Posted in Whathaveyou on October 31st, 2018 by JJ Koczan
Holy fucking shit. It’s a good thing Maryland Doom Fest 2019 isn’t until next June, because it’s going to take me that long to process how badass this lineup is. It’s like JB decided this was the year everybody plays. A fourth day has been added. A second venue has been added — it’s Cafe 611 and Guido’s Speakeasy now — and wow. Just, fucking, wow. The headliners: Pentagram, Conan, Earthride and Mothership. And the list of bands that follows is absolutely staggering. Of course some things are bound to change between now and then, and there are announcements yet to be made about the pre-show, but really. They’ve absolutely, positively gone to a completely new level of festival here.
It’s gonna be crowded.
And it’s gonna be a blast. If you need me, I’ll be booking my room at the Motel 6 in Frederick.
The announcement was simple and came just in the form of the poster — art is by Kyle Stratton, whose band Atala also make a return to the bill — and from near and far, far and wide, acts are coming in to make what looks like it’ll be an absolutely unforgettable weekend (-plus) of heavy.
We are extremely pleased to present to you……The Maryland Doom Fest 2019 lineup!!!
50 of the heaviest, most talented bands to grace the stage.
We bring you INTERITUM from Tasmania, CONAN from England, PENTAGRAM from our soil, and an additional 47 top performing USA acts traveling from all across the continent!!
As if that’s not enough, the MDDF Pre-Fest Party will be celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the SHoD (Stoner Hands of Doom) Festival with a spectacular lineup of bands who have performed at the great SHoD fests in years past!! The Pre-Fest / SHoD 20th Anniversary Celebration will be monumental in countless ways!!!!
Please support the Doom scene and share this epic event with your comrades and we will see you at #4daysofdoom !!!!
EARLY BIRD Discounted ticket sales start Dec. 17th, 2018 – for two weeks only.
This astronomical lineup and the 2019 festivities are dedicated to my very good friend and prior MDDF partner from 2015 – 2018, Mark Cruikshank!!
DooM !!! ~JB
Lineup: Earthride Warhorse Solace Wasted Theory Devil to Pay Deer Creek Weed is Weed Freedom Hawk After the Sun Mothership Pale Divine Lo Pan Year of the Cobra The Age of Truth Backwoods Payback Kingsnake Interitum The Druids Clouds Taste Satanic Benthic Realm Dead Sisters Funeral Horse Pentagram Apostle of Solitude Foghound Beelzefuzz Atala Sixes Forming the Void Knoxxville Atomic 26 Eternal Black Greenbeard Electric Age Pale Grey Lore Thunderchief Seasick Gladiator Crooked Hills Conan ZED Kings Destroy Toke Thousand Vision Mist Horehound Thonian Horde Shadow Witch Faith in Jane Temptations Wings Wolf Blood Stone Dust Riders
Posted in Reviews on September 14th, 2018 by JJ Koczan
There’s a dual emphasis happening on Conan‘s fourth full-length in a 13-year run. First, Existential Void Guardian, which is also their third LP for Napalm Records, calls to mind just how recognizable Conan‘s sound is. They’ve subtly drawn back on some of the overbearing tonal onslaught over the years, which one can hear in songs like “Eye to Eye to Eye” in comparison to their earlier work on 2012’s debut, Monnos (review here), or the preceding 2010 EP, Horseback Battle Hammer (review here), but Conan remain one of the most immediately recognizable bands in metal, period, let alone doom or whatever other subgenre you might want to stick them in. Existential Void Guardian brings to mind just how much Conan‘s sound has become their own over the course of this decade, and yet it also emphasizes how much that sound is grown.
The pivotal moment might’ve been in 2014 when producer Chris Fielding joined the band following the recording of their second album, Blood Eagle (review here). Taking on the role of bassist/vocalist alongside founding guitarist/vocalist Jon Davis, Fielding added not only his recording expertise — brought to bear at Skyhammer Studio, owned by Davis — but also his tonal weight and a vocal foil to Davis, something that Conan had worked to incorporate with original bassist Phil Coumbe but which became all the more essential with the lineup change. The impact of Fielding joining the band could be felt in their live presence and was realized in the studio on 2016’s Revengeance (review here), which updated listeners on the burgeoning dynamic between Davis and Fielding, the former’s higher-register wails complemented by the latter’s lower growls and shouts.
