Phantom Logic - Salton Dust (Album Review)

Release Date: 27th April 2026. Record Label: Glory Or Death Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Salton Dust - Tracklisting

1.Salton Dust I 19:49

2.Salton Dust II 06:43

3.Glyphwave 05:13

4.A Sigil Bloom 09:06

Members

Matthew Glenn Meyer - Guitar

Kristofer Dawson - Bass

Kiran Sheshadri - Drums

Review

Salton Dust is the debut album from Instrumental Psychedelic Stoner Rockers Phantom Logic and it’s quite a highly captivating free-flowing affair that shows traces of Acid Rock, Space Rock and Post-Doom melodies along the way. Phantom Logic have a major secret weapon at their disposal on this record and that’s the extraordinary musical talents of a certain Isaiah Mitchell (EARTHLESS) appearing throughout the whole album. Sure, EARTHLESS is a massive influence on Phantom Logic but that’s only a small aspect with the band taking cues from the likes of YAWNING MAN, KARMA TO BURN, MONKEY3 and even heavier Doomed Out Bands.

The record has an epic free-flowing melody which allows Phantom Logic to tap right into the seedy heaviness of their Acid Rock creative persona with a lucid imagination exploring deeper Progressive musical themes especially within the epic opening track of Salton Dust I. There’s a rebellious slice of Classic Hard Rock that has an eerie style of Seventies Twin Guitar based action that reminds me of Thin Lizzy before the mood changes into one of Space Rock exploration with a gritty Stoner Rock undertone. 

There are many moments of all of the band's musical individuals trying to wrestle creative control from each other in order to impress Isaiah Mitchell and that musical direction brings out the absolute best of the core members of the band. The album really becomes more thrilling and interesting for me when they move firmly into the realm of Doom Rock and Stoner Metal heaviness where the music is quite frenzied. Sounds become disjointed and pushes the album into new musical areas of absolute heaviness where an unexpected sideline of Sludgy Psychedelics appear to filter out the jam-based aspect of the album from time to time.

The opening track Salton Dust I is the standout track and just whets the appetite for Phantom Logic to explore other areas of their Instrumental Heavy World for the remainder of the album. The other three tracks Salton Dust II, Glyphwave and A Sigil Bloom are equally as good with Phantom Logic; they're just as capable of creating and exploring massive cinematic worlds within shorter timescales but with a real sense of urgency and grounded reality being the main strengths of the whole album.

You have to admire the great use of Ambient sound effects, fuzzed out amplifiers and distorted reverb that’s added on various stages for the album that feels like a turning point for the listener to become more wonderfully engaged with this epic spaced out adventure. The atmosphere can be quite aggressive and wonderfully uplifting with the great use of Post-Stoner effects appearing towards the end of each song that leaves you wanting more of this sublime use of delivering music that can be quite subversive. 

Salton Dust is a record that deserves to be heard by the biggest audience possible. This is a record that has massive appeal and fans of Instrumental Rock Music should check this out when they possibly can. The production values are off the freaking scale that allows PHANTOM LOGIC to create HUGE SOUNDING GROOVES of their own making. This record has the potential to allow Phantom Logic become the “next big thing” within the Instrumental Stoner Rock scene in the years come if they keep making brilliant albums such as this.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

BandCamp | Instagram

Desertfest London announces Green Lung to headline 2026 & first wave of bands

GREEN LUNG TO HEADLINE DESERTFEST LONDON 2026 AT THE ICONIC ROUNDHOUSE
PLUS,THE SWORD AND CAPRICORNS TO PERFORM EXCLUSIVE REUNION SHOWS,
ALONGSIDE EARTHLESS & TRUCKFIGHTERS

Desertfest London | 15th -17th May 2026 

Tickets on sale now – www.desertfest.co.uk // https://link.dice.fm/Desertfest2026

Artwork - Kuba Sokólski

Desertfest London is extremely proud to announce that Green Lung will headline the 2026 edition of the festival. A band whose story is almost inseparable from our own, Green Lung formed amidst the electric atmosphere of Desertfest 2016 and their journey has nigh on mirrored the spirit of the festival - rooted in the underground, nurtured in Camden’s sweat-drenched venues and propelled into the wider world on the strength of unfathomable riffs.

What began as a cult phenomenon has since flourished into one of the UK’s most celebrated heavy bands and now, a decade later, their ascension reaches a fitting peak as Green Lung return to Desertfest London to take their rightful place at the top of the bill.

