London heavy rockers Steak release their new album, Acute Mania, on April 1 through Ripple Music. It is the third full-length from the UK four-piece, and with its arrival, the video premiering below for “Papas Special Custard,” and especially the advent of the Steak: Mad Lord comic book that will be included with the vinyl and the accompanying short film Mad Lord, the band seem to be tying all the pieces together for where their interests and ambitions have led them all along, from Chris “Kippa” Haley reminding of Nick Cave‘s Grinderman as guitarist Reece Tee leads bassist James “Cam” Cameron and drummer Dean Deal (ex-Magna Saga/Crystal Head) through a fluid, All Them Witches-style build on “Last Days,” to the samurai visual thematic seen in “Papas Special Custard” and in other videos still to come. By the time Acute Mania arrives, Steak will be bordering on five years since 2017’s No God to Save (review here), and while I don’t know the actual circumstances of the writing or recording for this eight-track/47-minute collection, if you wanted to apply the ‘probably had more time to work on their songs because they couldn’t tour’ pandemic narrative that’s been so gosh darn popular these last couple years, true or not, it would fit.

That is to say, Acute Mania is the most complex and the broadest-ranging work Steak have done to-date. I’ll spare you a review, but in songs like “Frequencies,” the aforementioned “Last Days” and closer “Mono” with a guest vocal spot from Vodun‘s Chantal Brown, their songs are patient in a way they’ve never been before. “Dead Meat” seethes rather than rushes. “System,” with Tom Cameron on vocals, manages to resonate its urgency without hitting full throttle in a way that feels like Steak have grown up. “Ancestors” is still the kind of hook that might define a record, and the lads might still, say, title a song something like “Papas Special Custard,” but Acute Mania is a more mature vision of who they are, building on what they’ve accomplished in the last decade since 2012’s Disastronaught EP (review here) introduced them to the world.

If this is Steak marking their own status as veterans, consciously or not, then fair enough. Their sound is no less physical than it has been, and their progression in style has been both marked from release to release and well earned both in songwriting and in slogging it out on tour when able, but they present their material in a way that comes across as more thoughtful, more dynamic, and able to shift in ways that, when plowing straight ahead, aren’t necessarily possible. “Papas Special Custard,” which is the longest cut on Acute Mania at 8:29, demonstrates this well, with a break in its midsection that’s cleverly built back up to a solo-topped crescendo for the album and story alike. The video, which gives a preview of the comic book with illustrations by Rhys Wootton, with whom the band has worked all along, has graphic violence and some nudity, so if you want to call it NSFW, that’s probably reasonable, but you should quit your job anyway because life’s too short for that shit and you know it. I’m not advocating going out in a blaze of cartoon geisha boobage (nor would I advocate said boobage to start with), but anyhow, quit your job. The track’s killer. Rock and roll.

Next stop: A box set of action figures. Oh yeah, and the album release.

Steak — who got booted off their Facebook page because it was hacked and had to start all over and could use a ‘Like’ if you’d want to throw one their way — will be appearing at Desertfest London and Desertfest Berlin 2022 this Spring, and recently took part in Glory or Death Records‘ Bow to Your Masters Vol. 2 tribute to Deep Purple. One expects that, conditions permitting, more tour dates will follow.

Below, you’ll find the video as well as art, the album preorder links and credits.

Please enjoy:

Steak, “Papas Special Custard” video premiere

Preorders:
Digital – https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/acute-mania
Physical – https://ripplemusic.bigcartel.com/products?utf8=%E2%9C%93&search=acute+mania

London’s premier stoner rockers, Steak, return with their latest full-length album for Ripple Music – “Acute Mania” – scheduled for an April 1st release (No April Fooling here, folks)

Take a gander and open up your ears for the first taste of the upcoming album – this is the animated music video for “Papas Special Custard.”

