FESTIVAL REVIEW: Desertfest London 2024

Year on year, the month of May sees thousands of heavy music fans descend to Camden Town in the UK capital to worship the riff. Desertfest London is the premier festival in the UK for everything doom, sludge, psychedelic and stoner and 2024’s lineup is no different. And with a few curveballs thrown in for good measure, 2024’s edition of the festival is poised to be a damn good time. Here’s what went down.

Friday – May 17th

GRAND ATOMIC – The Underworld

Norwegian stoner trio GRAND ATOMIC are tasked with kickstarting the action at The Underworld and living up to Desertfest London‘s namesake of championing the doomy riffs, the trio deliver riff and fuzzy riff. Honouring the likes of ELECTRIC WIZARD with their doomy tones, there’s a lot to enjoy as we’re treated to a full album run-through of 2023’s debut album Beyond The Realm Of Common Sense with set opener Mountain Toker (Summit Smoker) more than setting the tone of what we expected from a band of this ilk. And whilst it certainly ticks the boxes of being a Desertfest staple, as the set progresses, there is a feeling that GRAND ATOMIC lack that special something in order to leave a lasting impression.

Rating: 7/10

MONDO GENERATOR – The Electric Ballroom

Where better for a band named MONDO GENERATOR to play than The Electric Ballroom? Silly puns aside, vocalist Nick Oliveri led the trio out to a crowd simply abuzz with energy. We’ll stop. With the bass heavy filth of 13th Floor and Rubber Room starting proceedings, it was clear MONDO GENERATOR weren’t about to waste a second. It wouldn’t be a Desertfest London set without perfumey guitar solos yet they balanced the rhythm section’s frantic nature perfectly. Everything had its place and each note had purpose. KYUSS’ Super Scoopa And Mighty Scoop held its melodious own against the backdrop of punk-bred Fuck It and Turboner while Nowhere Man left many to steep within heady guitars and spinetingling bass drops. It may have taken a moment for the inebriated bodies populating the crowd to get themselves moving but it was a nonstop riff appreciation society when they did, allowing MONDO GENERATOR to set the bar for the weekend incredibly high.

Rating: 8/10

VOIDLURKER – The Dev

Birmingham-based doom merchants VOIDLURKER have been one of the genre’s hidden gems and despite the COVID-19 pandemic curtailed any momentum for debut EP, Industrial Nightmare, the fact that a throng of people await their presence at Desertfest London‘s most intimate stage, The Dev, attests to the fact that this Brummie trio are held in high regards. And living up to the expectations, the trio deliver a hammer blow of thundering riffs, heavy tones and piercing shrieks from Brad Thomas. In a dingy venue such as The Dev, VOIDLURKER‘s bowl-churning doom is the perfect soundtrack and threatens to shake the building’s foundations throughout the set. Excellent stuff.

Rating: 8/10

WAKE – The Underworld

Desertfest London have a knack for throwing a curveball to the more typical doom and stoner bands that is their bread and butter and Canada’s WAKE are back on our shores for the first time in seven years and with fire in their collective bellies, the band waste no time in whipping up a frenzy at The Underworld. Grinding riffs ignite chaos in the pit, more progressive death metal tropes in elaborate lead guitar play not only showcase the band’s sonic development but also the sheer talent within their ranks and in frontman Kyle Ball, he channels the energy and commands the crowd effortlessly whilst delivering bout after bout of guttural snarls. It a high octane death metal frenzy and plays a huge part in helping to re-energise the crowd for the final stretch of Friday’s action.