On Existential Void Guardian, with opener “Prosper on the Path” and the midsection of centerpiece/side A closer “Amidst the Infinite” as well as the later “Vexxagon” as particular examples, the two find a kind of shouted vocal harmony, and as Fielding takes the lead role in closer “Eternal Silent Legend,” there are more than hints of melody in his approach that even further expand the reach of the group on the whole. In kind with the contributions of drummer Johnny King (also of Dread Sovereign, ex-Altar of Plagues and others), who makes his first appearance on the seven-song/35-minute release, it all makes for Conan‘s most complex outing to-date.
One hesitates to use a word like “progressive” when it comes to Conan. Given the lumber they bring to bear on the aforementioned “Amidst the Infinite” and the gallop of “Eye to Eye to Eye,” it just feels gross and wrong, but there’s no question Existential Void Guardian is the most thoughtful Conan manifestation yet. From its evocative title — is the guardian bringing you into the void? warding off the void? keeping you there? — to the more developed lyrical ideas of “Volt Thrower” or “Prosper on the Path,” one can hear Conan moving away from the one-word-line impressionism they’ve used in the past to conjure images of violent conquering to a fuller mode of expression. Or so it seems without the benefit of a lyric sheet. That’s not to say Existential Void Guardian doesn’t have its raw moments. As “Vexxagon” settles into its final rolling groove, it does so with Davis having spit out quick lines atop the prior cacophony of riffs.
And “Paincantation” is straight-up grindcore. No other word for it. It’s a 55-second blastbeaten assault — and the first 19 seconds of that is a kind of swelling introduction, while the last seven are a ringout — and the focus is pure brutality. It’s an easy pick to say that’s where King makes his presence most felt, as the wash of crash is no less consuming than the miasma of distortion churning at maximum speed overhead, but his snare and tom work in the early cycles of “Vexxagon” and the quick fills he works into the first half of “Prosper on the Path” while still holding to the central plodding rhythm aren’t to be undervalued for the tension they add to the proceedings overall. As he transitions into a kind of gallop in the first-stage of the chorus of the opener, he brings a professionalism of style and a crispness of play that’s clearly rooted in the more extreme end of metal but works nonetheless with the swing that Conan‘s songwriting requires. He’s a more than solid fit alongside Davis and Fielding. Hope he likes touring.
But the point is that as much as Conan have grown, there’s still blood dripping from their battle axe, and as much as the band’s even-year succession of releases — 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016 and now 2018 — has seen them bring new ideas and personnel into the fold, they’ve continued to hold firm to their ultra-low end and a brutality brought to bear amid the ensuing weight. Even as “Eternal Silent Legend,” which is also the longest inclusion at 6:53, rounds out Existential Void Guardian, with a gradual feedback-topped unfolding that riffs its way into what’s sneakily Davis‘ most melodic vocal performance with the band — trading between a few cleaner lines and a final growl — they do so en route to a massive stomp and rolling finish that’s as much a signature moment as Conan could possibly have. Thus the dual emphasis: they’ve advanced this much while still retaining their core purpose.
Every Conan record seems to be a first of one sort or another. Monnos, of course, was the first album. Blood Eagle the first recorded at Skyhammer. Revengeance was the first with Fielding on bass and then-drummer Rich Lewis rounding out trio, and Existential Void Guardian is the first with King. It’s little short of amazing this can be the case while Conan‘s identity has remained so vividly cast. That’s a credit to Davis, of course, as the founder and guiding hand of their ongoing project, but it’s also a result of the natural way they’ve matured.
