Outlaws Of The Sun

Friday 1 December 2023

Desertfest London welcomes Roundhouse headliners Suicidal Tendencies plus Ozric Tentacles, Cancer Bats, Bongripper and 15 more artists for 2024

Desertfest London proudly welcomes the legendary Suicidal Tendencies to their 2024 event as Roundhouse headliners. Celebrating 40 years since their genre-defying first album, prepare to have your mind Institutionalized! Whilst Desertfest remains synonymous with showcasing the best of stoner, doom and psych for over twelve years, Suicidal Tendencies’ headlining performance will add a new dimension to the festival, bridging the gap between the punk and metal scenes that have inspired countless bands worldwide.

Hailing from the sun-soaked streets of Venice, California, Suicidal Tendencies frontman Mike Muir helped shape a cultural landscape, whilst simultaneously pioneering a new genre. Taking the essence of skating, surfing and the Dogtown scene & infusing it with a unique style of hardcore punk. Their seamless un-apologetic musical blend, breaking of conventions and fearless take on challenging socials issues changed the landscape of heavy music forever. Suicidal Tendencies’ performance at Desertfest not only welcomes the band back to London for the first time in seven years, but marks a new point in the festival’s evolution as a celebration of underground counter-culture.

The icons keep rolling in as Ozric Tentacles join the bill, also celebrating a monumental 40 years, Ozrics’ unique lysergic soundscapes helped merge the worlds of psychedelia, progressive rock and dance music. Formed during a solstice at Stonehenge in 1983, Ozric Tentacles are true trailblazers - laying the tripped-out road which so many acts in the Desertfest-sphere now follow.

Heavy music’s hardest-working, and hardest-partying, road dogs Cancer Bats will up the ante with their rock’n’roll shenanigans as they bring the energy. Satan Worshipping Doom, three words that need no explanation to Desertfesters’ as Bongripper make their first appearance at the event since 2013. Plus, the prodigal son returns as Nick Oliveri’s Mondo Generator showcase their immense catalogue of desert-drenched tones.

Elsewhere the festival announces Greek stoner-Gods Nightstalker, avant-garde-jazz meets black-metal mania from Ashenspire, a spellbinding ritual from Sunnata and further melting-pot madness from crushing Canadian’s WAKE.

Additionally, Psychlona, Kal-El, Kadabra, Saint Karloff and Lord Elephant bring the grooves, whilst heaviness reigns with homegrown talent Gozer, Acid Throne & Orme. And finally rounding things off Desertfest warmly welcomes, Borehead & Sagan.

Weekend Tickets for the event are on sale now via www.desertfest.co.uk with more artists, day splits & day tickets released in January.

Full line-up

An Interview With Alexei Korolev From Doom/Sludge/Fuzz/Stoner Metallers THE COMPANY CORVETTE

Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metallers The Company Corvette has just released their superb new album Little Blue Guy which is full of seedy FUZZED UP and DOWN TUNED grooves from start to finish.

This is the first album from the guys in over seven and a half years with Little Blue Guy being their most brilliantly entertaining album to date. If you dig bands such as The Melvins, BORIS, Black Sabbath and even some cool bands from the legendary Grunge scene.

I caught up with Alexei Korolev (Guitars) from The Company Corvette to discuss the history of the band and the making of the new album.

Hi guys. Thanks for doing the interview. How are things with you all today.

Not bad, I am at the end of my COVID, feeling better and almost ready to make a run to the practice space and do some heavy chugging. Thanks for taking your time to do this!!

For people not in the know, can you give a brief history of how the band came together and where it is today.

We have known each other from living in the same neighborhood, so when we lost our jobs, the opportunity came to jam and we immediately started writing songs. The name came first and i couldn’t not join a band with such a ridiculous name. We have gotten a lot better as players over time and are able to do more of the things that we want to hear.

How would you describe your overall sound over the past 15 years that the band have been together.

In the beginning, we had a lot more of a psychedelic punk kind of a sound. That’s just how we played without trying very hard. You can still hear the doom and the metal in our songs, but we had a pretty sloppy approach and had crappy gear and didn’t really care that much (we still retain some of those elements on some of the songs!). Over time, we picked up some better guitars and amps and dialed in our sound a little bit to where we could sound the way we wanted to hear it. And of course Ross’ vocals have improved immensely since the first two albums and now fit the music so much better. We changed drummers twice which was always an upgrade as well.