Rating: 9/10

BLANKET – Dingwalls

Blackpool’s BLANKET are one of Desertfest London‘s more ‘softer’ bands given the plethora of doom on offer over the weekend but their shimmering post-rock is poised to serve as a lovely palette cleanser before Friday’s evening action. And tucked away in the confines of Dingwalls, it almost feels like a secret little hideaway from the noise generated by RAGING SPEEDHORN and CLOUDS TASTE SATANIC at The Underworld and The Black Heart. And despite a delayed arrival on the stage, when BLANKET do get going, it’s mesmerising to experience. Their vast soundscapes wash over the crowd like a rolling ocean wave as lush guitars dance and Bobby Pook‘s crisp vocals conjure a myriad of emotions and truly resonate with the crowd. Their delayed start may have curtailed some of the enthusiasm for BLANKET to treat the crowd with their cinematic post-rock, but once they got going, the wait was certainly worth it.

Rating: 7/10

MASTERS OF REALITY – The Electric Ballroom

For those below a certain age, the name MASTERS OF REALITY is a bit of an unknown. The same could be said for those who deem themselves veterans of the music scene. Yet the emergence of long-awaited new music from the desert rock trio had piqued curiosity, leading The Electric Ballroom close to capacity toward night’s end. Donning a dashing emerald green suit, band mastermind Chris Goss regaled the crowd with a story of injuring himself in Holland a few days before Desertfest London meaning he would have to perform seated. “We ain’t gonna let that stop us from fuckin’ rockin’” came with a knowing smile. And it didn’t. Goss’ velveteen voice effortlessly wove through The Blue Garden, Third Man On The Moon, and Alder Smoke Blues. Plumes of cannabis smoke billowed against the psychedelic guitars of Sugar allowing for maximum enjoyment of Hanging Tree. Yet it was the penultimate Domino which got the juices flowing with its smokey bounce and grind. By the set’s end, it was hard to deny MASTERS OF REALITY were just that, masters in their own right.

Rating: 9/10

MANTAR – The Underworld

Having withdrawn from last year’s Desertfest London at the eleventh hour, German blackened sludge metal duo MANTAR have unfinished business and as they grace The Underworld stage to close day one of Desertfest 2024, you get the feeling that the band have channelled the frustration of last year’s withdrawal into a set that oozes aggression and aural ferocity. Erinc beats his drumkit into one inch of its life as thunderous percussion melds with Hanno‘s explosive vocals and buzzsaw riffs. The set flashes by in an instant as the duo rattle through cuts from across their discography and with the intensity is white hot. Whilst their withdrawal from last year’s festival was utterly disappointing, MANTAR made up for lost time with arguably one of the weekend’s most visceral performances.

Rating: 9/10

Saturday – May 18th

PEST CONTROL – The Roundhouse

Whilst Leeds-based crossover thrashers are a far cry from the typical stoner, doom and psychedelic offerings that heavily populate the Desertfest bill, their placement to open day two of the festival at The Roundhouse is the perfect remedy to kick start the day with a bang. Just as INHUMAN NATURE whipped up a frenzy in the more intimate confines of The Black Heart a few years prior, PEST CONTROL light a petrol bomb of adrenaline as riff after wicked riff pummels the crowd, blowing the cobwebs of the night before away, and vocalist Leah Massey exudes energy as she bounds across the stage and delivers snarls and barks with the utmost ferocity. PEST CONTROL are clearly on the ascendancy and judging from the euphoric glee across the crowd, they are being backed all the way.

Rating: 9/10

SUNNATA – The Underworld

Rarely do a band and venue marry together as well as The Underworld and SUNNATA. Doomladen and drenched in darkness, the tone was set for the Polish brood to hollow patrons further than beer prices already had. Outlands’ opening vocal harmonies prickled many an arm with goosebumps and filled the room with anticipation for the subtle yet delectable drop. The crowd might have been silent but that silence certainly did not contain stillness. God Emperor Of Dune’s softly layered intro captivated the audience in moments, silencing any and all nonconsequential chatter. The drone to Saviour’s Raft’s vocals left us begging for more sweet misery – something SUNNATA were all too happy to provide and did so in masterful fashion. To the point the only downside to SUNNATA at Desertfest London is the set time was too short.

