Bongripper / Conan

UK & US 2015 Limited Edition (500), Repress, Brown. Record plays EX with minor hairlines. Conan’s track is the A-Side of this split and it’s called ‘Beheaded’. Clocking in at 17 minutes it is the longest piece of music they have ever recorded (as far as I know). And it is a true masterpiece. This band has been going on a major evolutionary development ever since they released their first demo Battle in the Swamp back in 2007. Their sound has been getting better, their heaviness has been getting heavier, their songs have been getting slower, but also more defined. There are always a lot of little things happening in the background with Conan. Little splash cymbal hits, little drum fills, all little details detail in this huge wall of sound. I don’t think there was a single second among these long and slow 17 minutes that made me look at the clock. It is totally mesmerising stuff. Well-done Conan, I really can’t wait for the new album! On the B-Side is Bongripper’s track named ‘Zero Talent’. Another heavy wall of sound, though not as slow as Conan’s track and not as long either, as this track is “only” 9 and a bit minutes long. Bongripper is an instrumental band, and similarly to Conan they have been steadily ploughing away creating their own sound of heavy fuzz. ‘Zero Talent’ starts of slowly and almost mysteriously during the 1 minute intro, but then the sludge/doom riffs are thrown straight in your face over some heavy pounding drums. There are more tempo changes in this track, with a great up-tempo bit towards the end. “Zero Talent” my arse; this is one of the most talented bands on the planet.