Vocalist Tom Templar shares the following; “Back at Desertfest 2016, our guitarist Scott, drummer Matt and ex-bassist Andrew met in the hallowed confines of the Black Heart, and over a few ales decided to form the band that would go on to become Green Lung. Ten years later, we couldn't be more honoured to be headlining the festival. This will undoubtedly be the biggest moment of our career to date and an opportunity to take our stage show to heights we've always dreamed of. It's also a testament to the power of the incredible London heavy rock scene that launched us, and we can't wait to bring together friends and fans old and new to celebrate a decade of the Lung at the Roundhouse! Bring on the May...”

Desertfest & Green Lung have a gargantuan amount of news to reveal for this very special performance, so prepare yourselves for a colossal celebration of our culture and community with our favourite folklore fiends.

An undeniable influence on re-shaping modern stoner metal, 2026 sees the return of heavy legends The Sword for an exclusive UK performance at Desertfest London.

Blending doom-laden riffs, mystical lyricism and a primal groove that speaks directly to the stoner/doom/psych scenes - fans can expect a career-spanning set for The Sword’s first UK show in eleven years. It’s going to be heavy, loud and utterly unmissable.

San Diego’s seminal psychedelic power trio Earthless will make their return to the Desertfest London stage for a one-off exclusive UK show. Acid-drenched riffs and transcendent improvisations are at the hypnotic centrepiece of these instrumental icons.

Continuing the theme of Desertfest London lore, we welcome back stoner rock veterans Truckfighters to the 2026 edition. Having played the inaugural edition back in 2012 and returning over the years to deliver a dose of Swedish fuzz, Truckfighters are Desertfest family.

Historical reunions continue as instrumental doom legends Capricorns will make a seismic return to the stage for a very special show at Desertfest London 2026. Marking their first live performance in eighteen years and reuniting for the first time since disbanding in 2008, this is a truly rare opportunity to witness a band that helped define the progressive doom underground of the 2000s. If you know, you know.

With much more still to announce, Desertfest London 2026 is already shaping up to be a historic edition, it’s a pilgrimage no disciple of the riff can afford to miss.

Tickets on sale now – www.desertfest.co.uk // https://link.dice.fm/Desertfest2026
Facebook: @DesertfestLondon
Instagram: @desertfest_london
Website: www.desertfest.co.uk

Thanks to Gardenia Publicity for the details.

LIVE IN THE MOJAVE DESERT Series Announced

The most exciting outdoor event in rock has today been launched: LIVE IN THE MOJAVE DESERT is a livestream concert film series, deep in the heart of the California wilderness, with performances from Earthless, Nebula, Spirit Mother, Mountain Tamer, and Stoner.

Tickets are available to purchase now: http://cdwa.tixr.com

Individual concert tickets will be available as well as discounted series passes.

Watch the teaser here.

Schedule:

EARTHLESS: Saturday 23rd January, 2021 
NEBULA: Saturday 6th February, 2021
SPIRIT MOTHER: Saturday 20th February, 2021
MOUNTAIN TAMER: Saturday 6th March, 2021
STONER (Brant Bjork + Ryan Gut + Nick Oliveri): Saturday 20th March, 2021

Inspired by Pink Floyd's iconic Live At Pompeii film, each of the concert films will be premiered online, and presented in a two-hour long live, hosted program. Some of the biggest desert rock legends will be on set attending and hosting, and the bands themselves will join the stream.

Each film will be released as a live album, with LP, CD, and DVD pre-orders to be announced soon. The project is presented by CDWA Records (California Desert Wizards Association) who have strived to present the best in the desert rock scene, and introduce some of the most exciting new talent.

The project includes new band STONER, a trio of Nick Oliveri and Brant Bjork (Kyuss), with Ryan Gut on drums.

Brant Bjork comments: "CDWA once again commits to the ultimate Rock n Roll experience for the fans and the bands regardless of what might stand in the way. Covid literally shut down live performance around the world... what do you do? You use your imagination and you go all in. Congrats to CDWA and all the bands and crew involved in this Rock n Roll response of light in this year of concert stage darkness."

On the formation of STONER and playing with Nick once again: "I remember playing Ramones songs with Nick in his mom’s living room in Palm Desert when we were kids. Nick and I have roots that go deep. Together again as the appropriately named STONER. A testament to our collective and individual dedication to our past, our present and our future Rock n Roll."