All songs written and performed by Steak
Guest vocal and lyrics’ System’ by Tom Cameron
Guest vocal and arrangement on ‘Mono’ by Chantal Brown
Recorded by JB Pilon at Buffalo Studio
Mixed by JB Pilon and credit to Simone Lomardi
Mastered by Karl Daniel Lidén at Tri-Lamb Studios
Album art by Schoph Schofield and Rhys Wootton

Video director : Samuel Smith www.samuelsmithdirector.com

More info about the comic book that will come alongside the super limited vinyl edition (250 copies):
https://www.samuelsmithdirector.com/comic-book

Illustrator : Rhys Wootton

Production Company : IMAGECLEAVER: http://www.imagecleaver.com

Steak on Facebook (new link)

Steak on Instagram

Steak on Bandcamp

Ripple Music on Facebook

Ripple Music website

Ripple Music on Bandcamp

The lineup for Desertfest Berlin 2022 is serious gosh darn business, and no less so with Baroness newly announced as the final night’s headliner. That puts them in the company of Orange Goblin, Kadavar and Electric Wizard, though frankly if you look further down the bill for each of the four days, it’s not like the headliners are the whole story. From Samavayo and Polymoon and YOB and Temple Fang, Lowrider and Black Rainbows to Rotor and Slomosa, it’s a packed roster that by the time it happens (thinking positively now) will have been more than two years in the making. Not, not, not to be trifled with.

Some personal favorites added today, among them SÂVER, Rotor and the aforementioned Temple Fang, but I’m pretty sure I said last time that if the lineup for Desertfest Berlin 2022 was done, they’d be good to go. That opinion hasn’t changed as the festival has gotten more badass.

From the PR wire:

BARONESS HEADLINES DESERTFEST SUNDAY – 10 NEW BANDS, DAY SPLITS & SINGLE DAY TICKETS ON SALE

Friends, we’re proud to present you 10 new names for our Desertfest Berlin 2022, including the last headlining act: the one and only BARONESS (USA)

Please welcome to the bill:

Baroness – BLACK RAINBOWS – DVNE – Rotor – SÂVER – Spirit Adrift – Steak – Temple Fang – Velvet Two Stripes – VUG

Additionally, you can check out the first day splits of our line-up and purchase single day tickets from now on.

TICKETS:
4 day passes + single day tickets are available via www.desertfest.de

INFO:
– 4 day passes are running really low! Be fast before they are gone
– remember that weekend passes from 2020 stay valid automatically but single day tickets from 2020 do NOT! Please check our website for further info

We’re looking forward to Desertfest Berlin A LOT and we hope so are you. Can’t wait to see you all again on May 26th – 29th 2022.

Love,
Your Desertfest Crew

https://www.facebook.com/events/520164272080736
www.desertfest.de
www.facebook.com/DesertfestBerlin
www.instagram.com/desertfest_berlin

Black Rainbows, “Evil Snake” Live at Desertfest Antwerp 2021

Tomorrow, Bandcamp Friday, May 7, marks the digital release of Glory or Death Records‘ Deep Purple tribute, Bow to Your Masters Vol. 2. With a 2LP edition set to follow in November, the release brings together an assortment of established and new names — and stuff like Mothership-offshoot Topsy Kretts, Big Scenic Nowhere and Destroyer of Light-offshoot (also Mothership-offshoot) Temple of Love, which is new names from established names — as well as Mos Generator, Worshipper, Steak, frickin’ YOB and groups from the Glory or Death family tree including Red Wizard, KOOK, Gygax, RedWitch Johnny, and collaborations like High Reeper with Ruby the Hatchet‘s Jillian Taylor, Steak with Vodun‘s Chantal Brown, Francis Roberts of Old Man Wizard sitting in with Great Electric Quest, on and on and on and oh hell you can see the tracklisting below — just go look at it and tell me you don’t want to hear this thing. If you’ve ever EITHER heard Deep Purple OR heard any of these bands who’ve contributed to the comp, then yes, this is probably something that should pique your interest.

And yeah, YOB doing “Perfect Strangers” is a major draw, and as well it should be. It closes out the 15-song/78-minute offering with a duly flowing rendition of the title-track of the 1984 album that brought Blackmore and Gillan back together, albeit temporarily. But there’s more than just YOB going on here. Asphodel Wine‘s “Child in Time,” KOOK‘s “Space Truckin’,” RedWitch Johnny‘s “Maybe I’m a Leo” — also once covered by The Atomic Bitchwax — and Big Scenic Nowhere‘s “Demon’s Eye” are all killer, and from the boogie of “Black Night” as interpreted by Topsy Kretts to the sprawl of Worshipper taking on “Pictures from Home” — perfect band for that song, and they nail it — Bow to Your Masters Vol. 2 is jammed with what should be considered essentials. I know the sphere of heavy isn’t lacking in tributes these days, between Magnetic Eye‘s ever-expanding ‘Redux’ series and Ripple and others getting on board, but hell’s bells, how on earth are you going to deny Great Electric Quest‘s “Highway Star?” The simply answer is you’re not, and you shouldn’t bother to try.