While conscious, nothing in Conan‘s ongoing progression has felt forced, and at the risk of shoehorning them into a narrative, it seems like their songcraft has become more complex as a result of the time they’ve spent on stage and the development of the chemistry between the players rather than heady studio experimentation. Nothing against that approach, but Conan continues to work so well as a concept because they know who they are and who they want to be, and they always have. Even as those ideas have changed with time, there are crucial elements that have remained cast in stone, and one expects they’ll stay that way as they work to push beyond the void.
Posted in Whathaveyou on July 18th, 2018 by JJ Koczan
Destruction always has a special place in Conan‘s charred heart. The UK trio’s reputation precedes them at this point, and even if it didn’t, it’s not like you can’t hear their approaching plod from miles away. Their third album was 2016’s Revengeance (review here) and it was beastness as usual for the band, though their dynamic has continued to shift since bassist/vocalist/producer Chris Fielding joined on with founding guitarist/vocalist Jon Davis ahead of 2014’s Blood Eagle (review here), with Fielding‘s vocals first being used as backing and then more as a complement to Davis‘ own, he going higher in register while Fielding kept to a lower growl, all of this amid standard-setting heaviness the likes of which only a handful of bands on the planet would even think about trying to match.
That element has been consistent throughout Conan‘s career, but there’s also been development in their sound, and that seems set to continue on the forthcoming Existential Void Guardian as well. Revengeance brought some notions of melody to the vocals and I’m not saying I’ve heard it yet or anything, but one expects that growth will take another step forward on Existential Void Guardian as well. The album also marks the first appearance of drummer Johnny King, also of Dread Sovereign, which I bring up because, you know, destruction.
From the PR wire:
CONAN – Announce New Album Details
Existential Void Guardian Out On September 14th
Two years after the remarkable Revengeance, CONAN once more leave us astounded with a previously unknown side to dual vocal sludge. The British trio presents a tar monster named Existential Void Guardian that seems even more menacing as soon as it gets high on its own downtuned groove frenzy.
The album will be released on September 14 via Napalm Records.
Tracklist: 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 8. BONUS: Total Conquest (live 2018 @ Rebellion Manchester) 9. BONUS: Satsumo (live 2018 @ Rebellion Manchester) 10. BONUS: Foehammer (live 2018 @ Rebellion Manchester) 11. BONUS: Hawk As Weapon (live 2018 @ Rebellion Manchester)
Existential Void Guardian will be available as: 1 CD Digipack 2 LP Gatefold black 2 LP Gatefold gold (Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive) 2 LP Gatefold dark green (Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive) Digital Album
Tour Dates: 17.08.18 IR – Cork / Cyprus Avenue 30.09.18 UK – Sheffield / O2 Academy 02.10.18 NL – Eindhoven / Effenaar 03.10.18 DE – Bochum / Rockpalast 04.10.18 DE – Hamburg / Logo 05.10.18 DE – Berlin / Musik & Frieden 06.10.18 PL – Wroclaw / Firlej 07.10.18 PL – Warsaw / Poglos 09.10.18 LT – Vinius / Rock River Club 10.10.18 LV – Jelgava / Melno Cepuriso Balerija 11.10.18 EE – Tallinn / Sveta 13.10.18 FI – Helsinki / Blow Up 4 Festival 15.10.18 SE – Stockholm / Kraken 16.10.18 TBA 17.10.18 SE – Malmo / Plan B 19.10.18 DK – Copenhagen / Stengade 20.10.18 NL – Leeuwarden / Into The Void Festival 23.11.18 UK – Nottingham / The Loft 24.11.18 UK – Leeds / Temple Of Boom 26.11.18 UK – Glasgow / Audio 27.11.18 UK – Manchester / Rebellion 28.11.18 UK – Coventry / The Arches Lineup: Jon Davis – vocals, guitar (2006-present) Chris Fielding – bass (2013-present) Johnny King – drums (2017-present)
Posted in Whathaveyou on January 10th, 2018 by JJ Koczan
In the several years now that I’ve been keeping up with lineup announcements for the Portuguese SonicBlast Moledo festival, I don’t think I’ve ever encountered one that didn’t immediately set me to daydreaming about making the trip to the Iberian coastline to experience it for myself. It’s like a Pavlovian response at this point — drool and all. The first word from SonicBlast Moledo 2018 is, of course, no different, and as I sit in my dimly-lit Massachusetts kitchen with my hood up and three layers of pants on because I’m so god damned cold and cracks in my right-hand fingers so deep that it’s actually physically hurting me to type this sentence right now, August seems like the perfect time to go. Or, you know, tomorrow.
