Desertfest Belgium 2017 Completes Lineup; High Fighter, King Hiss & More Added

Posted in Whathaveyou on September 8th, 2017 by JJ Koczan

It was bound to happen sooner or later. Certainly by the time Oct. 13 got here and the fest actually started, but Desertfest Belgium 2017 beat that mark considerably in completing its lineup announcements for the year. Stop me if you’ve heard me say so 50 times already, but the lineup is pretty gosh darn staggering this time around, and last-minute additions of High FighterDÿse, Steak Number EightKing Hiss and A Supernaut, while not necessarily packing the star power of Graveyard or the Melvins invariably do as headliners, only make the proceedings that much fuller, giving show-goers even more exposure to some of the finest wares the heavy underground has to offer. I mean, really, look at this fricking bill.

Imagine spending three days doing this? I can’t wait to see how the schedule breaks down. Until then, kudos to the fest on rounding out the following assemblage:

desertfest-belgium-2017-full-lineup

DF Antwerp 2017: The Last of the Line-Up – Dyse, King Hiss & More

Our last update that completes the line-up for Desertfest Antwerp 2017 is more than just a matter of “filling in the gaps”.

We’ve always tried to offer our very international crowd a taste of what’s good and heavy right here in Belgium, so in closing we want to introduce you to three bands that have been making waves in the national scene for years now. Steak Number Eight and King Hiss are both high profile rock bands that are in high demand at the country’s clubs and festivals, yet their sound remains uncompromising and pounding as fuck. A Supernaut from Brussels serves up more of a loud boogie sound, but the influence of the melting pot town they hail from shines through regardless.

And to close off: Dÿse and High Fighter from Germany are two remarkable bands that we feel you must urgently discover, if you haven’t already.

With all the good news that has been coming, there was bound to be some setbacks as well. Luckily, this year we’ve only encountered one – and here it is: due to unforeseen circumstances, White Hills has been forced to cancel their appearance at the fest.

So there you go, we’d say we’re all set for another killer edition of Desertfest Belgium. We have the headliners, we have the scene favorites, we have the undiscovered gems… now all we need is a crowd and that means YOU! Thank you all so much for your continued support, and we’ll see you in Antwerp, just a little over a month from now!

DYSE

As intricate as Dÿse sound on record, the German noise-rock duo really shines on the stage. For almost 15 years now, Jari and André have been honing their skills and perfecting their music, never losing sight of a keen sense of humour and just the right amount of experiment. If you don’t know them yet, get ready to be surprised!

STEAK NUMBER EIGHT

One of the most respected heavy bands in Belgium, Steak Number Eight landed in the spotlight while still in their teenage years, earning first place in the country’s most notorious rock contest. A decade later, and they manage to bring postmetal and noise to a wider audience while still making no compromises on their sound. A spot at Desertfest only serves them right.

KING HISS

Another mainstay of the national underground rock scene, any Belgian who hasn’t yet seen ’em live must be living under a rock. Sold-out clubs? Check! Festivals, both big and small? Check! Features in all the relevant magazines, off- and online? Check! The new album ‘Mastosaurus’ not only revives the idea of the concept album, it is also a marvelous feat that offers no compromises, no pulling punches. Just 10 times TKO causing maximum damage.

A SUPERNAUT

What is A Supernaut? It’s Rock, it’s soul, it’s Psychedelia and it’s pure love. It’s beautiful, it shakes you up, it reminds you of ZZ Top without the beards, or GrandFunk Railroad that’s slightly derailed. But above all, it’s Brussels – city of their untamed rock ‘n roller hearts, and their music serves as a dark and magic homage to their hometown.

HIGH FIGHTER

High Fighter was formed in the summer of 2014 by former band members of A Million Miles, Buffalo Hump and Pyogenesis. They offer a volatile cocktail of heavy as hell riffs fuelled by beer and the mighty weedian riffs. Add a heavy dose of the blues as well as some deadly schizophrenic vocals, and it is clear why the band got thumbs up by John Garcia and Conan!

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High Fighter, Scars and Crosses (2016)

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Desertfest Belgium 2017: Lowrider, The Vintage Caravan, Mantar, -(16)-, Grime, Partisan and Spirit Valley Added

Posted in Whathaveyou on September 4th, 2017 by JJ Koczan

Hasn’t been a week since the last update from Desertfest Belgium 2017, and the Antwerp-based fest comes out swinging yet again with another batch of heavy-hitters in what’s purported to be the second-to-last update to its bill. This time? The primo heavy rock of Lowrider and The Vintage Caravan meets the extremity of Mantar and the sludge of -(16)-, the neo-psych of Spirit Valley and the abrasion of Partisan. Once more, the story of Desertfest Belgium 2017 is one of the festival branching out in multiple directions all at once, expanding its reach in style and profile alike. Can’t help but wonder what the final update will bring. I mean, look at this thing. In what way would you call it incomplete?

The latest announcement follows, courtesy of the PR wire:

desertfest-belgium-2017-poster

DF ANTWERP 2017 LINE-UP SECOND LAST UPDATE – NEARLY DONE!

We are nearing the completion of the Desertfest Antwerp 2017 line-up. After this, there’s just one more announcement to go and we’re in the straight line to the Fest! You all better come prepared because it’s gonna be massive. Massive we tell you!

We think we’ll be pleasing many stoner heads with the addition of classic Desert rockers Lowrider to the Friday line-up. Their show at Desertfest Berlin was epic, and we’re convinced they’ll repeat such a feat at the Belgian edition.

Equally iconic is -(16)-, a band whose name is as enigmatic as their pioneering sludge is a straightforward boot to the face. More pummeling riffs are to be expected from Germany’s Mantar and Grime from North Dakota. For more eclectic rock inspired grooves, look no further than The Vintage Caravan and Spirit Valley. And finally, we’re pleased to have Partisan on the bill, a Belgian band on Hypertension Records featuring members of renowned national rock bands like Rise and Fall and Oathbreaker.

That’s it, one more announcement to go which you can expect very soon!

LOWRIDER

Sweden’s answer to the American brand of rocky-funky-gritty Desert rock, Lowrider’s impact on both their native scene and the international underground in Europe and beyond cannot be ignored. Their 2000 album “Ode to Io” is a true scene gem of the purest, hardest and brightest rock. After a long retreat, the band reformed in 2013 for a reunion set at Desertfest Berlin. Since then, the band has been on the road again and killing it live, including another legendary performance at DF Berlin this year!

THE VINTAGE CARAVAN

Despite their young age, The Vintage Caravan only took a few years to garner a mighty reputation on stage, playing hundreds of shows on European stages with ever-growing audiences delivering standing ovations after each show. Their musical influences are very diverse but their main focus is the classic hard rock of the 60’s and 70’s. Though this may suggest a glorified retro-type band, The Vintage Caravan make it their own with a powerful attitude and a modern twist..

MANTAR

The band describe themselves as a “two-piece monster from North Germany”, and indeed it is hard to believe this kind of infernal noise could come from only two musicians. But yet here we are, and if their debut album ‘Death By Burning’ broke down doors, the follow-up ‘Ode To The Flame’ and this year’s ‘The Spell’ EP (both on Nuclear Blast) burned down the house. No gimmicks, just true battle hymns and sinister sounds of darkness!

-(16)-

SoCal sludge stalwarts -(16)- are among the most consistent and most underrated purveyors of the heavy riff. They started out in 1991 and through many line-up changes and other rock’n’roll adventures they finally got the credit they deserve with last year’s ‘Lifespan Of A Moth’, the band’s heaviest, darkest, and most complex material to date! If you dig Eyehategod and Acid Bath, don’t miss out on these pioneers of sludge metal.

GRIME

Taking cues from both grunge (Soundgarden and Alice In Chains) and rock legends like Led Zeppelin and Rush, Grime have formed their own brand of heavy metal thunder. Grime independently released their debut EP, ‘Hitch-Hiking Prohibited’, in September 2015. The four songs are a perfect snapshot of their varied and creative approach to metal.

SPIRIT VALLEY

Dave Spirit and Chris Valley formed the duo outfit Spirit Valley in Australia, but moved to Amsterdam in 2015 to tour Europe. Their own term for the kaleidoscopic mix of styles they present is ‘Doomshine Boogie’, a raw brand of psychedelic rock inspired by bands like The Black Angels, Murder City Devils, Japandroids and Explosions in the Sky.

PARTISAN

Partisan’s collective members are known for renowned Belgian HC and metal-derived bands such as Rise and Fall and Oathbreaker, but they are far from being a mere extension of their predecessors. With their post-punk inspired sound, Partisan channel influences from their collective musical pasts into songs that deliver their power and urgency through texture, dynamics and dark melody.

http://www.desertfest.be/tickets
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https://twitter.com/DesertfestBE

Lowrider, Ode to Io: Deluxe Edition (2017)

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Desertfest Belgium 2017: Dool, Troubled Horse, House of Broken Promises, Caronte & Redd Kross Added

Posted in Whathaveyou on August 30th, 2017 by JJ Koczan

2017 might be the year that Desertfest Belgium really pushes outside the titular desert. I mean, yeah, the latest round of lineup additions includes House of Broken Promises, and they’re actually from the sands of Southern California, but look at the rest of the lineup. To bring in the goth-tinged Dool from the Netherlands, or even boogie rockers like Troubled Horse, or doomers Caronte and the long-running Redd Kross and set them up alongside GozuSatan’s SatyrsRadio MoscowSaint Vitus and Conan? It’s all over the place. Shit, to even have Monolord and Unsane on the same bill would be enough, but then you toss in KadavarChurch of Misery and All Them Witches! The fest is right when it says this one is going to be something special. It really looks like it is. I post about a lot of fests. This is the real deal.

Here’s the latest update, courtesy of the PR wire:

desertfest-belgium-2017

Desertfest Antwerp line-up nears completion: DOOL, RED KROSS and more added

Summer’s nearly done, but in this case that’s not bad news – it means Desertfest Antwerp is almost upon us! Hope you all got your tickets, because this one’s going to be the one that you tell your grandchildren about.

You can find the daily line-up on our website, but there still were some holes to fill in the program. We have a bunch of names to seal the deal, beginning with Dutch industrial psychedelic metal combo DOOL.

Furthermore, the Swedish riffsters Troubled Horse will certainly delight all fans who are already present for Graveyard, and we’re equally excited to have the legendary and pioneering LA punk-not-punk band Redd Kross. Finally, with the occult acid doom of Caronte and the desert-stoner of House of Broken Promises, we have another two acts that put the “desert” in Desertfest in their own unique way.

And with that, our line-up is almost completed… start planning your trip to Antwerp!

DOOL

From the industrial underbelly of Rotterdam comes DOOL, bringing you a blend of dark rock, gothic pop and just a hint of psychedelic metal. Featuring members from the legendary Dutch doomsters The Devil’s Blood, Dool bends the influence of bands like Sisters of Mercy and Sonic Youth into a creation that is very much their own unique identity. All those who wander are DOOL!.

TROUBLED HORSE

Formed in 2003 in Örebro (home of fellow rockers Witchcraft) Troubled Horse erupted into the consciousness of riff-worshippers everywhere with their debut Step Inside (2012) and follow-up Revolution On Repeat (2017). Their music is an invigorating whirlwind of spiky garage rock, propulsive psychedelia and thunderous, overdriven soul-meets-doom riffing with little interest in current or nostalgic trends. Despite a gloomy view of humanity, Troubled Horse are never anything less than 100% inspirational.

REDD KROSS

Founded 34 years ago during the first wave of LA punk rock, Redd Kross brought together different styles with an intuitive and eclectic sense of experiment. Crossing the lines between the Partridge Family and the Manson Family, the Beatles and Black Sabbath, The Osmonds and the New York Dolls, Redd Kross certainly was a band ahead of their time. Now in their reunion setup since 2012, they are exactly right on time!

CARONTE

Caronte formed in Parma, Italy, in 2010. The three brothers Dorian, Henry and Tony Bones were joined by eccentric drummer Mike De Chirico to produce a kind of heavy acid doom metal inspired by drugs, alcohol abuse, death, black masses, sex, esoterism and mysticism. At DF Antwerp they will showcase their upcoming album ‘Yoni’ (out 27/10), which they promise will be “the most magic filled work the band has ever written”.

HOUSE OF BROKEN PROMISES

An Indio (CA) based desert-stoner band, formed from the ashes of UNIDA which also featured John Garcia. Biting songs about drug abuse and social upheaval are delivered through bombastic drum beats, guttural vocals and tuned-down guitars. Their debut “Using the Useless” (2009) is considered a minor classic in the scene. After a number of European tours during the last years, the world eagerly awaits their second release.

http://www.desertfest.be/tickets
https://www.facebook.com/desertfestbelgium/
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Dool, Here Now There Then (2017)

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Desertfest Belgium 2017: Unsane, Mos Generator and Black Lung Join Lineup

Posted in Whathaveyou on July 5th, 2017 by JJ Koczan

New York noise rock stalwarts Unsane recently announced they’ll release a new full-length, titled Sterilize, via Southern Lord in September following a couple weeks on the road this month with Fashion Week. Looks like the trio are headed to Europe this Fall, as they’ve been confirmed to take part in Desertfest Belgium 2017 in the latest round of lineup additions from the festival, along with Port Orchard, Washington, heavy rockers Mos Generator and Baltimore psych-blues aficionados Black Lung.

As it turns out, both Mos Generator and Black Lung have new records in the works as well, though I’m not sure on the timing of either in terms of the actual recordings, release dates, etc. Either way, seems likely all three acts will have new material in tow when they hit Antwerp in October, keeping markedly righteous company with the likes of Saint VitusRadio MoscowGraveyard, the Melvins, All Them Witches, and so on.

From the PR wire:

desertfest-belgium-2017-poster

DF ANTWERP 2017 ADDS UNSANE, MOS GENERATOR AND BLACK LUNG

Here’s a short and quick one, but still packed full of goodness.

UNSANE is one of those bands that probably influenced a good deal of what you hear and see on our stage, so it seemed only fitting to put them on the bill. Noise rock doesn’t come any purer than this!

We are also happy to have MOS GENERATOR display their fine stage craftmanship at DF Antwerp 2017, a band that truly infects their crowd with the joy of playing music. And for some bite, we added the razorsharp groove machine BLACK LUNG to the line-up. Twin guitar power riffing – what’s not to love!

We’ll keep ’em coming, but we hope you’ll like this short update from the DF office. We’ll be back soon for more!

UNSANE

Loud, violent and in your face. Ask any nineties survivor about their recollection of an Unsane live gig, and inevitably one of these terms will drop sooner rather than later. They are also one of those bands that inspired a devoted cult-like following in the scene, giving birth to countless noise-metal bands in the process. For this and many other reasons, we are honoured to welcome them to the Fest.

MOS GENERATOR

Night after night, Mos Generator defines the word “chemistry” on stage. Just the right amount of swagger and groove, augmented by just enough improvisation to keep the songs feeling fresh each and every time. Their hefty discography shows a dedication to continually push the core heavy rocking sound of the band into exciting new directions, finding just the right mix between hard and soul.

BLACK LUNG

Black Lung emerged from the underbelly of Baltimore with unheard amounts of volume. The trio toes the line between sonic pain and psychedelic bliss, with influences ranging from raw edged blues-rock to stoned-out riffage. Don’t let the absence of a bass guitar fool you – Black Lung packs an unholy amount of bottom-heavy grooves to go with the washed-out vocals and swirling feedback.

http://www.desertfest.be/tickets
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Unsane, “Fix It”

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Desertfest Belgium 2017: Graveyard, White Hills, Elephant Tree, OHHMS, Minami Deutsch and Kaleidobolt Join Lineup

Posted in Whathaveyou on June 22nd, 2017 by JJ Koczan

As predicted at the outset, the poster showcasing the lineup for Desertfest Belgium 2017 has become very, very crowded. I don’t think they’re done, either. Where will the next batch of bands squeeze, what with the sizable logo addition of Graveyard here along with OhhmsElephant TreeWhite Hills and so on? I don’t know. It’s a problem for a graphic designer to tackle that’s well beyond my depth, to be sure. But they’ll sort it out. They always do.

The Fall festival season — there are many, you know the names and don’t need me to recount — by now rivals Spring. It might even surpass it in terms of the sheer one-into-the-next-into-the-next-into-the-next style proceedings from country to country, weekend to weekend. It’s astounding how strong and sustaining the European underground has become over the last several years. Desertfest, the growth of the brand in general and in its autumnal incarnations in Antwerp and Athens, has been a big part of that, and accordingly, Desertfest Belgium 2017 stands among the best lineups one is likely to find on the continent this Fall.

To wit:

desertfest-belgium-2017-poster-graveyard

GRAVEYARD PLAYS DF ANTWERP 2017 – White Hills, Elephant Tree & more announced

So here it is – Karma strikes, part two!

Last year we were gutted when GRAVEYARD decided to call it quits, moments before their appearance at Desertfest Antwerp. Fortunately, their breakup turned out to be short-lived, and the band announced their return with a new drummer in January 2017. So naturally, we had to put ’em in a headliner spot again to make it up to you guys!

We’re also very glad to announce the appearance of WHITE HILLS, possibly the coolest band in the universe. With OHHMS and ELEPHANT TREE, we present you with two of the hottest bands from the UK heavy scene at the moment. Going worldwide, let’s throw in Oriental Krautrock with MINAMI DEUTSCH from Tokyo, and the psychedelic jazz-prog of KALEIDOBOLT from Helsinki.

From where we’re sitting, Desertfest Antwerp is starting to look pretty good… and we’re still not done!

GRAVEYARD

After the breakup of 2016, Graveyard did what every great classic rock band should do: take some time off to recollect the good spirit, and then come back with a mighty vengeance. And so here they are: the Swedish rock giant is back in the saddle with a new drummer, and ready to kick ass in 2017! We can only imagine what awesomeness they’ll bring to make it up to the DF crowd…

WHITE HILLS

White Hills are proponents of psychedelia as transformation. The music made by Dave W. and Ego Sensation is risky and cutting edge, rooted in dystopian futurism and hyper-conscious of our constant desire for a new and better drug. On their new album ‘Stop Mute Defeat’, White Hills has flipped the script with an industrially-charged record that pulsates unlike anything you’ve heard of them before.

OHHMS

OHHMS (written “((OHHMS))”) are a Canterburian metal band who are quickly becoming the buzz of the UK doom scene. They’ve established a reputation of playing extremely loud, delivering long and complex tracks at a deafening volume. Their first album release ‘The Fool’ is earning accolades across the scene, winning over crowd and critics alike.

ELEPHANT TREE

Another big promise from the UK, Elephant Tree came out with one of the best damn albums from 2016. Combining clear vocal harmonies with insanely heavy riffs, and switching it up with sudden mood shifts and slow-burning grooves, their debut album is truly something special that you should seek out immediately. Word from Desertfest London & Berlin is they easily hold their ground on the stage.

MINAMI DEUTSCH

Minami Deutsch is a Krautrock band from Tokyo. Starting off playing live music on the city streets, they got picked up for a spot at the Tokyo Psych Fest. In September 2015, they released their first record through the English cult label Cardinal Fuzz Records, as well as Japanese psych label Guruguru Brain. Expect motorik kraut grooves with a distinct Oriental flavour!

KALEIDOBOLT

Kaleidobolt is a power trio from Helsinki, blending loud guitars with furious jazz moves. Their music is a dizzying maelstrom of progressive song structures, crushing riffs and loose psychedelic soundscapes, delivered with joy and ferociousness. Working since 2014, they’ve released two albums to much acclaim, and toured with the likes of Radio Moscow and Samsara Blues Experiment.

http://www.desertfest.be/tickets
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Desertfest Belgium 2017: Conan, Stoned Jesus, Spidergawd and White Manna Added

Posted in Whathaveyou on June 1st, 2017 by JJ Koczan

Another batch of four from Desertfest Belgium 2017 brings the aural devastation of ConanStoned Jesus celebrating the fifth anniversary of Seven Thunders Roar, the West Coast heavy psych of White Manna and the only-ever-out-of-the-studio-to-play-shows relentless heavy rock of Norway’s Spidergawd. Fucking cool round of adds? Yes, yes it is. The Antwerp-based Desertfest, like its Athenian autumnal counterpart, continues to step up and enter the class of the flagship springtime fests in Berlin and London. Seriously. I don’t think they’re halfway done yet and already it looks like they’re having trouble packing logos onto the poster.

It’s only going to get more crowded on there. Here’s the latest from the fest via the PR wire:

desertfest-belgium-2017-poster

NEW NAMES! CONAN, WHITE MANNA and more at DF Antwerp 2017

Back once again with a hot slew of names to fuel your Desertfest cravings!

We are still sitting on some very exciting headliners, but as you probably know by now: we live by the creed of ‘all killer no filler’. I think you’ll all agree that Conan is indeed a killer, if you don’t they’ll probably lob your head clean off. You see where this is going? Hailing from Arcata, California, White Manna is a cosmic noise outfit who will rock you straight into orbit. We welcome back Stoned Jesus from Kiev, a class doom act in its own right. And finally, your classic rock urges will be soothed by the sounds of supergroup Spidergawd.

That should be plenty to tide you over until the next announcement, which will follow very soon!

CONAN

Conan’s genre description reads “caveman battle doom”, and in their 10 years of existence they’ve never failed to live up to the promise. Every new album (from 2014’s ‘Monnos’ to ‘Blood Eagle’ and last year’s ‘Revengeance’) invariably ends up in worldwide best-of-year lists, and that doesn’t even count the bludgeoning live shows that have cemented their reputation as a scene essential. Much like their barbarian namesake, Conan are here to slay!

WHITE MANNA

Equal parts Stooges punk, Hawkwind space rock and Kosmische beat, White Manna unleashes a tidal wave of noise that is dense, intimidating and unforgiving. Across four albums, these Northern Californians have channelled mysticism, drug-altered consciousness and the elemental power of nature via swirling white noise blizzards and fuzz-caked riffage. Fans of Carlton Melton and Comets On Fire take note!

STONED JESUS

Ukraine may not be the first place in mind as a breeding ground for bonafide Sabbathian riffs. But maybe that’s why Stoned Jesus have been able to develop their unique own take on the doom-sludge legacy from which they’ve sprung forth. In any case, after their blistering show in 2015, we’re glad to welcome them back to the stage at DF 2017!

SPIDERGAWD

Starting out as a sideproject for a couple of Motorpsycho members, Spidergawd has since proven itself as a hard working band that is completely its own thing. A new album is released every year, and a relentless touring schedule has endeared them to a growing crowd of fans that can’t get enough of their distinctive flavour of desert rock (with just a touch of sax)!

http://www.desertfest.be/tickets
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Conan, “Throne of Fire” live at Maryland Deathfest 2017

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Desertfest Belgium 2017: Kadavar, Church of Misery, Monolord and Church of the Cosmic Skull Join Lineup

Posted in Whathaveyou on May 18th, 2017 by JJ Koczan

desertfest belgium 2017 banner

The plot thickens as regards Desertfest Belgium 2017, set for this October in Antwerp. A quick turnaround from the last announcement brings the news that Kadavar, Church of Misery, Monolord and Church of the Cosmic Skull will take part in this year’s fest, and while this latest round of additions keeps with the four-at-a-time theme that the festival has worked with thus far in unveiling its acts, it departs from the prior two updates in not including an actual Belgian band.

You’ll recall that Hidden Trails and Hemelbestormer had previously been added. One doubts those are the last Belgian outfits who’ll take the stage at Desertfest Belgium 2017 in any case, but it’s just something different this time around. I don’t think anyone could look a the roster of talent thus far assembled and say the organizational effort has been misspent.

To wit, this from the PR wire:

desertfest-belgium-2017-poster

Desertfest Belgium 2017 – NEW NAMES! Kadavar, Church of Misery and more!

Hot on the trails of our last announcement, we’re back already with a quadruple punch of heavy rocking goodness that will get the blood rushing for October to come, for sure!

We realize that for some of you internet-savvy Festers, the addition of the mighty Kadavar to the DF Antwerp line-up is a known fact already. So how about we turn it up even more, and drop Church of Misery as a headliner as well? And if that’s still not enough, would the announcement of Monolord do the trick?
Yep, that’s what we thought! So as a cherry on the cake, let’s round it off with the Nottingham supergroup Church of the Cosmic Skull, who dropped one of the more memorable rock albums from last year.

More details below, and more great bands to come in the near future!

KADAVAR

Whether in front of 3,000 sweating Mexican souls, in a remote pub in the Macedonian mountains or facing huge European festival crowds – every single night, KADAVAR performs as furiously as a tremendous tempest hailing down on earth! Now returning to the city where they recorded their eponymous live album in 2013, Kadavar will make sure to meet high expectations, and exceed them if possible!

CHURCH OF MISERY

The Church rises again! Now back on the stage with an entirely new line-up formed around founding bassist Tatsu Mikami, we can’t wait to hear what this most legendary of doom bands has in store for us. Whether it’s bonafide classics from the vaults, tracks from last year’s ‘And Then There Were None’, or entirely new material – be sure to find us in the front row!