I’ll make it simple. There’s a lot to like here.

The full thing is out tomorrow, and you can get your vinyl preorders in I assume when you do the Bandcamp thing or through BigCartel or however you go. Whatever it is that gets you on board though — whichever name is your pull — or even if its just the artwork by David Paul Seymour and Carin Hazmat that grabs you, don’t be surprised if you hear one track and wind up on board for a whole bunch more. Whether it’s Gygax boldly daring “Speed King” or Saturn doing “Into the Fire” or Steak taking one of the most iconic riffs ever and admirably making it their own, there’s plenty of fodder for a deep-dive.

That kind of makes the six-minute teaser premiering below excruciating, if I’m honest. Because while it features each song on the outing, it’s just enough of it to get hooked and want to hear the whole thing. A true tease, somewhat brutal. Fortunately a bunch of songs from the thing have already been posted and you can find them on the Bandcamp player nearer the bottom of the post.

The order link is down below as well, and the aforementioned tracklisting, which is substantial. I hesitate to call it a premiere for a teaser, but that’s what it is just the same.

Enjoy:

Bow to Your Masters Vol. 2 teaser premiere

FULL DIGITAL RELEASE is 5/7/21, but we have 6 minutes of pure bliss, a snippet of each song on the release in album order! There are a mix of incredibly faithful covers, cheeky tweaks, and full re-imaginings by 15 of the best bands making heavy music today!

ORDER YOUR COPY: https://gloryordeathrecords.bandcamp.com/

Big Scenic Nowhere – Demon’s Eye
Gygax – Speed King
RedWitch Johnny – Maybe I’m A Leo (Ft. Matthew Putman)
Topsy Kretts – Black Night
Saturn – Into the Fire
High Reeper – Burn (Ft. Jillian Taylor of Ruby The Hatchet)
Great Electric Quest – Highway Star (Ft. Francis Roberts)
Steak – Smoke (Ft. Chantal Brown)
Mos Generator – Love Child
Asphodel Wine – Child in Time
Temple of Love – Gettin’ Tighter (Ft. Anton Pukshansky)
Red Wizard – Fireball
KOOK – Space Truckin’
Worshipper – Pictures of Home
Yob – Perfect Strangers

Cover art by Carin Hazmat and David Paul Seymour
Mastered by James Page at Emerald Age Studios

Various Artists, Bow to Your Masters Vol. 2: Deep Purple (2021)

Glory or Death Records on Thee Facebooks

Glory or Death Records store

Glory or Death Records on Bandcamp

It’s good to see you again, Desertfest London. The 2022 lineup of the esteemed British edition of Desertfest brings some returning presences who were to have been at the 2020 edition, then the 2021 — both of course gone the way of corona. But we see Electric Wizard, Shellac and Witchcraft in headlining spots, while Corrosion of Conformity will bring their delayed 25th anniversary of Deliverance to Camden Town, and returning kingpins Orange Goblin will play, along with YOB, Truckfighters, Earthless, My Sleeping Karma, Mos Generator, Conan, The Obsessed, the reunited Josiah, Lowrider come for a Refractions victory lap well earned, along with Elephant Tree, Elder, Steak, Deathrite and a ton from the UK’s own ever-blossoming underground scene — Blind Monarch, The Brothers Keg, King Witch, the more established Alunah and Trippy Wicked, and so on and so many.

Note Slomosa. Note Wolftooth. I would expect both to be touring Europe around this time. Green Lung too, for that matter.

There’s no way this isn’t going to be one to remember and it is my sincere hope to be there for it. Maybe I’ll see you there. Maybe we can hug.

Kudos and thanks to the Desertscene crew — Sarika, Jake and Reece — on and for a job well done.

