Conan

Self-described purveyors of "caveman battle doom," Liverpool, England's Conan employ a bottom-heavy blend of down-tuned sludge, brooding doom, epic power, and fuzzed-out stoner metal. Founded in 2006 by guitarist and vocalist Jon Davis, the band cycled through a Rolodex of players early on, releasing a series of EPs (2007's Battle in the Swamp, 2010's Horseback Battle Hammer) and splits before settling on a lineup consisting of Davis, bassist Chris Fielding, and drummer Paul O'Neil. The latter departed ahead of the release of the group's Napalm Records debut, 2014's Blood Eagle, which featured Rich Lewis behind the kit. Revengeance arrived two years later, followed by Existential Void Guardian in 2018, the latter of which introduced new drummer Johnny King. ~ James Christopher Monger