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  • FESTIVAL PREVIEW: DesertFest London 2026

    FESTIVAL PREVIEW: DesertFest London 2026

    Words: Matthew Williams
    Photos: Tim Finch

    After many years of admiring Desertfest from afar, I finally ventured down to Camden last year for the UK’s premier festival of all things doom, stoner, sludge and psych. The excitement of being there for the first time was only improved further when I saw next year’s dates advertised in The Electric Ballroom, and I vowed to return. With so many amazing and talented bands on offer it whetted my appetite, so here’s who to look out for at this year’s stunning event.

    Inevitably, all eyes will be on the main stage headliners with two huge nights planned for The Roundhouse, which is a fabulous venue to watch live music. I let out a few whoops of delight when I saw Hermano confirmed, as I’ve been a massive fan for years, so they are a “must-see”. Having witnessed Green Lung in Manchester three times in recent years and seeing singer Tom Templar enjoying himself at The Underworld last year, I’m looking forward to hopefully hearing some new songs mixed with their awesome back catalogue. And finally, I can’t add any words about Clutch that haven’t been said before, and as one of the best live bands in the world, they’ll certainly be bringing their DC Sound Attack on Sunday night.

    Friday

    If you haven’t seen Belgium’s Dukes of Disgrace Gnome before then get along to the Electric Ballroom, as they are incredible and it will explain the plethora of red pointy hats that will be seen around Camden on Friday, but kicking the day off is one of the godfathers of desert rock, Mario Lalli and his Rubber Snake Charmers, which will be an audible treat for all. Over at The Underworld, they are hosting some absolute gems, with Swedish rockers Hallas headlining, but I’m intrigued by Lorquin’s Admiral, Glasgow doomgazers Cwfen and of course the return of New Jersey heavyweights Solace.

    Photo Credit: Tim Finch Photography

    I’ve witnessed Witchsorrow live a few times and they are well worth casting your eye over but it’s The Black Heart where more of my interest leans, with the return of Florida sludge pioneers Cavity, aided in their onslaught by the mighty Moloch, punchy Praetorian and Iron Slug. And if that wasn’t enough, The Dev has Italian quartet Supernaughty, who I’m really excited about seeing, alongside Iron Rat and headliners Meatdripper. If you manage to survive all this, then you are doing well, but Saturday will come around quickly, so get ready for more.

    Saturday

    Another day that is stacked with bands which will have people running in-between venues to catch as many as possible. If you want a bit of crossover thrash then head to the Roundhouse for the brilliant Inhuman Nature, or if death metal is your thing, catch Brighton’s Smouldering Tomb at The Dev. Another must-see band for me is IAN as their album was one of my top five from last year and I simply can’t wait to enjoy their elegant post rock drudgery.

    Photo Credit: Tim Finch Photography

    The Black Heart once again hosts some excellent bands, with Londoners Okay You Win and Denver’s Abrams two of the bands I need to catch with Texans High Desert Queen headlining, who will have the crowd rocking. If you want your ears to bleed, then head The Underworld for the raw aggression of Harrowed followed by the immense Khost, and if you survive that and crave something more fearsome at the end of the evening, then Scotland’s Coffin Mulch are the ones for you, and having seen them twice, they are something to behold.

    Sunday

    The Roundhouse on Sunday is one of those days that people dream of, as it is laden from start to finish with absolute quality. Not only do we get headliners Clutch, but the return of another Texas powerhouse, The Sword alongside the unparalleled genius that is Earthless, Sweden’s fuzzy legends Truckfighters and all started off by the juicy Steak. The venue will be packed out but, as always with Desertfest, there are gems across the other venues as well.

    Photo Credit: Tim Finch Photography

    One of which is Panama’s AlphaWhores, a duo who bring their intriguing alternative metal sound to the UK, so be sure to watch them but only after you’ve been wowed by the musical shapeshifters known as Teiger and Sweden’s post-psych band Den Der Hale. Mumbai’s favourite sons Midhaven kick off proceedings at The Underworld, so I’m hoping to pop in to see them and having witnessed the sheer power of The Grey earlier this year, I can’t recommend them highly enough, alongside Alunah and two of the other headliners, Blackwater Holylight and Cult of Occult.

    With so much on offer over the three days, Desertfest London gives people an opportunity to not only discover new bands but have that immense joy and satisfaction of watching your favourite bands once again. See you there earth rockers!!

    Photo credits: Tim Finch Photography

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    The post FESTIVAL PREVIEW: DesertFest London 2026 appeared first on The Razor's Edge.