Here’s looking forward:

DESERTFEST LONDON ANNOUNCE FULL LINE-UP FOR 2022 ·

A DECADE IN THE DESERT
CELEBRATING TEN YEARS WITH THE BIGGEST & MOST DIVERSE LINEUP YET

EXCLUSIVE UK PERFORMANCES FROM
WITCHCRAFT
(FIRST UK SHOW IN OVER A DECADE)
and
SHELLAC

As the home for all the things truly heavy, leading independent UK festival Desertfest have announced their full line up for 2022, which will take place in Camden, London from Friday 29th April – Sunday 1st May.

Celebrating their tenth year, next year’s festival promises to be their biggest and most diverse yet. Covering six venues across the heart of Camden and now including a full line up at The Roundhouse on both Saturday 30thApril and Sunday 1st May.

Founding owner of Desertfest Reece Tee comments, “Desertfest is 10 years old! I’m so proud that our independent festival has stood the test of time. What we have created is special, a decade of great bands, great friends and amazing memories. This year’s line up is a true reflection of how diverse Desertfest has become and with such a loyal audience, Desertfest can champion the underground for decades more to come.”

Headlining the Friday will be Swedish heavy rock masters Witchcraft, with a UK exclusive performance and their first UK show in over a decade.
Saturday’s headliners are none other than Chicago’s Shellac, who in another UK exclusive will be bringing their experimental post-hardcore sound to the Roundhouse. Fronted by the iconic Steve Albini, Shellac are one of those bands we all need to experience live, at least once. Whilst closing the festival on Sunday will be UK doom legends Electric Wizard, whose heavy sound encompasses the spirit of Desertfest.

Other acts confirmed include the likes of Corrosion Of Conformity, Orange Goblin and Truckfighters who all played the festival in its debut year in 2012 and there are further UK exclusive performances from hardcore-punks Integrity and the Ukrainian psych space rock trio Somali Yacht Club.

The festival will also see desert legends Brant Bjork and Nick Oliveri’s new band Stoner, who will be playing the Electric Ballroom and doomed heavy metallers Khemmis making their UK debut at The Underworld.

Please see below for the full Desertfest 2022 line up / stage splits.
Tickets are on sale now and are available at www.desertfest.co.uk

NEW TICKETS FOR 2022
Weekend Ticket (all venues) – £132 +fees
Friday Day Ticket (all venues) – £45 +fees
Saturday Day Ticket (all venues) – £50 +fees
Sunday Day Ticket (all venues) – £50 +fees
Saturday Roundhouse only – £35 +fees
Existing ticket holders from 2020’s postponed event have a number of options as the festival is now larger, with an added Roundhouse line-up on Saturday 30th April & Sunday 1st May.

EXISTING WEEKEND + DAY TICKET HOLDERS OPTIONS
Full refund
Weekend roll-over to 2022 without Roundhouse upgrade (access only to Electric Ballroom, Underworld, Black Heart & The Dev)
Weekend roll-over to 2022 with Roundhouse upgrade – £15 +fees
Day ticket holders can upgrade to a full weekend ticket – £92 + fees – or will be issued a refund. Upgrade options only available until May 7th ’21.
For any ticketing enquiries please contact sarika@desertscene.co.uk

Desertfest 2022’s artwork is hand drawn by legendary artist Arik Roper who has created illustrations for the likes of Sleep, Earth, Sunn O))), High on Fire, Kvelertak, Windhand and many more. As always, posters and other merch will be available to buy at the festival.

https://www.facebook.com/events/464163361105416/
http://www.desertscene.co.uk/support
https://www.facebook.com/DesertfestLondon
https://www.instagram.com/desertfest_london/
https://twitter.com/DesertFest
https://www.desertfest.co.uk/

Electric Wizard, Live at Desertfest London 2016

Temple of Love is a new project with members of Mothership, Destroyer of Light, Witchcryer, Crimson Devils and Bexar County Bastards. They’ll make a live-ish debut as part of Mutants of the Monster‘s upcoming virtual fest next month, but in the interim, the five-piece are premiering their cover of “Gettin’ Tighter” from Glory or Death Records‘ previously-announced compilation, Bow to Your Masters Vol. 2: Deep Purple. To the surprise of precisely nobody, the song’s a ripper and they rip it accordingly.

To coincide with the premiere of “Gettin’ Tighter,” which originally appeared on Deep Purple‘s 1975 offering, Come Taste the Band, Glory or Death brings an update that Bow to Your Masters Vol. 2 is looking to be finished by Fall 2021, having made it through The Year That Scorched All Plans more or less on track with the original ETA. Kudos on that, as well as the finished selection of bands, which includes prior-revealed wizards like YOB, Big Scenic Nowhere, Steak and Worshipper, among others.

Also included in the announcement is some new artwork that will accompany the release. You can see the theme they’re working on, I think, and fair enough.

Track is at the bottom of this post, obviously made with love. Enjoy:

Official Update for Bow To Your Masters Volume Two: Deep Purple & Track Premiere for Temple of Love’s “Gettin’ Tighter”

Happy Holidays!

We are very excited to announce that so far we are right on track as planned for our estimated rough release date of Nov 2021 for the completion of this project. We may even wrap it up sooner than that, but we will have to see how things go with the bands finishing things up on their side and of course the ever questionable COVID-19. So far things are looking excellent though! We have been keeping in touch with our list of bands quite often as they work on their tributes to the great Deep Purple. Everyone is working very hard behind the scenes on this project and we are so honored and grateful for everyone’s efforts.

Temple of Love!

Get a load of this supergroup;
Steve Colca (Destroyer of Light)
Suzy Bravo (Witchcryer)
Shea McCoy (Bexar County Bastards)
Kyle Juett (Mothership)
Patrick Pascucci (Crimson Devils)

As if that’s not enough firepower already, they bring in Anton Pukshansky (who is a Grammy Award winning producer) to add his magic.

“All of us in the band are a big fan of Deep Purple, so when we were asked if we wanted to be a part of this compilation, we said hell yes. We asked Anton if he wanted to be a part of this song cause he is a fantastic keyboardist, and he was down. We decided to pick a pretty deep cut that gets lost in their impressive and extensive catalog because it has a killer groove and great vocals. Thanks for having us be a part of one of the best bands in rock n’ roll history!”

Feast your ears on this brand new track from the krew! If you dig it, be sure to tune in to “Mutants of the Monster” Virtual Concert Festival Jan 1st & 2nd where you can see them play this one live!

While you listen to Temple of Love’s insane version of “Gettin’ Tighter”, you can gaze at this incredible art Carin A Hazmat (@ArtofHazmat) has conjured up for us!

If you missed it – We also previously released this piece from David Paul Seymour!

Unfortunately our friends Holy Grove could not swing their cover of “Bloodsucker” and have dropped the project, BUT in true Glory or Death style, Mr. Kelley Juett of Mothership has stepped up and thrown together a top secret super group who have been working real hard on something special for us. That is all we can unveil for now per Kelley, but something wicked has been in the works and will be released soon!

Thank you all for the MEGA SUPPORT in getting this project fired up. There is no way this would be possible without you guys and we know it will be something very special when it is completed. Much love to you and yours! Stay safe, enjoy the holidays and you can look forward to some more tracks unleashed on our Band Camp over the next few weeks. Also if you haven’t preordered a copy you can do so there as well – PLUS this month we will be donating 20% of sales on BandCamp to fight Human Trafficking!

Glory or Death Records Presents;
Bow to Your Masters Volume Two: Deep Purple

Yob – “Perfect Strangers”
Mos Generator – “Love Child”
Big Scenic Nowhere – “Demon’s Eye”
The Grand Astoria – “The Mule”
Temple of Love – “Gettin’ Tighter”
Steak – “Smoke On the Water”
Worshipper – “Pictures of Home”
Great Electric Quest – “Highway Star”
Saturn Sweden – “Into the Fire”
Asphodel Wine – “Child in Time”
Kook – “Space Truckin'”
High Reeper – “Burn”
Red Wizard – “Fireball”
Kelley Juett Top Secret Super Group – ?????

https://www.facebook.com/Gloryordeathrecords/
gloryordeathrecords.bigcartel.com/
https://gloryordeathrecords.bandcamp.com/

Of course, all the many caveats of 2020 apply. But shit, Truckfighters are putting together a party and it’d be awful shame if for one reason or another (or another… or another…) it didn’t come together. You know what I’d give to see Lowrider and Asteroid on the same bill? I’d give airfare. With Truckfighters themselves at the top of the bill, I’m happy to see New York’s Kings Destroy added along with UK Desertscene forerunners Steak, and they join Firestone — I guess that means Oskar Cedermalm is pulling double-duty? — and Swan Valley Heights and Elden with more still reportedly to be announced.