First four for SonicBlast Moledo 2018? Conan, Kadavar, Naxatras and Nebula. That’s just fun to say. Go ahead, give it a shot. Out loud.
Here’s details from the PR wire:
SONICBLAST MOLEDO 2018: Stoner Doom Psych Heavy
Sea Beach Camping Pool Surf Skate
With the dates settled for August 10th and 11th, the lineup of the eighth edition of SonicBlast Moledo starts to take shape with the first confirmations: Kadavar, Nebula, Conan and Naxatras!
Almost five years later after their debut at the third edition of SonicBlast Moledo and their exponential growth, Kadavar return to Portugal to show the best that is done within the Retro Rock world. Following their sudden cancellation on the last edition, the power trio present themselves with their newest work, entitled “Rough Times”, released by the label Nuclear Blast Records, which shows the group’s superiority to create masterpieces of 70’s influenced Hard Rock, always with the excellent capacity of incorporating new elements in their music.
Conceived by the guitarist Eddie Glass, after departing Fu Manchu, Nebula are considered, without any doubt, one of the great and more influential precursors of the Stoner Rock movement. Two decades after their formation and seven years after their indefinite hiatus, the desert legends reborn for their new space incarnation, prepared to rule any soul with their distinctive dose of energetic fuzz, frenetic feedbacks and lots of psychedelia.
Barbarians by the name and by the sound, the British Conan have been defined, for more than 10 years, as caveman battle Doom, marked by distorted devastating guitars, sepulchral voices, and instruments tuned always below the low. With their live shows, we can expect storms of dark and raw riffs, projected by overwhelming walls of sound and brutally slow tempos that put us into a monolithic hypnotism.
Although relatively young, the Greeks Naxatras have already conquered their captive place within the European underground rock. Moved by their fascinating and peaceful psychedelic, together with their nuances of dreamy Hard Rock, this power trio is distinguished by its bold touches of Jazz, Funk, Progressive or desert influences, surely providing a live trip essential to be experienced.
Posted in Whathaveyou on November 27th, 2017 by JJ Koczan
UK sonic pummelbringers Conan have announced a round of North American touring beginning Feb. 9. They’ll be joined in the endeavor by The Ditch and the Delta and are set to release a new album in early 2018 via Napalm Records. I don’t know if the album will actually come out while they’re on this run or not, but as the band has made touring the US a priority over the last couple years, it would make sense.
Either way, they’ll be playing new material on the road, so if you want a preview of the follow-up to 2016’s Revengeance (review here) — whatever it might be called — before it comes out, that’s another reason to show up beyond the standard having your ass handed to you by Conan, which was going to happen one way or another.
Just off the PR wire:
CONAN Announces 2018 North American Tour
New Album Coming Early Next Year Via Napalm Records
British Doom Metallers, CONAN are currently hard at work, on the follow up to their 2016 release “Revengeanance,” which is due out in early 2018. In anticiapion of the new album, CONAN has announced a full North American headline tour beginning in February 2018. The tour features support from The Ditch and The Delta, and starts February 9th in Calgary, AB and wraps up March 13th in Denver, CO. A complete list of dates can be found below.
“We are very happy to announce this US tour with The Ditch and The Delta, our fourth US tour in as many years. This tour is slightly different though, we will be playing material from our new album – to be released in 2018 at Napalm Records. See you at the front,” says CONAN frontman Jon Davis.
