Live Review: Desert Storm - The Black Heart, London
2nd April 2024
Support: Sedulus, Famyne
Words & Photos: Jacob Schwar
Desert Storm, Oxford’s very own purveyors of sludge and stoner, were in town and bringing some post-Easter holiday heaviness to the Black Heart pub tonight, tagging along were some excellently complimentary support acts with Kentish doomers Famyne and local stoners Sedulus, indicating that tonight’s event will be a riff-tastic feast to say the least. This is part of the 2nd leg of Desert Storm’s ‘ Death Rattle’ European Tour which will see the band playing a selection of dates across mainland Europe with some UK appearances including Ruination Festival in Bradford and even a main-stage slot at this year’s edition of Bloodstock Festival!
First on tonight were local lads Sedulus performing some good, honest stoner metal with plenty of fuzz, grove and ambience thrown in, helping us all to get warmed-up and ready! They tore their way through tracks such as ‘Sycamore’ with its catchy riffs and pummelling drums which were almost impossible not to nod along to, all whilst lead-man Will Wichanski belted out some John Dyer Baizley style vocals. Though a highlight was with ‘Heat Death’ which allowed Sedulus to really show off their atmospheric and ambient side, delving into a more space and drone rock soundscape that came across powerfully in the live environment though neither was the song without it’s doomy, stoner parts which hit like a hammer, these chaps were loud I can tell you that!
Up next were Famyne with their unique take on traditional doom with ample mysticism and occult in the mix, making for a intensely dramatic sound! At first listen they reminded me of a more heavier and doomier version of Green Lung with that quintessential Anglo-doom sound consisting of Sabbath-esque riffs and higher register vocals with tracks such as the crushing opener ‘Defeated’ or the epically catchy ‘Solid Earth’ undoubtedly a defining song for Famyne.
At the helm, was singer Tom Vane who sang with such a sinister demeanour, you’d think he was possessed by some ancient spirit, he crooned with such despair and emotion on ‘For My Sins’ in which his vocals really take centre stage whilst conjuring images of Vincent Price and Hammer House Horror in my mind. So if you like your doom with a bit of occult, don’t sleep on this band!
Finally it was time for Desert Storm who wasted no time by kicking straight into ‘Master Of None’ and already the heaviness was in full-force! They would follow this up with an all-out sludge number ‘Melatone’ which was full to the brim with groove, chuggy riffs and NOLA sludge vocals from singer Matt Ryan. It was clear to see Desert Storm were on top-form, sounding as tight and energetic as ever and clearly enjoying every minute of it, blatantly so on the crushing ‘Vengeful Gods’ which saw drummer Elliot Cole battering his kit within an inch of it’s life!
Extra set highlights included ‘Bad Trip’ with it’s calmingly atmospheric intro before switching to that signature Desert Storm sludge as well as the fan favourite ‘Black Bile’ which is the one track I’d recommend to any fan to get a taste of Desert Storm’s sound. Overall, an exhilarating performance with plenty of riffs and tight musicianship throughout which is always to be expected with these chaps, most importantly if you’re at Bloodstock Festival this year, make sure you see Desert Storm on the main stage that Friday, you won’t be disappointed I’m sure!
Photo credits: Jacob Schwar
