Desertfest 2022 - London Edition.

After a long 7 year hiatus and the covid gap - the longest period of time without going to see some live music since I started the habit. The stacked line up decided that it was time for Desertfest London 2022. Below are just thoughts, observations with some pictures from the festival. I’d just relocated and was sleeping in a less than full size single bed so I took it easy with my young manz sciatica.

29/04/22 - "Desertfest London"
Spirit Adrift w/ Seven Sisters, 1000 Mods, Lowrider

So I happen to catch Lowrider’s return since the last time they played Desertfest. I’m very fond of Ode to Io and the performance is fine, but little more than this. But it got me grooving and they played the best song of the new album, which is important. 1000 Mods? Well, we all know about the Super Van Vacation album and well, they didn’t play enough songs from that record. But nevermind. I sound like I’m moaning, but you know… it’s just the reality, you can’t go see the Melvins and expect Houdini in full! I caught a little bit of Seven Sisters whilst ensuring early arrival for Spirit Adrift. Sounded good, lots of leads and speed/NWOBHM stomps.

Now… the main event, SPIRIT ADRIFT.

This was I believe their first UK tour and why oh why they weren’t put on the main stage is beyond me. Heavy, melodic, catchy and still rock’n’roll. This was likely my entire fest highlight and best believe I was up the damn front. Their sound has evolved over the records, but just imagine a traditional heavy metal sound, sometimes leaning on 80’s Ozzy with those really warm Scorpions style leads. I often wonder, who will be the new headline acts of the future? These guys have got the opportunity for sure. After the ruckus of the set ended (two members crowd surfing after all the music stopped!) I bonded briefly with a German geezer, “this is the real thing!! This is the real thing!!!!!”. Too right mate. I went outside and purchased all available vinyl, hehehe. Their latest EP single in particular just deserves to be on high frequency repeat on classic rock radio everywhere. 

30/04/22 - "Desertfest London"
Orange Goblin w/ Greenleaf, Elder

So this was the most underwhelming day of the festival for me. The lack of bands I saw is mostly due to the fact that I fell asleep in the afternoon and woke up late. Clearly rest was required. I love Elder and really wish they would aggressively poise themselves to crossover out of the underground. Nick DiSalvo has the talent and the world deserves to hear this guy work on music full time, no doubt in my mind. My comments above about Lowrider’s performance being fine also applies to Elder really. That means I found Elder’s performance to be adequate but not poised for grand venues just yet. With Greenleaf, I just went in to kill some time and why did they kick my ass! Really good vibes. Funniest thing is listening to Greenleaf on studio record again, it still didn’t move me. But live the same songs really came to life - so fair play. Orange Goblin are stalwarts of the London scene and did their thing, I would have had quite a different set list but the local crowd enjoyed it all. Wasn’t too keen on the corny talk between songs but I know my younger self would feel differently after all.

01/05/22 - "Desertfest London"
Bongzilla w/ Yob, Eyehategod, Trouble Cover Band, Parish

Parish play a nicely proto-Doom sound with a nice little theme and I enjoyed. Same for the Eric Wagner tribute that played after (hello Rev Al!). Eyehategod? I thought the setlist selection was so-so, lots of new ones and a few classics that got me moving. They arrived late, Mike was pissed off, the crowd was pissed off and the sound wasn’t quite right in my opinion. You could feel the tension in the air though. By the end, the antagonists had played their part. 

Yob were extraordinary. For such an esoteric sound they filled the Roundhouse sonically. It just felt really powerful. They actually played songs from my least favourite Yob record and despite this, I was really impacted by the connection they managed to create. I thought the performance as well as the ‘sound’ were just much more sophisticated then what Elder managed - which is why I called their performance fine, whilst Yob’s managed to be majestic, almost transcendental. A tour de force in its execution. Next time they play anywhere near me I’ll be making efforts to go catch em. Thank you Yob. Namaste.

Bongzilla where headlining a smaller stage. Both Yob and Bongzilla where some of the initial bands I had fallen in love with almost two decades ago. The Illusion of Motion and Gateway are important albums for me. Slowly over the years the incredible skill and drum work of Bongzilla’s Magma grew and grew on me. So to catch them both for the first time ever was one of the main reasons I attended this year.

Bongzilla’s set was just awesome. The drumming live was much more central than on the studio records in terms of performance. Fills for days. The kid who had dressed up like the Sleep druid was around and we got some horsehead moshing. The atmosphere was great and the thick warm fuzzy tone comforted me as I… headbanged and whatever to the music. 

All in all, my favourite Desertfest of the bunch actually.
Don’t think I’ll attend 2023, but… let’s bloody see right?

ps. 10/05/21 - Tool w/ Brass Against

My pal offered me a free ticket for Tool and 02 (once the infamous Millennium Dome). Not being a dumbo I instantly took him up on this offer! Having found '10k Days' to be songs not good enough to be on Lateralus, I really really enjoyed Fear Inoculum and it came out of the blue for me, like this god damn ticket. I had always been on the position, fuck spending £80 on a Tool show but, consider me god damn converted. Sober as shit, the sensory overload was real. Elite performance, elite show. This is exactly where I want to see Elder heading (have to go there a 3rd time), cause Nick DiSalvo got it homie.

Spelljammer - Inches From the Sun

It would be pretty absurd if even during Corona lockdown I didn't get round to posting. But I will get my excuse in early as I have been working thorough out - which I consider none other than a blessing by the way.

Whilst browsing around checking for bands I'd liked and whether or not they had a new release, I noticed that some bands were hosting their earlier endeavours for free. This happens to be one of those records. If you want some sort of seal of approval about just how good this record is, I'll keep it simple: RidingEasy Records pressed it on vinyl, for the first time, seven years after it was first released! If that isn't a sufficient endorsement for you, well, what can I say.

Their sound falls into the old "stoner doom" adage. The riffs are unmistakably heavy and really do fall into the doom category. The weird thing about Spelljammer is they're kinda Kyuss, kinda Electric Wizard but definitely neither? And simultaneously the "weird" thing about it is, their sound isn't anything unorthodox, just straight forward well executed stoner doom. Either way, this ultimately under plays the quality of the release. Listen to it for yourself!

Ladies Of Leisure

The blog isn't dead and updates will, EVENTUALLY, become more frequent. This is an absolute promise. Life has been fairly absurd these past few months and it continues. I'm currently laying on my front in some kind of Sex in the City blog writing pose as my leg has been numb from sciatica a few days now and sitting up causes me searing pain. I was greedy in the gym after (again) reaching my PR strength wise and went on to do a drop set... stupid, stupid shit.

Back to the jams though,  this album is really good and it does surprise me it's continued to fly under the radar as it has. The first song is just doomy perfection in my mind, Sabbathian plods, hypnotic but catchy vocals and a good sense of fuzzing out in general. Ladies of Leisure have that funny thing going on where they seem to exist in that ambiguous space between Metal and Hard Rock. The entire record has a really fun sense of melody and rock'n'roll which I always like. I'd say it's almost like a more Doom Metal orientated Stoner Rock album. Worth your ear chap/ettes, 

Desertfest 2015.

For a number of reasons, I didn't really see many of the bands at Deserfest this year - but so it goes. My festival itinerary;

Friday: Red Fang, Orange Goblin, The Atomic Bitchwax, Floor

Saturday: Eyehategod, Brant Bjork, Black Pyramid

Sunday: Sleep, UFOmammut, Acid King

None of the merchandise seemed to take my fancy this year. But to be honest, if you see how few bands I actually ended up seeing, perhaps that makes perfect sense. Highlights wise? I'll just do a little video summary;

Orange Goblin - The Big Black.

Eyehategod - Dixie Whiskey.

Sleep - Dragonaut.

Have to mention it was absolutely beautiful seeing huge swaths of the crowd enjoying Eyehategod playing most of Dopesick, their seminal album in my mind.

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And just for the fuck of it, Electric Wizard @ The Roundhouse some weeks later.

Desert Suns.

So, I'm starting a new job on Monday. Though here nothing will change - I will be slow, but relentless! Otherwise, I'm delighted to point you towards another release that really captured my speakers these last few days; Desert Suns by er, Desert Suns. They are definitely Stoner Rock.. but much alike Kyuss also features subterranean rumblings, though arguably, not always Sabbathian in nature! 

The album is quite brief.. perhaps a track or two short in my humble opinion. But that's only because I wanted more! It's hard to exactly pinpoint what this band does that tickles me. But if you aren't going to even check out the tracks with that bomb artwork then more fool you man. Mmmmm riffs. 

Crobot UK Tour.

First ever UK Tour for Crobot! and from the jams above you can tell it won't be long until they've entered the general conciousness of you fellow boogie rockers. Dates below!

--

Sep 23 - Coventry, United Kingdom - Coventry Kasbah.
Sep 24 - London, United Kingdom - London XOYO.
Sep 26 - Glasgow, United Kingdom - O2 ABC Glasgow 2.

Desertfest London 2014.

My festival itinerary;

Friday: Spirit Caravan, Horisont, Ed Mundell's UEMG, Sixty Watt Shaman, Sasquatch, Borracho, Monkey 3, Wino (Acoustic)

Saturday: Kvelertak, The Body, Weedeater, 11Paranoias, Samasara Blues Experiment, The Witches Drum, Slabdragger

Sunday: Boris, Church Of Misery, Elder, Radio Moscow, Lonely Kamel, War Wolf

So unlike last year I actually had some money and so treated myself to the selection of goodies you see above! Friday was very awesome, apart from having the miss some of the earlier bands due to an obligation beyond my control. I did however manage to catch some of the Wino acoustic set and get some shit signed! You can see Wino has clearly got beef with Gary Isom as he's given him a Hitler stache and some funky eyebrows to go with it on the promo sheet thing. All harmless really.. I hope.

 My little selection of videos from Friday;

Sixty Watt Shaman
Spirit Caravan

Saturday started off strong, with Slabdragger in the early afternoon. At the end of their set we (me and the better half) popped over to check out The Witches Drum. I had scoped them out briefly prior, but I never expected the rather mental performance or the quality of the heavy boogie tunes. It also happened to be their last ever gig, which is a definite shame.

Weedeater was without doubt my Saturday highlight. They also played both my favourite songs, Monkey Junction and Wanted. It was really nice to know I'm not the only person who knows the lyrics to both those songs man!! And of course, Wino joining them on-stage to cover Lynyrd Skynyrd's Gimme Back My Bullets was pretty awesome.






Sunday was the dominant cause of my on-going whiplash. I mentioned last year you should never miss a chance to catch Elder live. True to my word I made sure I saw them twice, check out a little clip here and A NEW SONG they played! It was also the first time I'd had the chance to see Church Of Misery since their new album came out. Those guys are living legends, it was the 5th time I've seen them and they're always so good. It's even a little silly. That's all (for now) folks!

 

 

Hellbenders.

Final post of the year goes to some of my fellow country men (sou Brasileiro porra!) who have crafted a hell of an album. Being very honest with you.. in regards to stoner rock/hard rock, or whatever? If it isn't slightly Doom leaning generally it isn't for me. I keep it safe and listen to the classic shit; 7Zuma7, Kyuss, Lowrider, Sgt. Sunshine etc. They're giving it away for free, check out the jams and enjoy.

Dude I met from New Barn, holla me on the e-mail down on the right side man!! Peace.

2013 - Brand New Fear

DOWNLOAD HERE

Otherwise;

MERRY
FUCKIN'
CHRISTMAS

From

Astral Doom.

Down Under Doom.

The amount of quality releases that Australia has produced in the last 24 months is impressive;  just consider the new album from Clagg or the Milkmaids, The EP's from Motherslug, Sumeru and Zodiac. In addition to all of that you've also still have the vinyl for now (compact disc out in early 2014) The Wizar'd's Ancient Tome of Arcane Knowledge. Consequently, it was straight forward to do a little regional feature, enjoy! 

Lizzard Wizzard - 2013 - Lizzard Wizzard

With the strength and penetration of an adamantium boner, I present you Lizzard Wizzard. The songs all feature some kind of low-intellect stoner humour which is totally awesome. Come with me / Ten thousand leagues / Under the T.H.Sea / Fuck your swim coach / And fucking choke / On this gnarly roach. Sound wise they kinda remind me of a Doom orientated Wo Fat with hardcore vox. Bust out your bongs and pizza slices.

Sun Of Man - 2013 - I


If you dig Colour Haze, Sungrazer.. or anything of that ilk it's pretty certain you'll fall in love with this band. LOTS of drum fills, heavy stoner riffs and kraut-rock explorations. Just listen yourself and let yourself become infatuated with the jams. Peace!  

Dual Split Attack!

Iron Witch & The Atrocity Exhibit 7" Split

This isn’t the first time me and Withered Hand Records have crossed paths... the last time, maybe around 6-7 years ago was when I uploaded his band's album, Among The Missing, onto KerrazY Torrents (synonymous with the Metal Community at the time). Fair play to the guy, just asked for a link for where to purchase the badboy as well as offering to include a live video with it! Anyway, it gives me pleasure to let you know about a new 7” with two UK acts he’s putting out, Iron Witch and The Atrocity Exhibition. BUY HERE.

The Cosmic Dead & Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs 12" Split

The Old Noise are putting out their very first release, ltd to 300 copies. The Cosmic Dead hail themselves "Scotland's foremost Hawkwind tribute band", as for Pigs x7? They're a little more difficult to pigeon hole.. but imagine a little hardcore, a little stoner rock and a little Electric Wizard  drone pieced together in some kind of disfigured jigsaw. It's good shit.   BUY HERE.

Doublestone.

This is mere formality. If you've not acquainted yourself with Denmark's Doublestone yet, now is your chance! They've just put their album up for a name your price download (with the 12" 180g vinyl available here). I was still enjoying the s/t EP they had put out earlier in the year and so didn't expect to see a full-length so quickly. Truth be told, I'm listening it from start to finish for the first time right now. You're going to like this.

Doublestone hit a really nice balance between that retro hard rock sound we're already familiar with (Brutus, Kadavar, Graveyard) whilst throwing in some proto-doom leanings (Burning Saviours, early-Pentragram, Witchcraft) which make them eminently listenable.

2013 - Doublestone [EP]


2013 - Wingmakers

March The Desert.

Still a little rough around the edges but displaying enough potential to emerge as one of the finer exports of British Doom, we have today the new release by Brighton's March The Desert. You'll hear strong hints of Sleep, with a little Kyuss thrown in. But more characteristically, there is a pop doom vibe (y'know like Torche) in regards to the really warm, vibrant sound they achieve.

And in non-music related news, if you have an iOS device, you wanna be checking out Rymdkapsel. Very addictive "meditative space" puzzle/strategy game.

2013 - Waves On The Moon [EP]

Medusa.

Left forgotten in a basement in Chicago (USA) for over 35 years, Medusa's only recorded output finally sees the light of day. While satanic imagery is adopted for the artwork you don't get anything as heavy as Sabbath. Instead the songs are proto-metal with lots of rock/folk/prog influence, all appropriate for the era. 

The LP spans improvisational jams, ballads and your usual heavy rockers displaying Medusa's versatility and helping to create a genuinely thorough album experience. Just an honest shame there isn't more on it's way..

1975 - First Step Beyond

1. Strangulation (3:39)
2. Transient Amplitude (9:17)
3. Frustration's Foot (7:52)
4. Temptress (4:46)
5. Feelings of Indifference (4:20)
6. Black Wizard (6:07)
7. Unknown Fear (6:38)

DOWNLOAD LINK HERE

Hypnotist.

EDIT: Just reposting to give this more exposure!

How these guys have remained unnoticed for so long I honestly cannot fathom. Considering you've got labels like Nuclear Blast picking up both Witchcraft and Graveyard, you'd of thought there would of been some interest around an emerging band as quality as this one.

Anyway.. there is essentially no information on this band to be found apart from their stated Russian origin. This is at it's simplest hard rock with a large dose of that proto-Metal flavour (Deep Purple, Leaf Hound, etc). The vocalist might not be to everyone's taste but has a truly powerful range and an undeniable character. The music is catchy (the 2nd song especially) and the musicianship doesn't let you down. Astral Doom demands a full length!

2011 - 101 [Demo/EP]

The S.I.G.I.T.