  • “God bless America’s judicial system. It proves that even Metallica can get a fair hearing!” How the world’s biggest metal band put on a chaotic gig in a car park – and infuriated politicians, a stadium and half a city in the process

    As Metallica prepare to reissue 1997’s Reload, we look back on the calamitous free gig that launched the album 29 years ago

  • Rush Lost Its Beloved Drummer. The Band Is Ready to Get Back on the Road.

    After losing Neil Peart to cancer six years ago, the trio is returning to touring with Anika Nilles, a powerhouse drummer who’s forged her own relationship with the group.

  • Soho Dukes started as a 19th-century drinking club. Now they’re bringing fun back to rock’n’roll

    Hats off to a band with a questionable past and sword-swallowing, trick-cycling, lion-taming grandparents

  • NovaReign – Reveal Music Video For ‘Sun & Moon’

    Southern California-based progressive power metal formation NovaReign is back with new music. The band presents an official video for their newest single, “Sun & Moon”. The latter will appear on the forthcoming studio record Shifting The Axis Of The World, due on July 17th 2026 via M-Theory Audio.
    Read more…

  • Aeons In Solitude – Will Put Out Sophomore Album Soon

    May 15, 2026 will see the release of Aeons In Solitude‘s second full-length instalment dubbed Black Lumina. The 8-piece music output by Greek duo was mixed and mastered at Fragile Studio in Athens, Greece by Vangelis Yalamas. Check out two new songs via Bandcamp widget below.
    Read more…

  • Bathing Suits – Kill Bathing Suits – EP Review

    BATHING SUITS: KILL BATHING SUITS DL | 12″ Available here OUT NOW VIA UNDERPLAY RECORDINGS   Leeds four piece Bathing Suits have just released their debut EP. Keith Goldhanger suggests we should all go to see this band as soon as we can. The monster-truck, thrill a second, noisy, chaotic, electronic/guitar band Bathing Suits have […]

    The post Bathing Suits – Kill Bathing Suits – EP Review appeared first on Louder Than War.

  • A View From The Back Of The Room: Fury & King Kraken (Debby Myatt & Tony Gaskin)

    Fury, King Kraken & Rites To Ruin, KK’s Steelmill Wolverhampton, 24.04.26

    After a short hiatus with gigs, we’re back at KK’s tonight for the first of three gigs in quick succession.

    Tonight’s entertainment is courtesy of a Fury and King Kraken double header and they’ve bought Welsh metal outfit Rites To Ruin (9) who are promoting their debut album Daughter Of Hatred.

    The Anglo-Welsh quintet take to the stage as the early crowd start to fill the smaller room here at the Steel Mill, but it doesn’t take long for them to impress those present with their brand of British Heavy Metal with a Power/Symphonic twist. 

    Vocalist Krissie Kirby is well known through her tenure as front woman for Bloodstock veterans Triaxis, a link she’s continued with her current bands appearance there as well. Her powerful voice dominates the room as the band showcases songs from the new album. Stand out songs include the title track plus In Memoriam, For The Love Of Gold and the utterly brilliant Prevail. 

    The twin guitar assault of Matt and Lee provides a multi layered epicness to each song. Paul on bass gives the tunes the depth, whilst the drums of Zak drive it all along at pace. By the end of their set the room is packed and an enthusiastic crowd gives you the sense that this band is going on to bigger stages. 

    For tonight’s show, it’s King Kraken (9) who takes to the stage first and they kick off their 60 minutes with the anthemic Call To War, a rallying cry to the masses, and those masses have surely grown off the back of their triumphant appearances at Stonedead Festival and Bloodstock Winter Gathering.

    Front man Mark Donoghue is in fine fettle, orchestrating the crowd. The big hitters are all bought out tonight, El Giganto, Berserker and Man-Made Monster the pick of the bunch, but they’ve taken it up a notch with the killer (no pun intended) new song, Second Skin. An ode to Buffalo Bill, the infamous serial killer from Silence Of The Lambs. The groove is infectious and sits nicely in the bands repertoire.

    And before you know it, Donoghue announces the final track, March Of The Gods, the title track off that brilliant album. The Kraken is well and truly awake and ready for world domination in 2026! 

    What can we say about Fury (10) that we haven’t already said? The bands on stage chemistry, the fun, the sheer joy of watching a band create something special with consummate ease? Yeah, we’ve said it all before, but we never get tired of saying it.

     JJ is a superb musician, vocalist, song writer etc and years of hard work and bloody mindedness have resulted in this boss level of Fury. Everything just gels, from JJ’s wit and banter, Nyah’s infectious fun through to the incredible skills of Becky and Matt and the man at the back Tom, you don’t see many bands these days who work so hard but just love doing it.