We're here to talk about your new album Little Blue Guy. What can people expect from the album,

It flows from the really heavy and doomy songs to more of a stoner and psychedelic direction towards the end. We thought that would make it for a better listen as a whole. We even slightly changed the track order for vinyl vs digital release to accommodate that flow. It has about everything that we like - from super slow doom metal to silly rock’n’roll.

The album impressed me greatly with it's low & slow approach with a gloomy sense of down-tuned FUZZ Rock amongst the Doom/Stoner Metal aspects of the whole album. Quite a different creative feel and sound compared to your previous albums. Did you want to release something more gloomier and heavier for this release.

Yea, thanks! Not sure how intentional that was. Think it’s just us progressing to where we want to be, musically. I always like to have a slow song or 2. I had those really cool slow and heavy riffs and we had the time to really focus on them. We played a lot of shows while still working on the songs, and we also spent a lot of time in our practice space jamming. We just really wanted to make the heavy stuff as heavy as possible, and silly stuff as fun as it should be, because we knew we could. It all came together nicely.

Where did the name Little Blue Guy for the album come from

Ohhh…. seeing things under the influence of certain mushrooms…. being trapped in a small crappy apartment in the city… sometimes you get strange visions.

Was this an easy or hard album to record for.

This one was pretty easy. We loved the studio and the people working there from doing our last album. We had our songs down (except for the last one.) Hearing things sounding so crisp and heavy and feeling good about the material and our playing and getting the help we needed from Matt Weber (our engineer) made it a really exciting and stress free experience. Definitely the most satisfying and enjoyable recording process we’ve ever had as a band.

Did your daily struggles, challenges and uplifting moments in life shape up the creative outline for the album.

Maybe subconsciously… we don’t know. I guess if someone had a shitty day, they might start a practice with a more aggressive riff, I suppose. But really, we just play the music we love. Once we get in our practice space, nothing really matters. There’s no windows, no clock, no other people - just us, our gear, our music and a cooler full of beer. We just jam and have a great time. It all comes from our influences, really. We don’t play doom metal because we are sad, though it would be weird to play our ‘funny’ riffs if we weren’t enjoying ourselves.

What is the creative process or setup within the band? Do you write the music together or do certain people within the band do that.

Always starts with a riff or two and build it from there. I'm a bit more obsessive and will sometimes bring almost finished songs, while Ross leaves things a bit more open ended and I can infuse some of my ideas to finish them off. Ultimately, we jam and jam and iron out the kinks, maybe alter the structure a bit until everyone is on the same page. And then come the lyrics. That is all Ross and is a bit of a mystery. He would sing those songs for months, and then in the studio would be frantically scribbling things right before going to the vocal booth. Nobody knows. We are definitely a RIFF band. Words are just icing on the cake.

Drummer Zach Price has joined the ranks since your last album. How did you meet and recruit Zach. What does Zach bring to the overall sound of The Company Corvette.

We have played with Zach’s other bands and been friends with some of his old bandmates. Always loved his drumming. We heard that he quit his band and, when our drummer left, we asked him. We actually waited a while so that nobody gets mad at us for “stealing their drummer”, which they still did. But it worked out excellently, I wish that happened sooner. He gets it. He is a superb listener and is willing to work on riffs with us and make songs the best they can be, and we can always agree on a choice of beer.

You're from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. What is the local live scene there. Do you have a live scene to perform gigs on a regular basis or do you have to travel further afield. (Though I'm a huge fan of fellow Philadelphia Stoner Rockers ALMOST HONEST).

Well, we have slowed down a bit since Ross moved to a different town. But yea we regularly played local shows with our friends’ bands, opened for lots of great touring bands coming through Philly for a long long time, as well as making a few trips outside of the city and state. Stinking Lizaveta is our favorite local band, or anywhere, really. They got to be really good friends of ours and we played a lot of shows opening for them.

Our very first show was with Serpent Throne and Jail, then also brand new bands playing their first shows. Serpent Throne have done pretty well for themselves in the years to come. But that was ages ago. Ruby The Hatchet is another local band we played with that made a name for themselves worldwide. The scene comes in waves, bands come and go and newer bands show up. Then there were bands like Skeleton Hands, and Black Urn a few years back, who were the younger kids coming to our shows at one point. They are gone now. Don’t think we know Almost Honest. Great name. I think they are from a bit outside of Philly, a little out there in Pennsylvania - it’s a huge state so that makes sense. The older we get the harder it gets to keep up with the newer bands.

What future gigs have you coming up and will you be promoting the album more next year.

Yes, we plan to do a record release show in town this winter, and hoping to make a trip to Pittsburgh, where we have a lot of friends. It is hard to find time with Ross living farther away now, but we all would love to play more.

