Conan Neutron isn't just a musician, his Protonic Reversal Youtube channel (which has existed since 2020 and as a podcast from 2014) is well-worth checking out, featuring interviews with Jim Kimball, Helios Creed, Dave Lombardo, Tad Doyle and Chris Haskett to name a few.
Conan was on the Learning Curve Records train at one point and this, coupled with the fact that Discipline are handling promotion, undoubtedly influenced my decision to review The Way Of The Neutron. Neutron debuted in 2015 with The Enemy of Everyone, then 2016's The Art of Murder, 2017's Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track, 2019's Protons and Electrons Compilation, 2020's Dark Passengers, 2022's Dangerous Nomenclature and finally Adult Prom, the 2023 split with Cincinnati Art-Punks Lung. The band's current line-up consists of the aforementioned Conan Neutron – Guitar/Vocals, Dale Crover (Melvins) – Drums and Tony Ash (Coliseum) on Bass. With Toshi Kasai handling production/engineering duties and Bob Weston (Shellac/Mission of Burma) taking care of mastering, the omens are thus good.
'Who Dares' is an intriguing mix of grinding Helmet Noise-Rock and cool Jimi Hendrix Acid Rock. Listening to it, it's obvious why it was chosen as the album's first single. 'Sharks Keep Moving' is more angular sounding, with nods to Fugazi, especially 'Dear Justice Letter' from Steady Diet of Nothing. However whereas the Washington D.C. Post-Hardcore legends tended towards the austere and serious, here there's more playfulness in the spirit of AC/DC's good-time Rock 'n' Roll. Crossover appeal in the truest sense. Remember when Wire returned in the mid-80s with a melodic refined approach? That's exactly what 'A Villain of Circumstance' reminds me of, there's also a little Cheap Trick Power-Pop, a fantastic number. 'Exit Interview' is a little Punkier with a Vocal snarl reminiscent of TSOL's Jack Grisham and that band's album Disappear along with dashes of tasty David Bowie style Glam/Proto-Punk ala 'Suffragette City'.
'Official Business' is pure Thin Lizzy what with the luscious twin harmony style Guitars, all that's missing is the late, great Phil Lynott while 'Relentless' the album's halfway point, is a brooding, slow burning bluesy piece that seems to contradict its title. The 70's Hard Rock influences continue with 'A Dream of Flight' which is hook laden and with a vibe reminiscent of Uriah Heep but given a Melvins twist from their Atlantic era albums. Another gem. If Sparks do it for you then 'Chekhof Grift' should definitely be in your playlist, there is that wonderful duo's eccentricity present and I could easily foresee this fitting onto albums such as Kimono My House. 'Integrity Wins Again' sees Conan adopting Diamond Dave Lee Roth's swagger and though never a Van Halen fan I nonetheless saw the appeal of the track.
The Burden of Dreams' has a Stoner/Desert Rock feel, along the lines of Queens of the Stone Age back when that band were still putting out worthwhile albums and 'Bulletproof Tiger' incorporates 80's Metal (Kiss, Ozzy Osbourne) while skilfully eschewing the trite lyrical fare and cocaine fuelled overproduction. In place of Constrictor and the appropriately named Trash, this is the direction Alice Cooper should have adopted during his comeback. 'The Way' the album's longest track at over six minutes adds New-Wave (mid-period Cure?) to Conan Neutron's Hard Rock attack while Kate Wakefield's Cello lends a sense of drama to proceedings and thus a perfect conclusion.
Conan Neutron and his not so secret friends do a fantastic job of subverting the traditional Rock format with a multitude of musical touchpoints that keep the listener hooked throughout. Recommended.
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