CONAN are as heavy as interplanetary thunder amplified through the roaring black hole anus of Azathoth. Remember that sentence, for it is writ large in virgin blood on the walls of the forgotten temple of Bol-Krastor, deep in the steaming forests of forgotten Lemuria. CONAN, a monumentally brutal three piece (in the grand tradition of all the hallowed three pieces through time) hold a sinew-tight line and an iron-grip command over the uber-synchronised powerchord changes and tempo-shifts of the anti-holy trio of bass, drums and guitar. Two weary yet defiant men have the task of vocalising wretched thoughts over the turgid weight of Conan’s metalized bombast. They bear it well, for the task is immense.
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!
CONAN W/ The Ditch and The Delta 2/9/18: Calgary, AB @ Palomino* 2/10/18: Edmonton, AB @ Brixx* 2/12/18: Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge 2/13/18: Boise, ID @ Neurolux 2/15/18: Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey 2/16/18: Portland, OR @ Sabertooth Fest* 2/17/18: Eugene, OR @ Old Nicks 2/18/18: San Francisco, CA @ Thee Parkside 2/19/18: Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo 2/20/18: Phoenix, AZ @ Yucca Tap 2/21/18: Albuquerque, NM @ Sister Bar 2/22/18: El Paso, TX @ Neon Rose 2/23/18: Austin, TX @ Lost Well 2/24/18: Little Rock, AR @ White Water Tavern 2/25/18: Memphis, TN @ Growlers 2/26/18: Knoxville, TN @ Pilot Light 2/27/18: Atlanta, GA @ The 529 3/1/18: Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter 3/2/18: Washington, DC @ Atlas Brew Works 3/3/18: Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie 3/4/18: Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus 3/5/18: Providence, RI @ Alchemy 3/6/18: Boston, MA @ Middle East Upstairs 3/7/18: Rochester, NY @ Photo City 3/8/18: Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop 3/9/18: Lexington, KY @ Cosmic Charlies 3/10/18: Chicago, IL @ Reggies 3/11/18: Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry 3/12/18: Omaha, NE @ Lookout Lounge 3/13/18: Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive *CONAN Only
Posted in Whathaveyou on November 23rd, 2017 by JJ Koczan
Fresh off the heels of releasing their Man is Myth – Early Demos collection on Napalm Records, UK rifflords Conan have announced a run of Japanese dates in March 2018. Support will come from UK compatriots Kurokuma and Tokyo’s Granule, and the tour is being presented under the banner of ‘Doomed Japan,’ which, if you can think of something better to call it, you’ll just have to let me know because from where I sit that about sums it up. Conan do not often go to a place and leave it unflattened, and as they look to hit Nagoya, Osaka, and Tokyo, they’ll also be perhaps on the heels of a new album release expected sometime early next year, so all the more reason to watch out.
The PR wire brings copious info about that and more background on the tour in general:
Doomed Japan – Conan, Kurokuma & Granule Japan Tour 2018
UK attack extends to Japan as caveman battle doom trio, Conan announce three shows in the Land of the Rising Sun in March 2018. They will be supported by psychedelic sludge crew, Kurokuma and Tokyo blackened sludge project, Granule.
Conan (UK) are as heavy as interplanetary thunder amplified through the roaring black hole anus of Azathoth. Remember that sentence, for it is writ large in virgin blood on the walls of the forgotten temple of Bol-Krastor, deep in the steaming forests of forgotten Lemuria. Conan, a monumentally brutal three piece (in the grand tradition of all the hallowed three pieces through time) hold a sinew-tight line and an iron-grip command over the uber-synchronised powerchord changes and tempo-shifts of the anti-holy trio of bass, drums and guitar.
Two weary yet defiant men have the task of vocalising wretched thoughts over the turgid weight of Conan’s metalized bombast. They bear it well, for the task is immense. Hear the roar of battle. Smell the stench of spilt blood. A thousand heads piled high like a grim mound of suffering – a blasphemy to nature. Hail Conan!