Rating: 9/10

BONGRIPPER – The Roundhouse

For 20 years, Chicago’s BONGRIPPER have crafted a worthy legacy in the international doom scene. Despite having no vocals to their monolithic doom, this instrumental quarter focus solely on the power of the riff and under the backdrop of The Roundhouse‘s impressive stage and acoustics, the Americans deliver a truly crushing performance. Experts of the slow build, the band slowly build a smothering atmosphere before cascading into enormous drops that hit with the force of a freight train. Given the lengthy song-structure of their material, BONGRIPPER play the crowd like a fiddle, keeping them transfixed as they unravel their gargantuan doom metal. It’s monstrous. It’s epic. It’s obtusely heavy. It captures the essence of Desertfest London ever so well.

Rating: 8/10

CANCER BATS – The Roundhouse

At first glance, the booking of CANCER BATS for Desertfest London feels slightly odd. The Canadian crew are normally associated with tearing up the stages of more mainstream alternative fests like Slam Dunk or Download. However, it’s common knowledge that the band have a love affair with doomy heavy metal (just look at their homage to BLACK SABBATH with their BAT SABBATH moniker), and they make the most of their time at Desertfest by delivering a rip-roaring performance that gets the crowd pumped. Their blend of hardcore-infused metal is easy to digest to get the headbanging and their relentless energy on stage keeps the crowd fixated to the stage and crashing in the pit. It’s a confident performance channelled through the charismatic Liam Cormier, and ending with a triple barrage of Bricks And Mortar, Sabotage and Hail Destroyer is a triumph. A wildcard booking sure, but one that has paid dividends.

Rating: 9/10

SUICIDAL TENDENCIES – The Roundhouse

Since 2017, fans had been champing at the bit to enter the Church Of Suicidal once more. Finally Desertfest London was going to provide with the legendary SUICIDAL TENDENCIES closing proceedings at the iconic Roundhouse. After a slightly mistimed THIN LIZZY promotional ad, the crowd came unglued as the Venice Beach mob descended upon the stage in droves. You Can’t Bring Me Down brought the chaotic release only thrash metal could.

It was a baptism of fire for those who hadn’t seen SUICIDAL TENDENCIES before. From Tye Trujillo’s dominance of iconic bass lines previously crafted by his father (Rob Trujillo of METALLICA) to vocals Mike Muir’s… interesting stage presence. Bobbing and weaving through 40 years worth of material was a test of endurance yet it would be Muir’s preaching between the likes of Institutionalized and Freedumb which slowed proceedings a little too much. SUICIDAL TENDENCIES put on a masterclass. Playing to every peak and trough within the crowd as if it were indeed child’s play. Any argument against crossover thrash’s presence within Desertfest London was swiftly silenced within the Church of Suicidal and long may Desertfest London’s booking team be praised.

Rating: 8/10

Sunday – May 19th

ASHENSPIRE – The Electric Ballroom

Desertfest London prides itself on booking an eclectic lineup that has all the potential to be weird and with ASHENSPIRE, weird is the only word to describe this Glaswegian outfit. Described as avant-garde progressive black metal, there is intrigue, but weird does not necessarily mean good and unfortunately, the band misfire completely. The mix doesn’t help, with a muddy sound bogging down any unique elements and a sax sound that adds nothing to their impact. Whilst the band exude energy on stage and those down the front are clearly enjoying themselves, for the rest of us, we’re left with more questions than answers to what we’re experiencing. Desertfest rarely put a foot wrong, but with ASHENSPIRE, unfortunately, they have missed the mark here.

Rating: 4/10

UFOMAMMUT – The Electric Ballroom

For 25 years, Italian outfit UFOMAMMUT have grown to become a genuine heavyweight in doom. As such there is a swarm of people awaiting the trio and they are treated to an absolute masterclass from one of best bands to ever worship the riff. Riding high on their brand new album, Hidden, we’re treated to a few cuts from their new record and the backdrop of trip-inducing visuals adds another level of depth to the band’s performance. But, it’s all about the riffs and the band ebb and flow like a river as obtusely heavy tones strike like rumbling thunder before the build erupts like a guizer. It’s utterly euphoric to witness and without saying a word to the masses in their hour-long performance, UFOMAMMUT lay down the gauntlet as of Desertfest London‘s best performances.

