Review of Conan's Revengeance

Things have changed quite a bit in the Conan camp since the release of 2014's Blood Eagle. Guitarist/vocalist Jon Davis is the only member left from those sessions as drummer Rich Lewis makes his debut with the UK trio and longtime producer Chris Fielding has come on for bass and backing vocal duties. The resulting studio album stays true to Conan's bludgeoning caveman doom approach but also evaluates some different takes on tempo and vocal dynamics.

When the punk beat kicks in for the opening "Throne Of Fire," it becomes clear that Revengeance will be the band's fastest effort to date. They've always placed the odd upbeat track between the longer drones of amplifier worship, but there's not been much like the driving parts or the borderline black metal blasts on the title track before. Fortunately, the massive guitar and bass chugs keep the various tempo fluctuations consistently weighted.

Faster moments aside, the slower songs remain the most dominant and boast their own variety. While "Wrath Gauntlet" stands out for its sluggish blues rhythm, the second half provides the most earth-shattering cuts. "Every Man Is An Enemy" keeps its activity to a mid-tempo level while "Earthenguard" is a meditative track that recalls classic Om and makes strong use of its near twelve minute running time.

But in a way similar to Mastodon's maturation, the vocal evolution that Revengeance demonstrates is what truly sets it apart from its predecessors. The format is still based on the guitarist and bassist yelling over the riffs but their prominent spot in the mix makes them more articulate than before. In addition, the more fleshed out lyrics make the vocal lines more elaborate than the simple battle slogans and there are more trade-offs between the two singers. I would've loved to hear how previous bassist Phil Coumbe would sound contributing his bellow to this, but there's not much here to complain about.

I may prefer Blood Eagle but Conan's third full-length album will likely leave a deeper impression. Its forays into faster tempos and more prominent vocals work well with their brand of sludgy brutality and may even enhance the ideas behind their barbaric imagery. I don't see them getting as far out there as Mastodon or Baroness, but there is more to their boneheaded formula than meets the eye.

Highlights:
"Revengeance"
"Every Man Is An Enemy"
"Earthenguard"