When imagining a band name suitable for a fantasy-themed doom metal band, it is hard to beat “Conan”. Conan the Cimmerian, the barbarian from Robert E. Howard’s short stories and a hallmark of sword and sorcery stories, is the perfect imagery to associate with a heavily down-tuned doom/sludge metal band. The band Conan is a three piece doom metal band founded in 2006 by Jon Davis, and their monstrously heavy music fit the name perfectly. As a band, they shirk the notion of guitar solos. No, Conan are a band that thrive on slow, plodding riffs, both the guitar and the bass flowing in monolithic unison. This is music to be played loudly, where you can feel each chord rumble. Jon Davis’ vocal style sounds almost as if he is shouting across a canyon, fitting perfectly with the reverberating riffs.
“Hawk as Weapon” is perhaps my favorite track off of Conan’s debut full length album Monnos. The song features a very simple riff repeated at a crawl of a pace with the thickest and most monstrous guitar and bass tone, accompanied by equally ponderous drumwork. Based on the song title, we can assume it is about a falconist, using their trusted hawk companion on the field of battle. And Davis’ chanted shouts confirm the suspicion:
These skies are dead
They will destroy
Descending threat
These skies are dead
Descent of death
Unending quest
Moss hidden gates
Entranced at death
If you are a fan of heavy music, especially doom metal, you need to give Conan some of your time.
Buy Conan’s music here.
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