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Release Date: November 21st 2025. Record Label: Argonauta Records (Octopus Rising): Formats: CD/Digital
Ice Age Desert - Tracklisting
Gateway
Tundra
Burning Waters
Crocodile
Trapdoor
Sunless Queen
Dune Chameleon
Fire (Extended Version 2025)
Se Ponga El Sol
Lineup
Ginny Wagon (vocals, guitar)
Roberta Finiguerra (bass, backing vocals)
Serena Bodratto (drums, backing vocals)
Review
Heavy Psych/Doom/Stoner Rockers Dune Aurora finally unleash their highly anticipated debut album Ice Age Desert which sees them aligned to premiere Powerhouse Record Label Argonauta Records imprint Octopus RIsing. Dune Aurora is inspired by the likes of Acid King, Uncle Acid and Ruby The Hatchet with some wicked darkly sonic expeditions into areas of Grunge, Desert Rock and Occult Rock. The whole record moves across different areas of the Heavy Rock spectrum with Dune Aurora keeping themselves fully accustomed to the underground rock scene where they play a great style of monolithic and fuzzy surroundings with highly passionate vocals appearing from all members of the band.
Lead vocalist Ginny Wagon impresses throughout with excellent support from Roberta Finiguerra (Bass) and Serena Bodratto (Drums) providing backing vocals. When they all appear together there’s a destructive emotional quality that makes Dune Aurora fully standout amongst their musical peers. The sudden flashes of dominant Sludge Rock attitude sees the band become a heavier, aggressive and more thrilling unit especially within the opening tracks of Gateway, Tundra and Burning Waters. Ice Age Desert offers an ice-cold style of classic Desert Rock landscapes with heavy OCCULT overtones that sees an epic POST-DOOM / SHOEGAZE effect emerging with what sounds like ACID KING jamming ideas with WINDHAND but for a modern Doomed Out audience.
The record is superbly recorded with Dune Aurora drawing upon the legendary talents of James Plotkin for mastering duties. Throw in the excellent work handled by Davide Donvito on recording and mixing duties then you have an album that sounds remarkably fresh and modern whilst aiming for that classic Nineties Desert Rock, Stoner Rock and Grunge based sound.
Dune Aurora even finds the time to add elements of Alt Rock into the mix on tracks such as Crocodile, Trapdoor, Sunless Queen and Fire. Everything still retains its sense of Doom, Occult and Stoner Rock authenticity whilst having a GOTHIC attitude appearing within the lyrics. Dune Aurora reminds me of much missed Doom Rockers HIGH PRIESTESS in many ways who sadly called it quits back in November 2023. Both bands played their own great style of Doom/Stoner Metal but with Dune Aurora adding a riffier modern Fuzz/Stoner Rock perspective.
I will admit I can hear echoes of COHEED & CAMBRIA within Dune Aurora’s style of progressive storytelling though I maybe imagining that aspect but it’s a refreshing change of pace of how the lyrics and creative outline of the album is fully delivered throughout the album.
Ice Age Desert is a superb debut album with Dune Aurora leaving a trail of highly destructive STONER ROCK energy behind them and in this form nothing can stand in their way in obtaining some form of greatness within the next eighteen months or so
Words by Steve Howe
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