Nick Oliveri comments: "Well I think that California Desert Wizards Association is doing a great thing and a new thing under the circumstances of COVID-19, because what I do for a living stopped cold, dead in its tracks. I feel the powers that be are trying to stop and kill music or live music and I believe Dr. Jones is doing a great thing by keeping it alive. We need more people like him coming forward. Let me add, what a cool original idea - live stream while releasing a live record. For a collector like myself this is a great thing! Big cigars and cold beers to CDWA records. RnR will never die."

CDWA have implemented a custom link program which gives a portion of sales to their affiliates who sell tickets to the shows. They're creating a network of clubs, promoters, record stores and venues across the globe to help support the musical scene in this more desperate of years. 

If you're interested in joining, please get in touch here. 

To support your local participating venue, buy through their link. More information to follow.

There is no overestimating the level of undertaking on show in the LIVE IN THE MOJAVE DESERT series. Driving tonnes of gear 30 miles out into the desert to film five bands in four days, with 25 people onsite daily - the level of effort shows in a stunning range of unique musical experiences. 

In the words of Earthless' Mario Rubalcaba: "Setting up and playing our jams loudly out in the Mojave desert at night with Mad Alchemy's lightshow all around us will forever be a really great memory.  I wonder how many animals were listening?  Happy it was documented."

CDWA's Ryan Jones' statement: "This was a major undertaking to bring this many people and this much gear out to a very remote desert location. Including the bands we had 25 people onsite daily. Generators. Meals. Tacos. Burgers. Vegan food. Water. Coffee. Weed, Beer & Booze. Camping gear. Handwashing. Covid prevention plans. Portapots. Stage lights. Liquid light show. Full Sound System. So much cable to bury. Backline. Pro Tools Recording System. Computers. Cameras. Drones. Bands. Backline. Everything that came in had to go out, of course. With only one road in, all of these people and all of this stuff had to come up a half mile long hill of deep desert sand; 30 miles from nowhere. We had to hire local desert guys with huge 4x4 pickups to tow things up, tow things down, shuttle the bands, shuttle their gear, guitars, drums, and occasionally to rescue our vehicles. It was insane, but we did it for the love of the project and we really wanted to see our favorite bands play again!"

CDWA Links:

Website
Instagram
Facebook 
YouTube
Email List

Earthless - Black Heaven (Album Review)

Release date: March 16th 2018. Label: Nuclear Blast Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Black Heaven – Tracklisting

Gifted By The Wind

End To End

Electric Flame

Volt Rush

Black Heaven

Sudden End

Members

Mario Rubalcaba

Isaiah Mitchell

Mike Eginton

Review

Earthless have always been masters of their own audio reality, channelling a mix of Sabbath-esque power with ZZ Top inspired hard rocking boogie and the laid back and free vibe of their Californian homeland to create joyful soundscapes and on their masterful new album Black Heaven (a title inspired by the Joshua Tree night sky where the album was recorded) they let loose a mixture of sheer power, tight knit musical grooves and an improvised sense of freedom.

Aside from their awesome split release with Harsh Toke a couple of years ago, the band haven't released any material since 2013s From The Ages album but with Black Heaven, they blast back in fine style with an assured and potent return packed full of the riffs, groove and attitude that they are renowned for.

Black Heaven kicks off with the free flowing Gifted By The Wind, a song that alongside the driving energy and catchy riffs is a fine line in harmonica playing that compliments the song brilliantly and gets the album off to a rocking start and doesn't let up until the last notes from the albums beautifully mournful closing track Sudden End have rung out.

Tracks like the rolling Electric Flame and the aptly named Volt Rush (with a special mention of the killer guitar solos on this one) have a focus to them that gives off an awesome sense of both urgency and energy and both of theses tracks are non stop

The tracks again are largely massive instrumental freak outs but with the added addition of vocals on this album (only two of the six tracks on Black Heaven are wholly instrumental) and when those crooned vocals of guitarist/singer Isaiah Mitchell do surface, they sound immense and only enhance the cavernous Earthless sound even further and fit perfectly.

Drummer Mario Rubalcaba and bassist Mike Eginton also play faultlessly throughout and their groove combined by the non stop riffs from Mitchell creates an epic sound (just check out the huge and epic freak out that is the albums title track for proof)

The album as a whole can be summed up as a mixture of their laid back nature and that energetic focus and with Black Heaven, Earthless have made an album that resonates sunshine, good vibes and above all, good times but with a vital edge full of energy and vivacity and is a sublime album perfect for the upcoming hazy summer months.

Words by Gavin Brown

Thanks to Monica at SpeakEasy PR for the promo. Black Heaven is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl now via Nuclear Blast Records.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp