If you consider yourself a connoisseur of stoner, doom and/or sludge metal and you're not paying attention to the UK-based label APF Records, it's time to change that. Though a pretty young label, they are very quickly gaining some of the best acts that the UK underground has to offer. One of those bands is Oxford's Desert Storm, whose 2018 album Sentinels is a prime-cut of rumbling doom/sludge. The band's fifth full-length Omens is poised to be released May 1, and we are pleased to premiere a crushing new track called "The Machine." Press play below and enjoy.
"The Machine" begins with an absolutely monolithic riff that trudges into a headbobbing groove and doesn't let up throughout. These guys are certainly not newcomers to their scene, as they released their debut Forked Tongue nearly 10 years ago, but they certainly have only improved with time. Musically, the track is dense, brooding and dark; a fitting canvas for the song's bleak lyrical content. Desert Storm vocalist Matt Ryan says of the song:
"The Machine' is about the ending of mankind. As a whole our species is absolutely fucking atrocious and I find comfort the fact that one day we will no longer be a stain on the surface of this planet. A majority of the human race blindly exist and consume in a system that is completely fucked. There is a likeness to sheep and pigs who know no better, who are one day destined to be led to slaughter because of the base level creatures they are. The Machine is the final resolution that will make way for a brighter future. What many fail to realise is that we are not the final stage in the evolutionary process. Celebrate as we move ever closer to extinction."
If you're a fan of heavy riffs, trudging grooves and dynamic songwriting, then Desert Storm is a band you're going to want to hear. Pre-order Omens here, and if you live in Europe, be sure to catch them on tour beginning in May with The Grand Mal (which features members of Desert Storm) and Beggar, both of which are fellow APF labelmates you should also check out. Full routing is below.
01.05 – Southampton (UK) The Firehouse*
02.05 – Bridgewater (UK) Southwest Heavyfest*
03.05 – London (UK) Desertfest*
04.05 – Paris (Fr) Le Supersonic*
05.05 – Antwerp (Be) Kids Rhythm n Blues Kaffe*
06.05 – Hamburg (De) Bar 227*
07.05 – Berlin (De) Toast Hawaii*
08.05 – Wroclaw (PL) Centrum Reanimacji Kultury*
09.05 – Dresden (De) HD Die Rock & Metal Bar*
10.05 – Bratislava (Sk) Koncerty na Garazach*
11.05 – Kosice (Sk) Colloseum*
12.05 – Katowice (PL) Katafonia*
13.05 – Prague (CZ) Orwell*
14.05 – Nuremberg (De) Muz Club*
15.05 – Den Bosch (NL) W2*
16.05 – Uden (NL) De Pul*
17.05 – Amsterdam (NL) The Cave*
23.05 – Oxford (UK) The Wheatsheaf
06.06 – Leeds (UK) Stonebaked Festival
20.06 – Bournemouth (UK) The Anvil
05.11 – Manchester (UK) Star & Garter**
06.11 – Glasgow (UK) Ivory Blacks**
07.11 – Nottingham (UK) Tap n Number**
05.12 – Belfast (NIR) Voodoo
* w/ The Grand Mal ** w/ Beggar