Forming in 2006, Conan released their earth-flatteningly heavy debut, Horseback Battle Hammer in 2010. Having revitalised the UK’s slow/heavy scene, they are now signed to Napalm Records and currently recording their fourth album set for release in 2018. They released the Man Is Myth demos earlier this year.
Masters of shamanic, hypnotic sludge, Kurokuma (UK) is Jacob Mazlum (guitar/vocals), George Ionita (bass/vocals) and Joe Allen (drums).
After spending a year in the cold reaches of northern Japan and inspired by his time playing the taiko drum, Joe returned to the UK to start a shadowy three-piece that combined the unassailable power of doom with exotic percussion and an enchanting energy. Taking their name from Kurokuma Falls in Aomori, Kurokuma was born.
Kurokuma’s 2014 demo and the 2016 EP, Advorsus (Medusa Crush Recordins) along with savage live performances have been enough to see them establish a reputation as one of metal’s most potent new forces. In 2018 they will release their Dope Rider concept EP, as well as playing Brutal Assault festival in Czech Republic.
Featuring former members of legendary Tokyo band, BOMBORI, Granule formed in 2017. The five piece soon released AURORA on cassette (w/ zine), this being a rapid crystallisation of the band’s cutting, oppressive sludge sound. More recently they released DEMO #2, an all-out, raw, auditory assault representative of the band’s live show. Granule head up the booking/organisation of the Doomed Japan tour.
Posted in Whathaveyou on October 2nd, 2017 by JJ Koczan
As we mortals wait for the thunder on the horizon to materialize as the next proper Conan full-length, the UK riff-destroyers have made available for preorder a new collection titled Man is Myth – Early Demos, which will see release via Napalm Records next month. Anyone who’s heard Horseback Battle Hammer (review here) can tell you that early Conan wanted nothing for heft, and as the three-piece make ready to unveil a new record in 2018 (fingers crossed; nothing yet announced) and hit the road with Monolord in just a matter of days, one expects Man is Myth to much more embody the likes of a gravity chasm than, say, a stopgap, even if it is a means to keeping momentum rolling into the New Year. Shit, it’s a new Conan release. Take it and be grateful.
The PR wire has details:
CONAN Unveil Album Details! ‘Man Is Myth – Early Demos’ Now Available For Pre-Order!
The world’s heaviest doom metal-band CONAN finally provide some exciting insights into a secret world! ‘Man Is Myth – Early Demos’ are the unheard beasts out of the band’s rehearsal room and studio, and will see the light of day on November 17th on Napalm Records.
It roars and cranks all over, dull distortion drags nerves into the coldest regions of the world. It’s no accident that they call themselves Caveman Battle Doom. Man Is Myth – Early Demos is the primordial soup for everything that CONAN stands for!
Says guitarist & vocalist Jon Paul Davis:
Conan has been active since 2006. Our first demo was recorded on Jan 27th, 2007 and since then we have continued to release our music and tour worldwide. We started out with nothing and gave it everything, like most respected bands. We are proud of where we have been and excited about where we may still go. These demos show a little bit of our progression through this time and hopefully can give the listener an idea of where we have come from. Our aim is always to play to our strengths and not over complicate, it held true at the beginning and it holds true now. Never give up.
Now the doom heavy weights unveil first, hotly anticipated details about their upcoming release and unleash the cover and track list for ‘Man Is Myth – Early Demos’!
The track list will read as follows:
1. Battle In The Swamp ( Rehearsal room demo 2009 ) 2. Satsumo ( Rehearsal room demo 2009 ) 3. Krull ( Rehearsal room demo 2009 ) 4. Satsumo ( Rehearsal room demo 2006 ) 5. Gravity Chasm ( Studio demo 2012 ) 6. Foehammer ( Studio demo 2012 ) 7. Domed Iron Boss ( Studio demo 2012 )
‘Man Is Myth – Early Demos’ will be coming as a CD Digi Pack, Digital Download and LP Gatefold editions, and is now available for pre-order HERE!