If it happens, that’s a killer show. And while we’re thinking about it, I’d rather think positive, so here’s the announcement:

Truckfighters Fuzz festival announce two bands!

We are proud and happy to present our own fuzz festival!

After a sold out 1st edition in 2019 this will be the 2nd edition of our annual festival in our home country of Sweden. We hope for cold weather and and snow outside so we can go in and let the fuzz warm us up. Yeah this festival is all about the FUZZ.

After years of touring around the world we bring our favorite concept home to Sweden: a club festival dedicated to fuzz/stoner and heavy rock.

In the year of the Corona virus we expand to a two day festival. The virus will hopefully be long gone in November. There’ll be two stages, ca sixteen bands and of course a lot of fuzz…

STEAK [UK] and KINGS DESTROY [US] will be joining our fuzz filled party that takes place on Nov 20 + 21 at Debaser and Bar Brooklyn, Stockholm, Sweden. They will join previously announced TRUCKFIGHTERS, ASTEROID, LOWRIDER, FIRESTONE, SWAN VALLEY HEIGHTS, ELDEN – Many more bands will be added.

Confirmed acts so far are
TRUCKFIGHTERS (the fuzz planet)
LOWRIDER (swe)
ASTEROID (swe)
FIRESTONE (swe)
STEAK (UK)
KINGS DESTROY (USA)
SWAN VALLEY HEIGHTS (Ger)
ELDEN (swe)

*Live music from ca 6pm til midnight.
*Afterparty at Bar Brooklyn until 3am.

The Venue is located on the island of Södermalm, in Stockholm. This is a very nice area in the central parts of town.

Get there with subway or bus to ‘Hornstull’ station.

The festival has two stages, one big and one smaller. The smallest stage (Bar Brooklyn) has a limited space and can take up to 250 people standing. If you want to see a band in our smallest stage, come early! First come first served!
/ Truckfighters

As there was issues with the early bird ticket link we offer everyone who buys a ticket in June a 10EUR discount code at the Fuzzoramastore. Just e-mail a screenshot of your ticket to info@fuzzoramarecords.com

https://www.facebook.com/events/606699896853794/
http://www.truckfighters.com/festival/

Steak, “Living Like a Rat” official video

Kings Destroy, “Fantasma Nera” official video

The statistics of COVID-19 change with every news cycle, and with growing numbers, stay-at-home isolation and a near-universal disruption to society on a global scale, it is ever more important to consider the human aspect of this coronavirus. Amid the sad surrealism of living through social distancing, quarantines and bans on gatherings of groups of any size, creative professionals — artists, musicians, promoters, club owners, techs, producers, and more — are seeing an effect like nothing witnessed in the last century, and as humanity as a whole deals with this calamity, some perspective on who, what, where, when and how we’re all getting through is a needed reminder of why we’re doing so in the first place.

Thus, Days of Rona, in some attempt to help document the state of things as they are now, both so help can be asked for and given where needed, and so that when this is over it can be remembered.

Thanks to all who participate. To read all the Days of Rona coverage, click here. — JJ Koczan

Days of Rona: Reece Tee of Steak & Desertfest London (London, England)

—

How are you dealing with this crisis as a band? Have you had to rework plans at all? How is everyone’s health so far?

Desertfest: We had been watching this Covid cloud looming for several weeks and fearing the worst. To make life more difficult for us, the UK government wouldn’t put a ban on mass gatherings but just advised people not to go to any! It was very difficult for us to make a decision straight away as we had a lot of financial issues to resolve. What to do regarding deposits for bands and venues and what we could do for people that had purchased a ticket, should we try and do something later 2019? Although there was some pressure on us to announce earlier, we wanted to get everything sorted so we could announce a clear plan for Desertfest 2021 and allow people to roll their ticket over and offer donation packages so people could show their support. I have to say we were blown away by the reaction from everyone and it has helped us so much in planning for our 10 year anniversary edition in 2021. The Desertefst team are fighting fit and we are working hard to make 2021 our best yet.