MONOLORD

No flash and no frills, since their formation in 2013 Monolord has been a trusted staple for the stoner rock community for one reason: they’re a damn hard working band delivering the goods night after night. Finding themselves before ever growing crowds, their straightup workingman’s doom’n’sludge is certainly at its most effective when mainlined in a live setting.

CHURCH OF THE COSMIC SKULL

Church of the Cosmic Skull is a twofold entity: a new religious movement who seek to free mankind from their material possessions and unify all living beings into a singular cosmic whole… and a 7-piece supergroup from Nottingham playing seventies psychrock with six-part Queen-esque vocal harmonies and a touch of Thin Lizzy. Fans of Black Mountain, King Gizzard and Uncle Acid should get psyched for this.

http://www.desertfest.be/tickets
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Kadavar, “Last Living Dinosaur” live in France 2017

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Desertfest Belgium 2017: Saint Vitus, All Them Witches, Satan’s Satyrs and Hidden Trails Added

Posted in Whathaveyou on May 8th, 2017 by JJ Koczan

desertfest belgium 2017 banner

The lineup for Desertfest Belgium 2017 — or Desertfest Antwerp 2017, as it seems to be positioning itself this year; fair considering neither the London nor Berlin nor Athens incarnations take on the whole country in their name — expands in multiple directions with its second round of adds. Similar to how the first announcement brought a heady dose of rock and doom with Windhand and Radio Moscow while keeping the local scene in mind with Hemelbestormer, this time around brings legends Saint Vitus to represent the darker side of the spectrum while All Them Witches and Satan’s Satyrs bring the riffs and Hypnos 69 offshoot Hidden Trails represent the native Belgian sphere.

Pretty awesome and multifaceted bill already, and as we look toward the fall, we’re still just getting started. As they note below, the London and Berlin fests just happened. I haven’t posted yet about it because I haven’t seen a proper announcement come through, but the Athens lineup is coming together as well, so I’ll get something going on that sooner or later. In the meantime, here’s the latest from Antwerpen:

desertfest-belgium-2017-poster-saint-vitus

Desertfest Antwerp 2017 New Names – ALL THEM WITCHES, SAINT VITUS AND MORE!

We hope you all enjoyed DF Berlin and London as much as the DF Antwerp crew did – we had a blast!

And while you’re still vibing on that buzz, let’s add some fuel to those flames with a quick roundup of new confirmations for the DF Antwerp edition…

Coming to you in October on our stage will be the versatile psych sounds of ALL THEM WITCHES, the West Coast doom pioneers SAINT VITUS, the infernal biker rock of SATAN’S SATYRS, and HIDDEN TRAILS, a Belgian band that rose from the ashes of local legend Hypnos 69.

Sounds good? Then keep your ears wide open for our next announcement coming in just a few weeks!

ALL THEM WITCHES

All Them Witches concoct a powerful and potent psychedelic sound that fuses bluesy soul, Southern swagger and thunderous hard rock. With three albums and a jam-filled live show, the band has amassed a devoted following and have become a real sensation in the underground rock scene. For further proof, check this year’s ‘Sleeping Through The War’ or the electrifying ‘Live In Brussels’ album.

SAINT VITUS

We are truly honoured to invite one of the pioneers in doom metal, starting out as early as the late 1970s. Throughout many line-up changes, breakups and reunions, they have maintained their status as one of the true lasting legends on the scene. Hot on the heels of the ‘Live Vol. 2’ album, the band is touring throughout 2017 continuing to spread their vintage brand of doom all over the world.

SATAN’S SATYRS

Satan’s Satyrs stand proud as a malignant manifestation of all that’s debauched and demented in heavy music. Beamed in from a metaphysical zone of over-amped ’70s power trio action and exploitation-movie malice, the band marks a new wild outpost in a freakrock lineage that extends from Edgar Broughton Band and Blue Cheer through Alice Cooper, Mountain and beyond.

HIDDEN TRAILS

Hidden Trails emerged when the rhythm section of Hypnos 69 started recording with guitarist-vocalist Jo. Picking up the loose ends that legendary Belgian stoner band left behind, Hidden Trails have crafted their own brand of psychedelic rock full of jazzy drums, thick and clean bass lines, mellow vocals and dreamy guitar riffs. A local treasure for sure!

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Saint Vitus, Live at Saint Vitus Bar, Oct. 2016

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