In support and since CONAN have always excelled live, the band will be heavily hitting the road this Fall! Catch them live, when they will bring their wall of sound live on stage, with very special guests MONOLORD at the following dates:
07.10.17 NL – Nijmegen / Soulcrusher Festival 08.10.17 FR – Paris / Le Glazart 09.10.17 FR – Nantes / La Scene Michelet 10.10.17 FR – Bordeaux / Le Void 11.10.17 ES – Barcelona / Razz 3 12.10.17 ES – San Sebastian / Dabadaba 13.10.17 FR – Lyon / Jack Jack 14.10.17 FR – Audincourt / Le Molodo 15.10.17 BE – Antwerp / Desert fest 16.10.17 DK – Aarhus / Atlas 17.10.17 DE – Hamburg / Bambi Galore 18.10.17 DE – Berlin / Musik & Frieden 19.10.17 DE – Kassel / TBA 20.10.17 DE – Dresden / Morbus Maximus 21.10.17 DE – Munich / Keep It Low Festival 22.10.17 CZ – Prague/Brno / Kabinet Muz 23.10.17 AT – Vienna / Bas Bach 24.10.17 CH – Olten / Coq D’or 25.10.17 IT – Bologna / Freakout Club 26.10.17 IT – Milan / Bloom 27.10.17 CH – Lausanne / Le Romandie 28.10.17 DE – Siegen / Vortex
Posted in Whathaveyou on September 13th, 2017 by JJ Koczan
By wonderful coincidence, I recently had occasion to see drummer Johnny King playing as part of the lineup of the Alan Averill-fronted outfit Dread Sovereign at Emerald Haze in Dublin (review here), so if you need confirmation, I’m happy to confirm: dude can bash the shit out of some drums. Not that you’d necessarily have to take my word for it as he’s announced as the new drummer for UK riffsmashers Conan — the fact alone that guitarist/vocalist Jon Davis and bassist/vocalist Chris Fielding are bringing him into the lineup of the band as the third in the trio speaks plenty to that in itself.
I was also fortunate enough to see Conan back in 2015 with Rich Lewis on drums (review here), and that was no minor bit of metal he proffered in that role. One wonders what personality King will add as Conan move into 2018 with already-stated intentions toward a new album following up 2016’s Revengeance (review here), but no doubt that’s something that will be further hammered out on their upcoming European tour next month, which they’ll co-headline with Swedish three-piece Monolord.
Band announcement and tour dates follow:
CONAN – NEW DRUMMER ANNOUNCEMENT
We are delighted to announce that Johnny King (Altar of Plagues / Malthusian / Dread Sovereign) has joined us as full time drummer. Rehearsals and writing have gone very well and we are very excited to enter into this new phase with Johnny in the band. He is someone we have been friends with for a while, we shared a stage with Johnny and his band several times since 2010.
Please give him a warm welcome.
CONAN & MONOLORD live dates: 07.10.17 NL – Nijmegen / Soulcrusher II – Doornroosje 08.10.17 FR – Paris / GLAZART 09.10.17 FR – Nantes / La Scène Michelet 10.10.17 FR – Bordeaux / VOID // BDX 11.10.17 ES – Barcelona / Razzmatazz 3 12.10.17 ES – San Sebastian / Dabadaba 13.10.17 FR – Lyon / Jack Jack 14.10.17 FR – Audincourt / Le Molodo 15.10.17 BE – Antwerp / Desertfest Antwerp 2017 16.10.17 DK – Aarhus / Atlas 17.10.17 DE – Hamburg / Bambi galore 18.10.17 DE – Berlin / Musik & Frieden 20.10.17 DE – Bischofswerda / Morbvs Maximvs 21.10.17 DE – Munich / Keep It Low Festival 2017 22.10.17 CZ – Prague/Brno / Kabinet MÚZ 23.10.17 AT – Vienna / DasBACH 24.10.17 CH – Olten / Coq d’Or 25.10.17 IT – Bologna / Freakout Club 26.10.17 IT – Milan / Bloom 27.10.17 CH – Winterthur / Gaswerk 28.10.17 DE – Siegen / The VORTEX