    They open up with the title track of last years 10/10 album, Interceptor followed by the epic Prince Of Darkness and the rock n roll anthem “It’s Rock “n” Roll three punches from the top drawer. Dipping into their extensive back catalogue, this headline set enables them to play some great tunes like Star Trippin , Burnout and Road Warrior but as fun as they can be, JJ can bring it down a notch when required and tonight he was visibly emotional as he paid tribute to the late Phil Campbell and dedicated the song Walk Away to him, a real goose bump moment.

     They end their set with the epic If You Get To Hell First and once again we are sat there with a big grin on our faces. If you’ve never seen Fury live, then I encourage you to do so as soon as possible, surely one of the finest live bands on the UK circuit at the moment, and definitely one of the hardest working. Proper rock “n” roll by a band that loves what they do.

  • A View From The Back Of The Room: Fury & King Kraken (Debby Myatt & Tony Gaskin)

    Fury, King Kraken & Rites To Ruin, KK’s Steelmill Wolverhampton, 24.04.26

    After a short hiatus with gigs, we’re back at KK’s tonight for the first of three gigs in quick succession.

    Tonight’s entertainment is courtesy of a Fury and King Kraken double header and they’ve bought Welsh metal outfit Rites To Ruin (9) who are promoting their debut album Daughter Of Hatred.

    The Anglo-Welsh quintet take to the stage as the early crowd start to fill the smaller room here at the Steel Mill, but it doesn’t take long for them to impress those present with their brand of British Heavy Metal with a Power/Symphonic twist. 

    Vocalist Krissie Kirby is well known through her tenure as front woman for Bloodstock veterans Triaxis, a link she’s continued with her current bands appearance there as well. Her powerful voice dominates the room as the band showcases songs from the new album. Stand out songs include the title track plus In Memoriam, For The Love Of Gold and the utterly brilliant Prevail. 

    The twin guitar assault of Matt and Lee provides a multi layered epicness to each song. Paul on bass gives the tunes the depth, whilst the drums of Zak drive it all along at pace. By the end of their set the room is packed and an enthusiastic crowd gives you the sense that this band is going on to bigger stages. 

    For tonight’s show, it’s King Kraken (9) who takes to the stage first and they kick off their 60 minutes with the anthemic Call To War, a rallying cry to the masses, and those masses have surely grown off the back of their triumphant appearances at Stonedead Festival and Bloodstock Winter Gathering.

    Front man Mark Donoghue is in fine fettle, orchestrating the crowd. The big hitters are all bought out tonight, El Giganto, Berserker and Man-Made Monster the pick of the bunch, but they’ve taken it up a notch with the killer (no pun intended) new song, Second Skin. An ode to Buffalo Bill, the infamous serial killer from Silence Of The Lambs. The groove is infectious and sits nicely in the bands repertoire.

    And before you know it, Donoghue announces the final track, March Of The Gods, the title track off that brilliant album. The Kraken is well and truly awake and ready for world domination in 2026! 

    What can we say about Fury (10) that we haven’t already said? The bands on stage chemistry, the fun, the sheer joy of watching a band create something special with consummate ease? Yeah, we’ve said it all before, but we never get tired of saying it.

     JJ is a superb musician, vocalist, song writer etc and years of hard work and bloody mindedness have resulted in this boss level of Fury. Everything just gels, from JJ’s wit and banter, Nyah’s infectious fun through to the incredible skills of Becky and Matt and the man at the back Tom, you don’t see many bands these days who work so hard but just love doing it.

    They open up with the title track of last years 10/10 album, Interceptor followed by the epic Prince Of Darkness and the rock n roll anthem “It’s Rock “n” Roll three punches from the top drawer. Dipping into their extensive back catalogue, this headline set enables them to play some great tunes like Star Trippin , Burnout and Road Warrior but as fun as they can be, JJ can bring it down a notch when required and tonight he was visibly emotional as he paid tribute to the late Phil Campbell and dedicated the song Walk Away to him, a real goose bump moment.

     They end their set with the epic If You Get To Hell First and once again we are sat there with a big grin on our faces. If you’ve never seen Fury live, then I encourage you to do so as soon as possible, surely one of the finest live bands on the UK circuit at the moment, and definitely one of the hardest working. Proper rock “n” roll by a band that loves what they do.

  • Premiere: AWAKEN THE HATE ‘Fucked Up!’

    Sunshine Coast metallers Awaken The Hate have officially signed with XMusic, marking the next step in the band’s journey. The first release via the label is the bands new single Fucked Up! which is featured on their forthcoming EP, Open Your Mind. Fucked Up is a fast, no-brakes 2-minute thrash ripper inspired by the raw […]