The ambiguity of hard rock means that plenty of bands we'd perhaops fancy end up going under the radar. This is always particularly the case if they don't show up in the more well trodden paths bands take with similar sounds. Though in the case of The S.I.G.I.T. (The Super Insurgent Group of Intemperance Talent) there are perhaps a few reasons for this. Primarily however it seems to be the fact their Indonesian and have also been picked up by a big independent label in the country which seems to be pushing them towards a more mainstream audience ala Wolfmother. 

Anyway, check the teaser and see if you like it.. I thought the album was pretty strong. 

2013 - Detourn

1. Detourn (3:35)
2. Let The Right One In (2:19)
3. Son Of Sam (3:01)
4. Gate Of 15th (2:51)
5. Tired Eyes (4:57)
6. Owl And Wolf (5:12)
7. Black Summer (3:48)
8. Red Summer (3:48)
9. Ring Of Fire (4:31)
10. Cognition (3:48)
11. Conundrum (6:18)

DOWNLOAD LINK HERE

Dirt Merchant.

Still rough around the edges but displaying much promise and growth from their demo, Dirt Merchant (Richmond, USA) offer energetic, fast and riff based rock 'n' roll. This marriage of post-amplification blues with Lemmy-esque vocals feels just right. I have a thing for simple choruses.. they're sing along, they often display wit and character and you know for sure this isn't some pretentious GY!BE bullshit that you're dealing with (genuinely not hating, just making my point). Dirt Merchant serve up my aforementioned 'likes' with plenty of fuzz and balls.   

Definitely one of those bands which really are intended to be enjoyed with a cold beverage under the molten glare of the sun. 

2013 - Wolves In Apeskin [EP]
 

Electric Lords.

Yet again my Sennheiser earphones have died on me. Not very happy as they cost £40, hardly pocket change. Sennheiser, you've lost a once loyal customer. It's now the Shure SE215 for me. Not cheap but I've had first hand experience with them and the sound quality + durable build make it worth all the extra money.

Anyway, today we have another band playing something more along the lines of stoner rock. In similar fashion to the Doom bands emerging from the Iron Curtain, Moscow's Electric Lords (RUS) also have a tendency  to go for the big, groovy riff category. The songs aren't particularly new or special, but just really capture what must of been the studio atmosphere; energetic, boisterous and damn good fun.

2013 - Pyramid [EP]

Deep Aeon.

Deep Purple are a hell of a band. I don't actually always think of myself as being a particularly big fan of theirs, but whenever I put on In Rock it always gets played to the end. They've just perhaps ended up being a tad unappreciated by my generation and particularly those more favourable to heavier sounds, unfortunately.

Deep Aeon from Düsseldorf (GER) bring all the elements you'd expect from a hard rock band looking towards these past masters for inspiration. Thick but warm guitars with a definite emphasis on driving rock 'n' roll sound. The vocals have a slight garage rock tinge to them sometimes, which really is a fresh change from underwhelming John Garcia croons you typically encounter. A really neat release and a definite prospect in the stoner rock world.

2013 - Icy Spring Recordings [EP]

Vista Chino - Dargona Dragona.

For whatever reason, Vista Chino (Kyuss without Josh Homme - essentially), have uploaded their new track on Soundcloud but decided against being able to embed it on other webpages. Nevermind, I used a little ingenuity and put it up on YouTube myself!

The sound quality of the track is pretty bad. I doubt it will sound anything close to this low-fi on the actual album and it's just been put out this way to build anticipation. I'm not that keen to comment on it either until I hear it properly, Garcia ends up sounding gruffer than Chris Cornell in his Audioslave days. Definitely not right.

Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs.

Considering the only thing ever good to come out of Newcastle was Alan Shearer (and even then he's genuinely awful on MoTD) it was actually a pleasure to discover that the Pigs x7, also hailed from the land of Tyne.  

Pigs x7 definitely have a refreshing sound. Beginning with what feels like an indie/hardcore punk perspective on stoner rock by the end has morphed into Electric Wizard drone riff territory - with plenty in between. Not any band can hold your attention for 20 minutes, let alone on their first release! Leaves me quite curious how they'd go about writing a full-length release while keeping it as eclectic as this.  

2013 - The Wizard And The Seven Swines [EP/Single]