This is the sixth album from UK doom metallers Conan.
I haven’t managed to review a Conan album since 2016’s Revengeance, so rectifying this is long overdue. Since Revengeance Conan have changed lineup, picking up a drummer from Dread Sovereign and a bassist who used to be in the mighty Fudge Tunnel. Let’s get to it then.
Violence Dimension contains 59 minutes of DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! (Although, without the bonus track Vortexxion, which is a drone piece, this is a 47-minute album).
(deep breath…)
HEAVY DOOM HEAVY DOOM HEAVY DOOM HEAVY DOOM HEAVY DOOM HEAVY DOOOOOOOOOOOMMM!!!!!!!!!
Okay, I’ve got that out of my system now. Sort of. But yeah, it’s heavy, and it’s doom. Conan know how to do this sort of thing in their sleep, but they still sound energised and crushing. The opening riff on Foeman’s Flesh alone is enough to get you awake and moving in the morning. Dammit Conan, I’ve missed your lumbering caveman ways.
The secret to Conan’s success is a mix of songwriting and overwhelming force. The songs sound absolutely massive, in all ways. Zoom in on a single riff or drum beat – massive. Expand out and take in a full song – massive. The album as a whole – MASSIVE! Importantly, there’s more than just impressive size here. Conan know riffs, (so many riffs!), but they also know doom dynamics, dark brooding atmospheric depth, (the title track is a great example of this), crowd-friendly mid-paced romps, and faster bursts of energetic sludgy raging, (I expected the 45-second Warpsword to be a throwaway interlude, but how wrong was I?). They also know how to tie all of this together in a holistic package, delivering a collection of doom metal songs that really hit that doomy spot.
Violence Dimension is a great album. It’s well-rounded, and basically everything I like about colossally heavy doom metal in one place, with a strong sound and veteran performances. Conan have released a record that’s going to get plenty of spins.
Essential listening for anyone who favours sludgy, heavy doom metal.
Wonderbox Metal 