The artwork for the new album is sublime which isn't surprising since the artwork is by the legendary Drew Elliott (Midnight, Amorphis, Blood Feast, Necrophagia, etc). How much involvement did you have with the final design and how did you manage to work with Drew in the first place.

Drew is a close and dear old friend of ours. He lives in town, we hang out, he is the best dude. We told him about our experience and the idea that came from it. He did our last cover as well but we wanted to have more of his signature style on this new painting. He draws these frightening characters and figures, and so he gave us this little blue guy in a gross little apartment, which we thought was perfect.

Your new album is being released by Strange Mono Records. How did you hook up with that label and what formats is the album being released upon.

Again, we have been friends with Dan for a long time. We were sitting on our finished album not knowing what to do with it until he got his label going and decided to help us get it out. We are very thankful because it is impossible to get any labels’ attentions and we never had anyone help us like that before. It’s fun working with friends! It is coming out on vinyl LP, cassette tapes, and of course digital download.

What bands or artists influenced you to pick up an instrument and to become a musician.

Oddly, a lot of old thrash metal, early death metal and doom. Kreator, Carcass, Cathedral, that sort of thing… old Sepultura, Entombed, Obituary. That’s the stuff we grew up with. Ross has a lot of punk influences as well, Butthole Surfers is a big one, Fang, Germs. Stuff that sounds like everything is about to fall apart. We share a lot of love for bands like Saint Vitus, The Obsessed, Melvins, Monster Magnet etc, whom I may have discovered after I first picked up a guitar, but who’ve been strong influences in shaping my playing.

Do you have any side projects that folks can check out.

I have a metal project with Zach called Decorporealized, and also play drums in a punk band called Be Nothing (Strange Mono). Ross is in a newer band called Cat Eye, and he was in Beer Breakfast Dungeness Crab, and also in Big Burly, both have releases on Strange Mono. When The Corvette isn’t doing stuff, we are still rockin’.

Before you go, do you have any words of wisdom for your fans currently out there.

Stay warm! No… We aren’t done yet! We keep doing it, however slowly. There are more riffs and songs to mess around with out there. There will be time, we’ll find em. And also - stay warm, stay hydrated! Thanks!

Words by Steve Howe and Alexei Korolev

Thanks to Dan at Discipline PR for arranging this interview and thanks to Alexei for taking the time out to do the interview.

Little Blue Guy will be available to buy on Cassette/DD/Vinyl via Strange Mono Records from December 01st 2023.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Tuber - Joyful Science (Album Review)

Release Date: December 01st 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Joyful Science - Tracklisting

Joyful Science

No One For Life

Chain Of Signs

Eau Rouge

Burning Florence

Members

Alexei Korolev - Guitars

Ross Prtichett - Bass/Vocals

Zach Price - Drums

Review

Acclaimed Instrumental Desert/Stoner Rockers Tuber return from a six and half year slumber with their new album Joyful Science which sees the band develop a more Electronic based sound compared to their previous albums. This could have easily gone wrong but Tuber have delivered a more transcendental and uplifting sound which still harks back to their trademark Psychedelic grooves. Joyful Science also contains its fair share of Post-Rock themes with a haunting 1980's Electronic beats which would have quite a cinematic soundtrack effect.

Opening song Joyful Science is mostly Electronic Rock driven with a subtle Post-Rock/Desert Rock score with Tuber experimentation with different levels of creative storytelling that's reminiscent of Yawning Man in places. The overall result is wonderfully stylish and quite adventurous sound that is quite heavy without being heavy. The song becomes more Prog Rock based but with a Trippy and Ambient flow which still allows Tuber to play exquisite Desert Rock based extended instrumental jams before disappearing into the distance.

Second song No Cure For Life delves even deeper into the Electronica landscape with moments of Blues Rock based Desert/Stoner grooves with a freaky Psychedelic drive. The guitars are quite vivid with the music becoming more experimental with a familiar Californian Desert Rock vibe. Post-Rock flourishes soon moves over into the theatre and realistic vision of 1980's soundtracks that you may have heard from iconic shows such as Miami Vice though Tuber keeps the Stoner Rock movement alive within the album.

Third song Chain of Signs opens with sounds from the era of 8-bit video games but delivered with a certain Desert Rock panache and style. The atmosphere becomes more Stoner Rock aware and the jagged guitars allows Tuber never to sway from delivering a Heavy Instrumental Rock album. Tuber could have easily lost their way with this track but the Electronic/Desert Rock hybrid sound never goes out of style or fashion with a pulsating performance from the band allowing this track to be one of the standout tracks on the album. The sound is quite aggressive even when the Electronic Rock takes centre stage for certain parts of the track.

