Bongripper / Conan “Split” (Holy Roar Records, 2013) 

Conan is a three-piece from Liverpool, UK,
whose musical proposal can be taken as the very epitome of Stoner-Doom Metal.
Active since 2006, they’ve released three albums so far (including a live one,
recorded at Roadburn Festival), and 2 split EP’s: the first with
sludge-doomsters Slomatics from Belfast, and the second, which we’re gonna take
a closer look at in a bit, with none other than Chicago-based doom metal
superstars Bongripper. Now, if you haven’t heard of Bongripper, they’re four
kids from Illinois who’ve been quickly building up a monsterous reputation in
the doom-scene worldwide after having released five amazing  albums of unrelenting, demonic doom metal
over the course of the past 6 years, played major festivals all over the States
and in Europe, and all this without the support of a label. That’s right. A
status that very few bands can pride themselves of having achieved. But let’s
get into the music found on this platter, which is a very good example of what
both bands are up to nowadays, and capable of when put to work together.

Introduced by the slow martial rhythm of
the drums, enter Conan’s “Beheaded”. Their trademark doom sound is immediately
recognizable, with heavy distortions and a tank-like cadenza that invoke images
of medieval wartime funereal processions. The drums are soon joined by the
guitars. A few chords, just hanging there, unwavering. It’s almost like the
power of the impact of the resonating notes is surpassed by that of the space
between the notes, like a vessel out at sea, waiting for the next wave to
crash. When the vocals kick in, it sounds like they’re coming from another
dimension, chilling in their overtly monotonous litany. A black mass that
protracts itself for a considerable 17 minutes. As they did on their epic full
lenght “Monnos” (2012), they decided to keep it low and slow, going as always
for the long dark road rather than the easy way. That’s the way of doom, and
it’s a tortuous one.

Flip the record to Bongripper’s “Zero
Talent”, and you’ll see what I meant before when I mentioned “demonic doom metal”.
The union of the perfect doom-metal guitar sound, and the resolution of
striking the right chord at the right moment, plus a strong leaning towards
experimentation (blast beats in doom? You better believe it), and an almost
sick sensibility for finding successions of notes that could make up Hell’s
very own soundtrack are but only few of Bongripper’s qualities which add to
their demonic appeal. Anyone who’s seen them live will tell you: stay away from
the speakers and keep your eyes on the band if you don’t want to pass out. Or
just take a look at the cover they designed for their latest full lenght album,
aptly titled “Satan Worshipping Doom”, if you don’t know what I’m talking
about. Bongripper’s sound summarize the very essence of doom, yet at the same
time it’s a refreshing re-interpretation of a genre that no more than 10 years
ago might have been considered extinguished. But their vision is deeper and
darker, more serious and motivated by evidently truer feelings than any other
band I’ve encountered before in the doom scene. In this relatively short track
(9+ minutes), the boys give it all out, and stick a few more nails in the
coffin of traditional doom, as they take it further and further away from its
roots, while twisting it and turning ti on itself while adding to the sheer
emotional power of a genre that can now, thanks to bands like these, be
considered finally resurrected, and taken as seriously as ever, both
commercially and artistically. Wait until someone decides to refresh their now
impossible-to-find, almost completely self-released back catalogue (they’ve
already done “The Great Barrier Reefer”, their debut, on double vinyl), and
then there will be no limit to how deep Bongripper can sink us.

Report made by Tommy Morelli/2013

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