Album Type:Album
Date Released: March 2014
Label:
Napalm
Records
Opening track
listing:
1 - Crown Of Talons
2 - Total Conquest
3 - Foehammer
4 - Gravity Chasm
5 - Horns For Teeth
6 - Altar Of Grief
Bio:
Conan
are as heavy as interplanetary thunder amplified through the roaring
black hole anus of Azathoth. A three piece, in the grand tradition of
many amazing fabulous three pieces that hold a tight line and an
iron-grip command over the uber-synchronised chord changes and
tempo-shifts of the holy trio of bass, drums and guitar. Two men have
the task of vocalising wretched thoughts over the turgid weight of
Conan. They bear it well, for the task is immense.
Way
back, in 2006, Conan formed as a two piece. The years dragged by,
fellow warriors came and went, and now they are three – Jon Davis
on guitar and vocals, Phil Coumbe on bass and vocals and Paul O’Neil
on drums. Collectively their plans are clear: they seek nothing less
than the crushing of a million skulls.
Hear
the roar of battle. Smell the stench of split blood. A thousand heads
piled high like a grim mound of suffering- a blasphemy to nature.
Hail Conan!
The
Band Members
Jon
Davis - guitar / vocals
Paul O'Neil - drums
Phil Coumbe - bass / vocals
Paul O'Neil - drums
Phil Coumbe - bass / vocals
Review:
I
think it's no great understatement to say that the release of this
album has witnessed feverish anticipation around here. I don't know
of many of this team who at some point in the last few months I
haven't had in some way or another a conversation with about the new
Conan stuff. They quite deservedly inked themselves a shiny new
record deal with a well respected metal label, and recorded the
effort in their box fresh new custom studio called Skyhammer. Their
last album was a giant bruise coloured experience, and I mean that in
only the absolute highest of regards. The benchmark has been set very
high for 'Blood Eagle' to attempt to smash over the head with a
clubbing blow, but does it have the brass to achieve it?
'Crown
of Talons' is a great way to start off the record, and things quickly
escalate from promising to noteworthy. That lead riff intro is pure
unbridled doom bait, and I love it. As a band Conan quite regularly
skip the foreplay and go for the jugular. Not many can go toe to toe
with them for outright crush appeal. This might just be the best
opening to a track that they have ever recorded, not only setting the
tone for the rest of this song but the entire album as a whole. From
the standpoint of a music fan at least the production is crisp too,
every riff is warm and fuzzy yet distinct, every beat from small to
bombastic is clear in the mix. Seems like that studio is gonna pay
for itself soon enough (maximum kudos to Chris Fielding's recording
efforts also). The end of the track is pure molten lava, all thick
and relentless and heavy. And pretty much unstoppable. Not even Tommy
Lee Jones could handle this bad boy (that was a Volcano reference,
and I don't even care).
Special
mention for the closing part of 'Total Conquest' too. Shout out to
large riffs and the defence of supersizing things. My ears hurt.
For
many of us 'Foehammer' was the first taste we had of 'Blood Eagle',
it's use this past week to promote the upcoming release of the album
has been widespread. A rarity in it's quicker pace, it nonetheless
settles down to more skull compression eventually. The start of it
will kick out the jams, but the rest of it is practically in reverse.
And it just keeps getting more discordant and heavy too. If that bass
was peanut butter it would be marketed as 'Extra Chunky Go Fuck
Yourself, Kid'.
My
favourite cut on here is without doubt 'Horns For Teeth'. The primary
riff is the stuff of dreams, and then it changes in to something even
better. And then again! It keeps adding layers of total badass,
everything about this track rules. Even the vocals seem to peak here.
They're tremendous throughout, so is everything else really, but
some back alley accord with the horned dude downstairs must have been
struck up to achieve this level of outright metal song crafting
excellence. This is a juggernaut of concussive doom, a hate crime
against amplifiers. Whatever they did to deserve this it must be
justifiable.
Somewhere
at the start of this I asked if 'Blood Eagle' had the nuts to stand
up against the beast that was 'Monnos'. I firmly believe it surpasses
even that greatness. With this album Conan have become one of the
torch bearers for the modern UK generation of doom and even heavy
metal in general. Clear a path, eat your vitamins and say your
prayers - winged death is upon us.
Hail
Conan.
Written
by Matt Fitton
Blood
Eagle’ will be available on Gatefold Vinyl, Digipack CD and Digital
formats from Napalm Records from the dates below.
28/02/2014:
G/A/S, FIN & Benelux
03/03/2014:
UK & Rest of Europe
05/03/2014:
ESP, SWE & NOR
11/03/2014:
USA/CAN
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