Release Date: March 31st 2023. Record Label: APF Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Death Rattle: Tracklisting
1. Master Of None
2. Cheyne Stoking
3. Bad Trip
4. Melatone
5. Salt Of The Earth
6. Druid's Heath
7. Insomniac
8. Self Deprecation
9. New Dawn
Members
Mattew Ryan - vocals
Ryan Cole - guitars
Chris White - guitars, keyboards, backing vocals
Elliot Cole - drums
Matthew Bennett - bass guitar
Review
Can't keep track of them all, can you? This is the first time I've come across Desert Storm from England, and they are bloody brilliant! Their album 'Death Rattle' is actually their seventh full-length and I've missed out on them completely...until now. Better late than ever though since the music is this damned great. However, no wonder I took to this band since brothers Ryan and Elliot are in the equally excellent The Grand Mal. True, both bands have different styles but the quality of both are beyond words and that's the important thing.
It only takes a couple of bars for opener 'Master Of None' to grab my attention completely. Pummeling and cleansing at the same time, Desert Storm bring forth wonderful aural visions the same way Boss Keloid does. This continues in 'Cheyne Stoking', a brilliant song where the music weaves back and forth between soothing sections and bone-crushing tones. A beautiful invocative beginning allows 'Bad Trip' to reel you in before a more sinister side of Desert Storm arise. The band takes you through different stages of emotions just like a bad trip. Great song! 'Melatone' is spaced out and trippy blended perfectly with their excellent heaviness. The middle section and the amazing guitar solo elevates this already great song further. Desert Storm are masters at switching back and forth between different moods and emotions and none so more in 'Salt Of The Earth'. Starting off minimalistically and brilliantly, two minutes in they unleash the full fury only to drop back, again showcasing this fantastic trait.
'Druid's Heath' brings amidst all it's heaviness so much harmonies and melody which will mess with your head in the best possible way. Hypnotic and trance-inducing it definitely cleanses your mind. Holy hell, 'Insomniac' is another amazing beast bringing ebb and tide of pulverising playing and mellow, reflective and spaced-out segues. Lurking and sinister, 'Self Deprecation' goes for a slower, relentless crushing tone instead of speed....which is Desert Storm's insignia. Eventually it sweeps into a trippy, meditative state. Closer 'New Dawn' is an instrumental piece focusing on transcendency penetrating our senses and bringing relief and catharsis.
I am so glad these guys came my way. There's so much music out there these days with most of it being nothing but fodder. Sadly most of that gets the attention while the great music and bands are pushed to the side. Nothing so with Desert Storm though! They are simply fantastic any which way you look at it. Song writing, musicianship and an urge and desire to evolve have put them where they are at...and that's in the top echelon of music. People, it doesn't get much better than this, so check out Desert Storm. Your life will be so much better!
Words by Håkan Nyman
Thanks to For The Lost for the promo.
Death Rattle is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl/Cassette via APF Records.
Links
Linktree | BandCamp
