Live Review: Desertfest - Saturday
18th May 2023
Featuring: Suicidal Tendencies, Bong Ripper, Acid King, Pest Control, Monkey3, Sergeant Thunderhoof, Kal-el, Saint Karloff, Under The Ashes, Fires In The Distance
Words: Julian Pepper, Jacob Schwar, Matt Noble, Tim Finch
Photos: Jacob Schwar
Kal-El open up the Underworld on the Saturday with their warm take on fuzzy, stoner doom riff worship. Rather than annihilating people's ears and hangovers with thunderous, all-out heaviness, they soar and float with gentler melodies to get the message across. They've done well to attract such a busy room by this time of the day, and give it their all with a tight and commanding performance.
Sergeant Thunderhoof, performing as a five piece for the first time ever, have hardly sounded bigger and badder than they do today with the inclusion of a second guitarist - who, as the band's existing producer, fits like a glove. The sprawling You've Stolen The Words showcases the band's newfound heaviness, while the arse-shaking Devil's Daughter and Stellar Gate Drive exudes raw power. Interacting with the crowd with tons of charisma, Dan has the required stage presence for such sonic excess. One minute it's a party, the next the emotion is wrought from every note. Top marks.
Saturday’s proceedings at The Roundhouse are bookended by hardcore/thrash crossover bands at totally different stages of their careers. Before we get the 40th anniversary headlining set of the legends that are Suicidal Tendencies, we have relative newcomers from Leeds, Pest Control. Having only been formed during lockdown, PC’s crossover sound (think the likes of Crumbsuckers, Nuclear Assault and Municipal Waste) attracts a fairly big crowd and kicks off the first pit of the day! Vocalist Leah is a ball of energy all set, commanding the stage and spitting out lyrics while the band tear it up around her. Tracks from debut album 'Don’t Test the Pest' such as 'Masquerade Party' and 'Buggin Out' keep the crowd moving and this half hour set is over way too quick. Pest Control are definitely ones to watch!
Over at the Roundhouse were Californian doom outfit Acid King who were intent on drowning the venue in the thickest layer of authentic stoner doom complimented by guitarist Lori S at the helm providing some dreamy, reverb-laden vocals. Unfortunately the band suffered a technical error which impeded their performance initially however they came back in full-force with their crushingly heavy and distorted sound on classic tracks such as ‘2 Wheel Nation’ and the real fan favourite ‘Electric Machine’. Acid King in a sense were ‘right at home’ at Desertfest being archetypal for this kind of festival with their gigantic riffs and swampy sound, it appears the band has a decent following here in the UK and was quite clear to see the fans were lapping it up, riff by riff to be precise!
With the rising temperatures outside, the Black Heart sweatbox is even hotter today! Norwegian three-piece Saint Karloff released their third album 'Palaeolithic War Crimes' to critical acclaim last year so it’s no surprise that this set draws heavily from that album. Whilst songs such as opener 'Psychedelic Man', 'Bone Cave Escape' and 'Blood Meridian' are undoubtedly heavy, they also have a great groove and swing to them that marks them out as more than just a stoner doom band. They also make use of great tempo changes and have more of an aggressive edge at times that keeps the attention fixed during the set. Saint Karloff are one of a number of great Majestic Mountain Records bands on the bill this weekend and are definitely worthy of your time and attention.
Back up at the Roundhouse and following the technical difficulties that affected Acid King, we find Chicago’s Bongripper in stunning form. These were the band I was most looking forward to seeing this weekend and they sure did not disappoint! Given the earlier issues and the fact that Bongripper are so crushingly heavy, the sound was absolutely perfect. Playing just 3 instrumental songs in their hour long set, two from latest album 'Empty' ('Nothing' and 'Empty' itself) and 'Worship' from their seminal album '“Satan Worshipping Doom', Bongripper are so tight as they reel out some of the heaviest riffs to ever grace the Roundhouse stage! From the first drone of feedback to the final hammering riff, the crowd as one are totally transfixed by the hypnotically heavy tone emanating from the stage. The hour long set just flies by and leaves the crowd baying for more but alas, we will have to wait for when Bongripper return to our shores. Set of the weekend? You bet it was!
Over in the Dev the festival mix things up with two death metal influcened booking, far removed from their stoner/doom roots. Fires In The Distance are the first to tear things up in Camdens most famous of public houses. Next up one of the most prolific musicians on the London music scene, Al Riddle, takes his Bolt Thrower inspire project Under The Ashes take to the stage. Rip roaring riffs combine in an aural assault that leaves the stoners in attendance in a state of shock from what they have just witnessed.
Getting into the Underworld to see Swiss four-piece Monkey3 was not an easy proposition as they appear to have attracted the biggest crowd of the weekend! Having wormed my way in and finally found a vantage point to see the band I can take in the full instrumental stoner prog rock majesty in all its glory. The sound in the Underworld is once again superb, which helps given the often intricate nature of Monkey3’s sound. All four musicians are masters of their craft, which is demonstrated on tracks from their recently released album 'Welcome to the Machine' such as 'Collapse' and 'Kali Yuga'. Like a lot of bands of this ilk Monkey3 use the alternating between quieter moments and riff heavy interludes to great effect. Unsurprisingly there is often a hint of Pink Floyd to the songs, evident in particular by some of the solo work by guitarist Boris, who channels his inner David Gilmour superbly! Bass player Jalil (cooly decked out in mirrored shades throughout) is having a whale of a time by leading from the front and is superbly backed up by dB on keyboards and Walter on drums throughout. As a live experience this is right up there and along with Bongripper the set of the festival for me.
Those of us of a certain age will remember Suicidal Tendencies coming on the scene back in the early 80’s and the impact that they had! Now celebrating their 40th anniversary with their “Still Cyco Punk After All These Years” tour, ST roll back the years and delight the crowd with a career spanning set. Whilst Mike Muir is the only remaining founding member, he’s gathered a great set of musicians around him in long standing guitarist Dean Pleasants, Ben Weinman of Dillinger Escape Plan fame on guitar, recent Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg and Tye Trujillo (son of Metallica’s Rob) on bass. The energy levels on stage throughout the set are high and mirrored by the crowd with pits popping up everywhere and crowdsurfers going over the top all set! Mike Muir himself is his usual ball of energy self, covering every part of the stage and doing well to avoid the jumping and high kicks dished out by Ben!
Kicking off with 'You Can’t Bring Me Down' and with a set including classic crossover tracks such as 'War Inside My Head', 'Possessed to Skate', 'Send Me Your Money' and 'I Saw Your Mummy', ST live up to their legendary status and put on a performance worthy of a Desertfest headliner! The only disappointment is that there wasn’t time to play classic song 'Institutionalized', but that will have to wait until next time.
All photo credits: Jacob Schwar
