Step into the Violence Dimension, where riffs crush like tectonic plates and time slows under the weight of sonic warfare. Conan brings another slab of bone-snapping, chest-caving sludge doom—primitive, punishing, and glorious.
Sorting out the distinctions between Conan albums is the sort of overthinking that is downright antithetical to what their now-codified brand of ass-kicking battle sludge represents. Their sixth installment, Violence Dimension, offers their established blend of ultra-thick riffs, muscular drums, and shrill yells with a renewed sense of focus. A track like “Foeman’s Flesh” feels almost reserved compared to the charges of more recent outings, slightly adjusting the rhythms of its pulsating chugs before descending into the sort of oppression breakdown that makes you feel every inch of strength.
However, it’s hard to remember the last time their approach felt so thoroughly drenched in atmosphere as it does here. The title track is the most obvious instance of this in action, harkening back to the days of 2014’s Blood Eagle as its restrained drum build and droning riff set evoke an open landscape ready for plunder before culminating in a series of shouts over a bass-driven trudge. “Ocean Of Boiling Skin” (goddamn, what a fucking metal title) seems to aim for similar, albeit starting off in heavier fashion before putting the loose drums and bulldozer guitars to more meandering ends, and the bonus “Vortexxion” is extremely blatant about its Sunn 0))-inspired undercurrent.
Of course, the band still has room for a couple speedy beatdowns. “Frozen Edges of The Wound” and “Warpsound” are the most exaggerated examples as the shortest numbers, the former putting in a straightforward three-minute hustle while the latter is another one of the band’s sub-minute hardcore blasts that’s easy to get lost in the shuffle. “Total Bicep” also deserves a shoutout, not only for boasting the title that most quintessentially screams Conan but for also finding time for periodic High On Fire-esque onslaughts across nine minutes.
While Conan’s hardened sludge has remained consistent in terms of both quality and style, Violence Dimension may be their strongest showing in at least a decade. The familiar elements still manage to feel potent and I appreciate how touching on the dronier aspects of their early days makes them even more effective. I doubt there’s really anybody who’s been particularly disillusioned by the direction seen on Conan’s more recent output, if only for how little has actually changed, but I certainly can’t deny how refreshing this violence can get.
“Violence Dimension is our 7th full length release. We have come quite a distance in time and space since we released Horseback in 2010. One thing that binds us all is violence, be that within a video game, or in a movie or on the daily news. Violence affects our daily life, perhaps more than love or kindness ever will. We are all bound by death, whether we like it or not. This release explores the hinterland between being scared to live and bring scared to die, and punches holes in the idea that we must live our life by one set of rules. We all live in the violence dimension, and there is no escape.”
All music by Conan.
Art by Tony Roberts.
Mixing and Production by Chris Fielding.
Mastering by James Plotkin.
Released April 25, 2025 by Heavy Psych Sounds.
TRACKLIST + TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 – Foeman’s Flesh
09:15 – Desolation Hexx
14:33 – Total Bicep
24:00 – Violence Dimension
33:13 – Frozen Edges of the Wound
36:33 – Warpsword
37:18 – Ocean of Boiling Skin