WRITTEN INTERVIEW: JON DAVIS OF CONAN

Jon Davis is the Frontman and Guitarist of the Doom/Death/Sludge Metal band, Conan. Hailing from the UK, the band has returned with their 3rd opus, Revengance coming out January 29th through Napalm Records. I just got to talk to Jon for my first interview of 2016. I was sadly suppose to do a Skype interview, but due to outside issues on my end, all i could do was ask a few questions I had on my mind. Hope you enjoy!


Thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview. I thoroughly enjoy what you guys do and it's an honor to make this interview happen. 

Cheers.


So Revengance is coming out next Friday (January) and you have released the title track as the lead single. How has the response been to it so far?

The response to the lyric video has been pretty good, and we’ve had some full reviews of the album and they've been great too. So far no one thinks it is total dogshit and we’re happy about that I guess. I’m more concerned with how these songs go down live and we haven’t really toured yet this year, so we’re anxious to get on the road and tour at last.


The more I listen to the entire Revengance album, I can sense how unbelievably tight you guys are together and it really sounds like the songwriting is in absolute top form. What went into the writing process for the new album? 

The writing process, at its basic level, was the same as every other album. However, when you consider that the people writing the album consisted of the long term producer (Chris), the original member and long term main song writer (Me - Jon) and a fresh pair of ears with an eagerness to stamp his authority on the sound (Rich) you will not be surprised to know that the tracks sound fresh and vibrant. The song writing took place almost entirely in the practice room with all three of us writing the songs at the same time, this is different to how things were done in the past where I would write riffs and then we would practice them together once the songs were half done. I found it much more enjoyable this time around and I think it shows.


How would you say the recording process differed this time around compared to Monnos or Blood Eagle?

It was pretty much the same. Same studio, same producer and same equipment (more or less). We went for a slightly more expansive, more raw sound. 


Was there anything that was left on the cutting room floor or as a B-Side that may be coming out in the future?

Sadly not. We were pretty efficient and made use of everything that we wrote.


You guys played the Maryland Deathfest Pre-Show at the Rams Head in Baltimore, Maryland, apart of an amazing bill that night. How did it feel to get asked to play a part of such a great festival?

It felt great actually. We were looking forward to playing there and we weren’t disappointed. The festival was awesome and sharing a bill with Yob and Primitive Man was pretty big for us.


This year, you guys are doing a pretty good sized length North American tour with Serial Hawk, lasting almost the entire month of March. What are you guys planning as far as the set goes? Will it be more focused on Revengance or covering the discography?

We’re excited to get out on the road with the lads in Serial Hawk, they are an awesome band. Naturally we will be focusing on the new album but will be playing one or two songs from the back catalog. 


Is there any other plans for 2016 set up yet?

Yeah there are. We have a UK tour and several trips to Europe planned. We also have an Australia tour in the works but nothing is confirmed there yet. We’re looking forward to touring.


Now that we are in the midst of 2016, do you have any album releases in 2016 that you are looking forward to? And favorite albums of 2015?

I have a small label called Black Bow Records, through this label I release music by underground bands. 2016 will see new releases by The Bendal Interlude and Slomatics and both of them sound great. Slomatics finish recording in February and I’m excited to get that out there as I’m their biggest fan. The Bendal Interlude headlined our first ever show in Liverpool in 2007 so it is awesome that I am releasing their first full length. In 2015 I loved the new Mammatus album Sparkling Waters as well as new music by Headless Kross and Intensive Square.


Once again, thank you very much for doing this interview with me. It is a tremendous honor to be able to talk to you and be able to help promote the release of Revengance, coming out January 29th through Napalm Records. Before you go, is there anything else that you would like to mention that I haven't brought up yet?

Cheers, thanks for the warm words. Thanks to your readers for checking us out and we hope to see some of them on our upcoming US tour.


Conan- Revengance available January 29th through Napalm Records!

Check out Conan with Serial Hawk at the following shows in the US:

• 3/3: Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen
• 3/4: Detroit, MI @ Berserker Fest
• 3/5: Toronto, ON @ Hard Luck
• 3/6: Cleveland, OH @ Now That's Class
• 3/8: Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus
• 3/9: Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
• 3/10: Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
• 3/11: Raleigh, NC @ King's
• 3/12: Knoxville, TN @ Pilot Light
• 3/13: Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn
• 3/16: Austin, TX @ SXSW
• 3/18: Albuquerque, NM @ Sister Tavern (Free Show)
• 3/19: Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge
• 3/20: Glendale, CA @ Complex
• 3/21: Oakland, CA @ Metro
• 3/22: Sacramento, CA @ Press Club
• 3/24: Portland, OR @ Star Theater
• 3/25: Boise, ID @ Treefort Fest
• 3/26: Seattle, WA @ Highline w/ BELL WITCH, MITOCHONDRIAN