Conan - Horseback Battle Hammer (2010)

   The uprising of drone metal had a wider influence to the main scene, that was sensable from the late '00s. Many new bands were inspired by this rummbling noise centered new wave of musical minimalism. But because real distinguising features (or any real features) are difficult to make in something that's basically closer to a rehearsal room sound check than to music, most bands who didn't want to stuck in the shadow of Sunn O))), just involved the drone sound into other styles.
   Conan did the same, by their sludgy stoner doom influenced music, that already had past in the UK. At nearly every British metal band references to the local metal scene are inevitable, because they always serving as essential building materials. In case of Conan these could be Electric Wizard, Cathedral, and Black Sabbath. Those picks might sound both reasonable and promising according to a sludge/stoner/doom band, but these are just the basics. To this came the distorted drone influence, that matches the noisiest experiments of Electric Wizard, and also created an atmosphere, that they creatively developed further into a misty mythical direction. The band's main concept is based on long forgotten ancient times, mythologic creatures and battles, but without pushing a story or an epos into the listener's face. They're focusing on a primitive and raw essential feeling, that sounds ominous and very heavy the same time. It's an unusual aspect of psychedelic sound, achieved though extreme distortion. A different atmosphere than what was introduced by similar bands before. It recalls doomed ancient times and transmits the echoing message of participants of long forgotten events. No matter how poor and repetitive Conan's musical toolbar was, it proved to be strongly expressive, and by their minimalism they were able to open new dimensions.