparison, most are found wanting.

For every time you’ve heard about CONAN’s music being about galloping steeds or frost-covered sharp-peaked mountains, imagery of largesse and violence, the truth is Conan are an exercise in frequency. It’s the low resonance that shakes your chest, the depth of the bass – now handled by David Ryley (ex-Fudge Tunnel) – the push of air from Johnny King’s kick drum, or the way the dark-fuzz distortion of Jon Davis’ guitar is offset by shouting vocals cutting through that sometimes punishing onslaught, rarely to offer comfort so much as add viciousness to the crash, plod and pillage. 

In 2024, CONAN sign to Heavy Psych Sounds as a recognized name and one of the foremost acts of their generation, wildly influential in their home country of the UK and well beyond; headliners in practice and theory alike. Their fifth LP, 2022’s ‘Evidence of Immortality,’ brought a dark ambience to coincide with its outright attack. With experiments in darkwave and synth adding breadth to the stated root purpose of aural force, it’s never been harder to guess where the next few years might take their sound, but whatever’s coming, CONAN will make it kill. The better part of two decades later, their reliability remains unshakable. Which you want when your band is so heavy that the floor and your ribcage both start to vibrate. — Words by JJ Koczan

On this occasion, Conan have unveiled new merch designed by Branca Studio and Mirkow Gastow, which can be purchased now via Heavy Psych Sounds EU store and US store.

CONAN is

Jon Davis - Vocals/Guitars
Johnny King - Drums
David Ryley - Bass

CONAN links

Website ⎜ Facebook ⎜ Instagram ⎜ Spotify

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS links

Website ⎜ Facebook ⎜ Bandcamp ⎜ Instagram ⎜ Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for all of the info.

CONAN - Evidence Of Immortality (Album Review)

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.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

CONAN - Existential Void Guardian (Album Review)

Release date: September 14th 2018. Label: Napalm Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Existential Void Guardian – Tracklisting

1.Prosper On The Path

2.Eye To Eye To Eye

3.Paincantation

4.Amidst The Infinite

5.Volt Thrower

6.Vexxagon

7.Eternal Silent Legend

Members

Jon Davis - guitar / vocals

Chris Fielding - bass / vocals
Johnny King - Drums

Review

Greetings All,

England’s mighty Conan have emerged from hibernation with their monstrous 5th record, Existential Void Guardian. It is a welcome return, as the band’s distinct sounding fuzzed out brand of doom metal is on display with an awesome speaker rattling heaviness that other bands can attempt, but can never quite accomplish. Conan is a band that has their own tone and power.  Existential Void Guardian is a superb record and the band’s most cohesive yet. The seven face melting tracks are Conan at their best. To the songs;

Prosper on the Path opens with an ominous tone that brings a thunderous driving guitar and bass riff and plays out with a killer tempo change with a rolling drumbeat. Eye to Eye to Eye is one of the best heavy songs of the year. It is a driving song with a monstrous breakdown that gives way to the grind influenced, d-beat punk sound of the sub 60 second track Paincantation.

Amidst The Infinite changes gears completely as it opens with a heavy riff that carries on throughout this killer track that has a decidedly slower and ominous feel that is driven home by the pounding drums and hammer heavy cymbal crashes. The band picks up the tempo again with Volt Thrower with a faster speed and driving metal sound. Which leads into the dynamic Vexxagon, with the screamed opening of “Is this the End of Days?” this effects heavy beast rattles the listeners skull with anger and dread. The album closes with rumbling bass, drums and feedback opening of Eternal Silent Legend, that pummels the listener for the last, glorious time. The bands unique tones show through with a synth like sound and waves of feedback.

In a year that just continues to produce amazing record after amazing record, Conan have once again set themselves apart as true masters of their craft. Their sheer heaviness and relentless, fuzz fuelled riffage is second to none and once again, the barbarians known as Conan have taken their place as the kings of doom metal. We should all bow to the masters. Hail Conan!

- Todd S

Instagram @alltheghoststhathauntyou

Words by Todd Stealey

Thanks to Napalm Records for the promo. Existential Void Guardian will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Napalm Records from September 14th 2018.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

CONAN - Revengeance (Album Review)

Release date: January 29th 2016. Label: Napalm Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Revengeance – Tracklisting

1.Throne of Fire - 04:31

2.Thunderhoof - 09:38

3.Wrath Gauntlet - 08:39

4.Revengeance - 06:10

5.Every Man Is an Enemy - 06:46

6.Earthenguard - 11:44

Band Members:

Jon Davis - guitar / vocals

Rich Lewis - drums

Chris Fielding - bass / vocals

Review:

Conan are back with what must be one of the most anticipated new albums slated for release this year. And without fucking about with long winded intro's let me tell you it's an absolute BEAST of a record.

There have been some changes in the ranks since 2014's bruising "Blood Eagle" which now leaves Jon Davis as the only original member of the band left standing. But this doesn't seemed to have effected Conan one little bit. In fact I would go as far as to say it's improved them. Revengeance is in my mind the best thing they have released to date which when you consider they have a back catalogue of EP's, albums and splits most bands would kill for is no small accomplishment.

So, things have changed within the ranks in the band, so how does this play out (pun intended) on the new record? This is still very much Conan. Everything you already love about them is present and correct. Slow gravity defying riffs, those now distinct armour piercing wails from Jon Davis and of course songs that bring to mind charging into the heart of every battle from Viking folklore.

But there's more.....

With the addition of Chris Fielding, Conan now have a dual vocal attack. The very different tones of both vocalists are used brilliantly and confidently throughout proceedings. Dual vocals seamlessly interlock with each other, and each vocalist takes the lead on a number of occasions and bounce of each other like this is what they've always done. Then there's the tempo changes. Whilst there's still plenty of "low and slow" moments there are also a few much quicker moments, the brilliant album opener "Throne Of Fire" and the title track in particular (which can be viewed here in case you've somehow missed it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT143oJUUKU)

Also the sublime drumming from new drummer Rich Lewis (also of Intensive Square) has to be mentioned. He had pretty big shoes to fill, and fill them he does, in fact he might even need to go up a size. Throughout this record Conan treat us to six more battle anthems all dripping with a new found spite and intent that sees them cement their place at the forefront of the current Doom movement.

To quote The Poetic Edda....

A wayfarer should not walk unarmed,

But have his weapons to hand:

He knows not when he may need a spear,

Or what menace meet on the road.

Now armed with Revengeance Conan find themselves more than equipped for whatever they may meet on the road. Miss this at your peril.

Words by Simon Ross Williams

Thanks to Mona and Jon at Napalm Records for the promo. Revengeance to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from Napalm Records on 29^th January 2016.

Links:

Official | Facebook