Steak: Before Covid kicked off we were working hard on the next album, we had a large portion of it recorded already but we decided to go back to the drawing board, we could do better, we could push ourselves as musicians, it was too comfortable so we took the best of it and reworked some stuff. Since covid we have had to retreat to our homes so other than passing ideas around digitally we haven’t managed to get together, it’s been frustrating to say the least although it’s given us plenty of time to play around with ideas. We are all healthy and focused on releasing a great album and we can’t wait to get back to it.

What are the quarantine/isolation rules where you are?

We are on lockdown and not really allowed out other than some exercise and getting food, it’s such a strange world right now, people are all dealing with it in different extremes and judging how to interact with other people becomes tricky. Things change weekly though and people are out and about more as the weeks go on — cabin fever is setting in! In the UK we have been told that we will lock down for another 3 weeks but then hopefully we can gradually get our normal lives back.

How have you seen the virus affecting the community around you and in music?

It has totally stopped live music on the UK, all events and gigs have been cancelled or postponed until later in the year or to 2021, it’s such a surreal situation and difficult for musicians and promoters alike. I do believe there are positives though. Life is so fast paced, especially in London, so to be able to lock yourself away and focus on music is great and something I haven’t managed in quite some time. I’m playing so much more guitar, and listening to more music, there are so many bands that I haven’t spent enough time on which I can now. I’m finishing other musical side-projects and it’s allowing me to focus on what I love. It’s a really important time and never again will get this opportunity to step away from the world for a while.

What is the one thing you want people to know about your situation, either as a band, or personally, or anything?

Desertfest: Desertfest will come out of this crisis stronger than ever and what has been the most beautiful thing for us is the support from the fans. Sometimes it feels that people may be getting tired of the festival and should we change it to keep it fresh, but this situation has really strengthened the community and I think people realise what a cool thing we have all created. Only when you lose something do you really appreciate it so I believe the hunger for Desertfest is stronger than ever and can only be a good thing for the future. Thanks’ you lot!

Steak: A lot of people have been asking when the new album is out. It was going to be the end of 2019 but as mentioned before we scrapped the first recording of it. Not because it was bad — in fact I listened to it again last week and it’s really good and the best stuff we have done by far — but we believe we can take the songs to the next level. We questioned rushing it. We want to jam with these songs some more. Let’s see where it takes us, and pre-Covid it was proving to be the right decision. This album will surprise some people, it’s had time to evolve without trying too hard and it’s becoming a beast in its own time.

https://www.facebook.com/steakuk/
https://steakmusic.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/events/464163361105416/
http://www.desertfest.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/DesertfestLondon
https://www.instagram.com/desertfest_london/

It’s stuff like Desertfest Belgium’s intimate Basement Sessions that goes so far to distinguish it from among the other Fall fests in Europe. Ungraven, the solo-project of Conan‘s Jon Davis has been announced as the first one for 2019, while Pelican will play the fest proper supporting their new album, and Steak and recent Fuzzorama signees Swan Valley Heights have also joined the bill. You know we’re getting closer to the complete lineup when the logos start filling out the poster, but it looks like there’s still plenty more to come from Desertfest Belgium 2019, so well worth staying tuned, especially to see who else will be down in the basement this year.

Here’s the latest off the PR wire:

PELICAN and STEAK Play Desertfest Antwerp, Basement Sessions are back!

We are honoured to announce that the majestic PELICAN will play this year’s Desertfest Antwerp! In June the band will release ‘Nighttime Stories’, their first studio album in six years, so expect them to pummel you hard with a set of new songs.
For those who like their rock’n’roll straight and kickin’ shit with two feet forward, we also have Steak from London added to our bill. And for those who seek deep space explorations, look no further than Swan Valley Heights. You all know by know that Germany plus Stoner equals Tripping Balls, so you know you’re in good hands with these Munich dudes.

The Basement Sessions are also back with a vengeance! Last year, these special limited shows were very well received, so we decided to expand on the idea. Practical details are forthcoming, but we can already let you know the first act we got on board for this: Jon Davis (Conan) will do an exclusive set of his solo project Ungraven, channeling the sound of 90s industrial metal.

We’ll have some more for you next week, in the meantime don’t sleep on them tickets! Have you got yours already?

http://www.desertfest.be/tickets
https://www.facebook.com/desertfestbelgium/
https://www.facebook.com/events/2260579413999993/

Pelican, Nighttime Stories (2019)