Source: PROMO
Due to the previous days exploits, we overslept and were a little late in, but we just managed to catch the last few moments of Bong Cauldron stirring up the Underworld. They declare they’ll be ‘playing something a little faster’, before pacey drums whisk us away. Riffs tumble, the tones sharp, alternating between solid mid-paced chuggers and held doomy chords. Decent grooves and gruff, throaty bellows, but we didn’t see enough of them to get the full story (our bad) 5/10
Source: Promo/Desertfest
Counterblast present us with a wall of microphones (seemingly one for each member) as synths build and brood, added to layers of feedback. A piercing tone jams through, vaguely discomforting, as hey run through some drum led doom progressions. There’s lashings of feedback that shift into somber atmospherics, with shimmering guitars. The guttural vocals from frontman Joakim Engstrom and keyboardist Hakan Paulsson are guttural and deep, with guitarist Steve Hakeskog cutting through them with higher shrieks. All in all it’s nice, but a bit on the dull side. Like a discount MINSK. 4/10
Source: Official Facebook
Everyone’s favourite cavemen Conan pack out the Electric Ballroom. Their trippy, animated background whirls away, matching the stories woven by their battering take on doom. They sound enormous, Rich Lewis throwing down some skillful cymbal work and shuddering drum fills. Jon Davis’s urgent, yelped shouts pierce through their wall of grinding, irresistible tone. It’s loud enough that, unfortunately, you’ll never hear the lamentations of their women. 7/10
Source: Band Logo
Back underground, cult heroes Slomatics hammer out some absolutely massive sounds. Martin Harvey belts out some impressively clear clean vocals despite the violence he’s subjecting his drum kit to, each whack like a kick right to the sternum. Guitarists Chris Couzens and David Majury show supreme confidence, weaving a dense, multi layered web of pure crushing tone. They go down an absolute storm. 8/10
Source: Official Website
Truckfighters could totally headline most festivals they’re picked to play at. Their direct, driving, fuzzed out riffs are irresistible, and so is the energy that they bring to the stage. Pounding drums lead the way, Oskar Cedermalm’s laid back, smooth vocals easy on the ears throughout. Guitarist Niklas Kallgren is an absolute ball of energy, sprinting around the stage, pogoing constantly. Their thick, phasey riffs are played with road-honed precision and absolute conviction. No band gets a crowd pumped like these kings of desert rock. 9/10
Source: Promo
Our first (and only) trip to The Black Heart sees us catch a criminally small amount of Spider Kitten. They wade through a metric tonne of feeback, ballsy dynamic shifts, big strong chords and lashings of cymbals. Overlapped vocal layering emerges through waves of drone, building up an almost visible atmosphere. Shuffling drums and bass mesh effortlessly with whining guitar solos that echo almost indefinitely. It transcends mere ‘loud/soft/loud’ with a slowly growing, climbing climax, toying with tempo and expectation. Excellent. 7/10
Source: Stefan Raduta/Facebook
Samothrace conjour some dark, psyched-out wizardry. Blazing solos rise slowly to the surface from pools of bottomless reverb. Meditative tempos and restrained drums keep things thoughtful. Spacey, lush chords build and break into waves of crushing doom. Guitarist/vocalist pauses from breathing out acidic vocal evil to request a snifter of whiskey from an obliging crowd member. Humble and thankful, their music is honest, fragile and gripping. One of the best of the weekend. 8/10
Source: Promo
Capping things off at the Ballroom, Russian Circles beset the audience with post metal majesty. Their signature tone is bold and clear, with Dave Turncrantz’s drums an unstoppable metronomic force. Sumptuous layering of bass and guitars that loop and intertwine before flying apart build to the heavens, the ‘lack’ of vocals never seeming like one. Guitars shimmer before flipping into a chugging, rhythmic assault. Bright layers fall into racing gallops, and Brian Cooks’ bass holds it all together, bridging between drums and Mike Sullivan’s heady guitar work. Excellent stuff. 8/10