Fourth song Eau Rouge keeps up with the Electronica beats with more gloom based influences being added which feels like a mashup of Jan Hammer and John Carpenter based soundtracks but played with a more Hard Rock orientated theme. The mood can be quite spontaneous and flashy in places but the epic flow of different musical worlds brings a more vibrant sound to the album especially on Eau Rouge.

The final song Burning Florence sees Tuber being more low-key with their creative choices and instrumental sounds they play on this track. Moving from Post-Rock to dreamlike Desert/Stoner Rock jams can be quite challenging to hear at times but there's a wonderful haunting sound that ends this album on a mighty finish.

Joyful Science is a great album from Tuber to come back with. The production values are excellent that allows Tuber to deliver their most engaging and emotionally charged release to date. Joyful Science will delight and confuse you in equal measure but will ultimately leave you craving for more incredible instrumental sounds that only Tuber can deliver.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to 3P Lab for the promo.

Joyful Science will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from December 01st 2023.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Introduce Yourselves: SAN LEO

How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?

We play intense, immersive music. Sometimes it’s minimal, a lot of the times it’s pretty dense and packed with sounds. It’s been this way since our first attempts in 2013. Starting with a simple guitar-drums setup, in the last few years we’ve added a few more sound sources (sampler, keyboard/synth, vocals). We try to keep it exciting and share our vision.

Describe your first musical memory.

inserirefloppino (drums): sneaking into my parents’ car to listen to ‘Yellow Submarine’ on cassette.

m tabe (guitar): a brass/drums marching band somewhere, it was loud and chaotic.

Describe your best musical memory to date.

inserirefloppino: the first time I sat on a drum kit.

m tabe: can’t think of THE best, but Phil Elverum’s first distorted bass attack during The Microphones’s live performance at LeGuessWho in 2021 was pretty cool.

When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?

Every time we walk on stage we test our principles and convictions. Sometimes it all works out fine and we feel like we’re in the right direction, other times we need to take a step back, get our shit together and try again.

Where do you feel artistic progression leads?

Hopefully a deeper understanding of oneself, and in general a perpetual search for clearer, sharper expression. It probably never ends.

How do you define success?

On one side, managing to communicate what you are in a way that’s relevant to other people. On a more intimate, inner level, success would be staying curious, always finding new ideas to be passionate about and/or obsessed with.

What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?

Television (the thing, not the band) and social networks.

Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.

If we could define this idea in our head clearly enough to describe it in a few words we might as well start working on it right now! But just for fun, it would be cool someday to collaborate with other media artists, film/video makers, performers, lighting technicians, set designers… Who knows.

What do you believe is the most essential function of art?

To let us peek into a different interpretation of reality, a vision stripped of conventions and re-shaped into some new kind of Truth.

Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?

We might want to check the new Anish Kapoor exhibition in Florence - the last one in Venice was pretty good, his work is always inspiring.

Words by San Leo

Thanks to Metaversus PR for all of the details.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Thursday 30 November 2023

Exclusive Song Premiere of Doom/Stoner Rockers NEBULA DRAG New Song KNEECAP From Upcoming New Album WESTERN DEATH

WESTERN DEATH is the third album release from San Diego-based psychedelic hard rock band, Nebula Drag.

You’re invited to lose yourself in a 7-song explosion of sound and vision. Whether it’s the first track—“Crosses”—or the weight of the 7th track—“Western Death,” Nebula Drag’s unity and hard work have made this album very special.

The massive drums, blazing guitar, and fuzzy bass deliver a powerful interpretation of where this band is going with their signature sound and approach to all that is Psychedelic-Hard Rock.

Sharing the stage with bands such as YOB, Church of Misery, The Skull, Mars Red Sky, Sasquatch, SubRosa, Monolord, and many others has inspired Nebula Drag in a way that they hope is moving the band into new musical territory.

The best part is that in regards to the vinyl record, you can choose either the “Western” side or the “Death” side for your listening pleasure.

You can hear the stunning new song Kneecap from the forthcoming album Western Death.

"Kneecap is one of our favorite songs to play and we’re looking forward to sharing it with everyone. The song was the last song we wrote for this album and is really just a mid tempo crusher.

