Top 10 bands you must watch at Desertfest London 2025

May 15, 2025 James Weaver

The beauty of the festival circuit in 2025 is that there is a hole host of killer festival dedicated to particular sounds and movements. And for those who appreciate the fuzz, the doom, the psych, the sludge, the stoner; Desertfest London has you covered. For over a decade, the festival has become the premier destination for this cut of prime heavy music and 2025’s lineup is no different. Now, on the eve of Desertfest London 2025, we dissect this year’s lineup, giving you ten bands you need to make sure you watch if you’re attending this year’s festival!

ELDER – The Electric Ballroom, Friday – May 16th

Synonomous with the festival, ELDER have graced many a Desertfest stage over the years, but for this year, we’re in for something special. Landing the coveted Friday headlining spot at The Electric Ballroom, we’re going to be treated to a full album playthrough of 2015’s Lore alongside other tracks from their early catalogue. For those that have followed ELDER for a long time, this will be music to their ears. A perfect fusion of doom and psychedelic flourishes, Lore was the watershed moment for the band, seeing them adopt more progressive flourishes that remain true to this day, and as such, the record is adored by many a Desertfest attendee. Hearing the likes of Compendium and Deadweight live in the flesh is set to be one of the weekend’s standout highlights.

10,000 YEARS – The Black Heart, Friday – May 16th

Swedish stoner rockers 10,000 YEARS have been enjoyed sustained acclaim in the stoner scene since their arrival five years ago. Picking arguably the worst year in recent memory to form, it’s remarkable that the pandemic years didn’t kill the project before it could even start, but five years in, and the Swedes have delivered three solid studio records and they arrive at Desertfest London with momentum very much on their side. With last year’s All Quiet On The Final Frontier demonstrating they have an utter abundance of classy stoner riffage in their locker, their performance in the intimate confines of The Black Heart is billed to be a rocking good time. Expect a vibrant and high-octane set to ignite the festivities.

STONED JESUS – The Electric Ballroom, Friday – May 16th

Since forming in 2009, Ukraine’s STONED JESUS have carved a special place in the wider European psychedelic scene. Their amalganation of doom, stoner and heavy psych makes them a perfect addition to 2025’s lineup. Having last graced Deserfest London back in 2019, six years on and the band land the sub-headlining slot ahead of ELDER, and against the backdrop of The Electric Ballroom, we can only expect an enormous wall of sound and fuzz from the trio. With a rich and wide discography to draw from, including their latest record – 2023’s Father Light – expect a masterclass in one of Europe’s leading lights.

TORUS – The Underworld, Saturday – May 17th

Channelling the likes of desert rock greats KYUSS and QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE and the hayday 90s grunge, Milton Keynes’ TORUS have slowly been bubbling under the surface since their beginnings back in 2019. 2022’s debut EP, Sail, and last year’s self-titled debut full-length album are both packed to the brim with wicked grooves, intoxicating hooks and silky vocals from Alfie Glass. Tasked with opening The Underworld on Desertfest London‘s second day, TORUS are perfectly poised to dust off the cobwebs of the night before with their high-octane brand of rock. Their goal is to get people moving and dancing, and with tunes like Avalanche and Into The Clear in their repetoire, we are confident they will be successful.

KONVENT – The Roundhouse, Saturday – May 17th

Danish death/doom metallers KONVENT are tasked with the audacious task of opening The Roundhouse on Desertfest London day two, and for lesser bands, they might whilt under the pressure, but KONVENT are a ferocious force. 2020’s debut, Puritan Masochism, is, still to this day, a colossal slab of aural heaviness and subsequent follow-up, 2022’s Call Down The Sun helped cement KONVENT as an exciting new prospect in doom. In the years since their sophomore effort, the band have been extremely proficient on the road, hitting numerous cities and festivals across the European mainland. UK appearances are rarer, with the last time the band graced our shores being back at Desertfest London 2022. Three years on, and we’re stoked to welcome back this exciting prospect. Just prepare your best stank face, as the riffs are going to be nasty!

AMENRA – The Roundhouse, Saturday – May 17th

On record, listening to Belgian post-metallers AMENRA can be utterly exhilirating, but live, it feels akin to having a religious experience. The Belgians have an expansive soundscape, one that ebbs and flows from moments of brooding atmospherics to passages of sheer aural intensity. After a six year wait, the band return to Desertfest London to perform as special guests to the day’s headliners, ZEAL & ARDOR, and we can only anticipate the intensity, burning as hot as a supernova and keeping us captivated entirely. And on the back of new EPs De Toorn and With Fang And Claw, both released simultaneously last month, expect to hear some new material alongside crushing renditions of material from their acclaimed discography. This is going to be very special indeed.

BOBBIE DAZZLE – The Underworld, Sunday – May 18th

After departing from UK doom metallers ALUNAH last year, trading doom for glitz and glam, Siân Greenway‘s new project BOBBIE DAZZLE takes to The Underworld stage to kickstart the final day of the festival. Intending to roll back the years to the glory of glam and glitter, BOBBIE DAZZLE has the swagger and hooks to have even the stearnest metalhead giving in the urge to have a boogie. Arriving at Desertfest London on the back of last year’s debut album, Fandabidozi, we fully anticipate the set will be on that oozes positivity, freedom and most importantly, fun.

DIVIDE AND DISSOLVE – The Electric Ballrom, Sunday – May 18th

For ten years now, DIVIDE AND DISSOLVE have carved their own space in the international doom metal scene, and for good reason too. Largely an instrumental outfit helmed by multi-instrumentalist Takiaya Reed, DIVIDE AND DISSOLVE straddle obutsely heavy sludgy doom with moments of neo-classical flourishes and the result is a hugely envocative and emotional listening experience. Their message is important as well, with the band wishing for their music to “decolonising, decentralising, disestablishing, and destroying white supremacy”. A message we can all get behind. Given that 2025’s Desertfest London marks the first time the band have graced the festival, and given their soundscape, it feels like a match made in heaven and we anticipate The Electric Ballroom to be packed to the rafters to experience one of the most intriguing names in modern doom right now.

CASTLE RAT – The Underworld, Sunday – May 18th

Channelling the best of fantasy and the might of steel, New York City’s CASTLE RAT are one of the more newer names for this year’s festival, but they are arguably one of the most talked-about names on the bill. Oozing a Medieval fantasy theme and aurally boasting a sound that ticks all the boxes of stoner doom, the band seem to be right at home on the Desertfest London lineup. After making their live debut in 2019, last year we saw the arrival of their excellent debut album, Into The Realm, and September sees the band looking to capitalise on their newfound momentum with the release of their sophomore effort; The Bestiary. As a result, Desertfest London 2025 is set to be a perfect opportunity for CASTLE RAT to demonstrate their prowess, allowing their fantasy stoner doom to strike a chord with those who choose to participate in their defence of the realm against The Reaperess.

FAMYNE – The Black Heart, Sunday, May 18th

Canterbury doom merchants FAMYNE have been forging their status as one of the UK’s finest doom bands for some time now. 2018’s self-titled album loudly announced their arrival, and 2022’s II: The Ground Below stands as one of the finest extreme metal albums our little island has produced in recent memory. Largely, this is down to the band’s engulfing sound, that pulls from a wide range of influences, from classic doom through to prog rock and grunge. As headliners of The Black Heart, there’s nothing more fitting than one of our homegrown names play their part in drawing the curtain on Desertfest London 2025.