Rating: 10/10

MONOLORD – The Electric Ballroom

Following such a monolithic set would be too much an ask for most bands, but Sweden’s MONOLORD are going to give their damned hardest. Where UFOMAMMUT basked in obtusely heavy tones, MONOLORD pack the fuzz-soaked riffs, but there’s a more uplifting surge to their craft of doom. Guitarist/vocalist Thomas V Jäger has an almost ghost-like approach in how he delivers his alluring vocals and the superb live mix allows his soft vocals to cut through the fuzz like a hot knife through butter. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable outing from the Swedes and given the rapturous applause that greets each song’s conclusion, it’s clear why this trio are so revered in the international doom scene.

Rating: 8/10

PSYCHLONA – The Underworld

7pm on the last day of a Desertscene inspired festival is always an interesting time. The endurance of plucky spirits long since waned. Hopes that another pint or joint would rouse some energy in others. Aching feet from separating the soles of our boots from the floor of The Underworld. Yet to The Underworld we returned for a surprising boost in energy from PSYCHLONA. 1975’s boisterous rhythm section brought a dreary Underworld to life once more – even if it did encourage one patron to believe her conversation was far more important than the band playing. The vocals were heavy yet creamy. Fuzz was off the charts and suddenly it was Friday night more. Blow’s static groove sated our need for the ominous, Down In The Valley’s solo soothed our itch for sweet sweet feedback, and Meet Your Devil was simply sublime in its thought manipulating pound and ground riffs. It’s a risk for any band to play on the Sunday evening of DesertFest London. Yet for PSYCHLONA’s effortless energy boosting set, it’s a risk which paid off in spades.

Rating: 8/10

GODFLESH – The Electric Ballroom

For over 25 years, Birmingham’s GODFLESH have been one of heavy music’s most visceral bands due to their harsh machine beats, production-emphasised bass and thumping riffs. They are revered in heavy music circles and their headlining set at The Electric Ballroom on the festival’s last day is utterly monstrous. Despite technical issues in the band’s electronic-driven percussion threatening to buckle early momentum, once ironed out, GODFLESH are bruising and relentless, with the likes of Tower Of Emptiness, Like Rats and Post Self pummelling the crowd into submission. Their music swings like a remorseless scythe and a sea of heads banging in perfect synchronisation is a spectacle. It’s a thumping finale to The Electric Ballroom‘s bill and one that showcases why GODFLESH are one of metal’s most respected names.

Rating: 8/10

DVNE – Dingwalls

Although technically CANCER BATS‘ BAT SABBATH moniker closes this year’s festival as the official afterparty, Scottish progressive post-metallers DVNE close Desertfest London in Dingwalls with a thundering and truly emphatic performance. The band have been riding a surge of momentum in recent years and hot on the heels of April’s Voidkind, of which the set is largely comprised of, the band dispatch explosive riffs, prog-metal technical brilliance and capture the expansive nature of their soundscape ever so well. The likes of Reaching For Telos and Abode Of The Perfect Soul sound absolutely enormous and the crowd give it their all, despite being one of the last bands to perform over the heavily busy weekend. A triumphant conclusion for Desertfest London, and further evidence to support the festival’s more wildcard bookings.

Rating: 9/10

Year on year, Desertfest London brings together an eclectic lineup across the fuzzier ends of the spectrum. And with some lovely curveballs on this year’s bill, 2024 was a resounding success. Until next year!

Words: James Weaver, Tasha Brown

Check out our extensive photo gallery of the weekend’s action at Desertfest London from Anne Pfalzgraf here: 

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