Inspired by shitty friends and powered by weed, this tune is best played at maximum volume." - Corey Quintana / Nebula Drag

Credits

Releases December 8, 2023 on Desert Records
Recorded at Rarefied Recording Studios, San Diego Ca.
Engineered by Ethan Transmissions
Mixing by Nebula Drag, Ethan Transmissions
Mastering and Editing by Christopher Haynes/Demeter Studios (Ca,).
Album cover Artwork by Jordan Lentz
Additional album artwork, layout, design and development by Stephen Varns
All songs written and performed by Nebula Drag
Words and lyrics Corey Quintana

Pre-orders for limited edition LP’s and CD’s are available on Bandcamp now! https://nebuladrag.bandcamp.com/album/western-death

Links:

Bandcamp: https://nebuladrag.bandcamp.com/album/western-death

FB: https://www.facebook.com/NebulaDragz

IG: https://www.instagram.com/nebuladrag/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0mGyreYTkvctKqlQwLLwd2?si=N462xnmSRACNlkuQqH2wcw

Thanks to Desert Bloom PR for all of the details.

Acid Magus Shares Mesmerizing Lyric Video for "A Planet, A Deathstar" from Critically Acclaimed Album "Hope Is Heavy"

Photo Credit – Christelle Duvenage

In a sonic voyage that transcends the boundaries of conventional music, Acid Magus, the South African progressive psychedelic doom quintet, is thrilled to announce the release of a captivating lyric video for "A Planet, A Deathstar," the fourth track from their highly praised sophomore album, "Hope Is Heavy." For fans of All Them Witches and those who revel in the atmospheric realms of psychedelic doom, Acid Magus promises an immersive journey through hauntingly beautiful soundscapes.

"A Planet, A Deathstar" opens with hauntingly delicate acoustic guitars, creating an atmospheric and desolate ambiance that draws the listener into a sonic abyss. The track then unfolds into an expansive cascade of stoner/grunge rock-inspired riffs, showcasing Acid Magus' masterful ability to blend contrasting elements seamlessly. The lyrics, delivered with evocative intensity, invite fans to join the band on a quest for meaning hidden between the lines.

The lyric video, a visual masterpiece crafted by the talented Marthinus Kirsten, complements the song's ethereal nature. Kirsten's artistic interpretation adds a layer of visual depth, enhancing the overall experience and allowing fans to further immerse themselves in the profound narrative woven by Acid Magus.

The members of Acid Magus include Keenan Kinnear, Roelof Van Tonder, Anrico Jeske, Brendon Bezuidenhout, and Jethro Vlag. Their collective synergy has given rise to "Hope Is Heavy," an album that has garnered critical acclaim for its innovative approach to the progressive psychedelic doom genre.

"A Planet, A Deathstar" is a testament to the band's ability to weave together diverse musical elements into a cohesive and mesmerizing tapestry.

Buy / Stream Hope Is Heavy

https://orcd.co/hope-is-heavy
https://acidmagus.bandcamp.com/album/hope-is-heavy

Follow Acid Magus

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Psych Stoner Rockers We Kill Cowboys Unleashes Psychedelic Grunge Fury with Earth Demon Live Performance Video

Cape Town's dynamic 4-piece rock 'n roll ensemble, We Kill Cowboys, is set to captivate audiences with the release of their live performance video for the latest single, Earth Demon. This electrifying visual spectacle, directed by Owen Wilson, unfolds at LuvBuzz Studios the band's rehearsal space, transforming it into a psychedelic haven where music and mayhem collide.

Fronted by tattoo artist, and singer-songwriter, Alex Muller, We Kill Cowboys is a force to be reckoned with. Their genre-defying sound melds psychedelic rock, punk rock, grunge, and stoner blues into a potent auditory cocktail that has left audiences clamouring for more.

The video is a raw and unfiltered glimpse into the heart of the band’s sonic onslaught. Shot amidst the pulsating energy of their rehearsal studio, the video captures the essence of a We Kill Cowboys party, where friends join the chaos for a night of unbridled celebration.

Watch the video for Earth Demon below

Jono Tait’s, the mastermind behind the searing guitar riffs that slice through the air, takes centre stage, while Andrew Middelkoop’s thunderous metal drum fills inject an undeniable pulse into the music. The foundation of their musical onslaught is laid by Danie Otto, whose fuzzy bass grooves resonate deep within, providing the backbone for We Kill Cowboys' aural explosion.

Known for their immersive live performances, We Kill Cowboys is ready to shake the very core of the music scene. Their shows are a relentless surge of energy, cranking the amplifiers to the max and leaving audiences' ears ringing and minds reeling. The "Earth Demon" live performance video promises to be a visual and auditory feast, showcasing the band's commitment to pushing boundaries and expanding horizons.

Buy / Stream Earth Demon

Follow We Kill Cowboys

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