Desert Storm’s show to launch their much-anticipated album ‘Forked Tongues’ had all the makings of a good night from the outset.
First on were Undersmile, a four-piece playing something the experts call “sludgecore;” indeed, it is, but it’s their own very singular brand. They show the expected hallmarks of this genre, the big death-march riffs and the slow but unrelenting rhythm section laying waste to all in its way. Their biggest asset however, is the haunting harmony vocals from Hel Sterne and Taz Corona-Brown; the way their voices drift together is somewhat enchanting, as if two damned souls are entwined in some kind of slow motion combat. Their set was consistent in its brutality, and for a genre of music which could easily be very uneventful live, they gave a strong performance. The band, united in cranking out their crushing electric dirges, remained detached from the audience, hardly speaking a word between songs and while in some instances this might have detracted from the strength of the performance, the style only served to enhance their image as silent bringers of doom. While some gig-goers seeing them for the first time may have been left a little confused as to what had just befallen them, it’s clear that this group really understands their sound, and pack a hefty punch in a live situation. Be warned – these are not just girls in dresses. Contains unadulterated doom.
Next up were Didcot three-piece, Mother Corona. They kicked off their set with some tribal hammering on the drums, leading into chugging, grooving heavy rock riffs, creating a very full, satisfying sound for a trio. As ever, the band was transported to a higher level by superb multi-tasking frontman, drummer/vocalist Dave Oglesby, who interacted well with the crowd despite being surrounded by banks of drums. In addition to their heavy side, the band showcased the quieter, more psychedelic side to their sound with ‘Dead Space’, featuring some strong guitarwork from Lee Cressey. They would probably do well to explore this aspect of their repertoire further, as it has great potential.
Local five-piece Komrad seemed a little lost among a night of heavier, groove-based metal acts, but duly gave it their best shot. The crowd too seemed a little unsure as to what to make of them; perhaps Komrad are still learning to understand their sound. At times they were making heavy, pleasingly erratic experimental rock, while at others the musicians seemed befuddled as their vocalist, drawing on the influences of the likes of Serj Tankian, went for some rather abstract vocal line which simply got lost in the musical confusion created by the rest of the band. It wasn’t a technical issue: they were well rehearsed, and gave a lively show, but Komrad’s members seem to lack a common goal with regard to the music they are making and the sound they are trying to achieve.
Which brings us to the men of the moment, Desert Storm themselves. They opened with crowd favourite ‘Old Town’, Elliot Cole’s truly booming drumbeat hailing a groove-ridden song boasting a fantastic guitar hook and instantly dragging any fence-sitters to their feet. The night’s set was primarily focused on material from their new album, featuring numbers such as ‘Pocketwatch’, a softer number which demonstrated the band’s ability to explore new ground white still retaining the essence of their sound. ‘Forked Tongues’, the album’s title track, was a highlight of the set. Starting out with the whole band punching out notes in unison in some uncountable time signature, Matt Ryan’s beastly roaring gave way to a quietish guitar part, laced with a sense of evil foreboding. After some provocative lyrics from Ryan, he called the band together with a ferocious growl as they conjured one of their most menacing riffs to date. This song is truly a showcase of what the band can achieve, and is a good sign of what we can expect to follow: brutal stoner metal which is well thought out and executed with the highest degree of accuracy. To some that might sound self-contradictory, but Desert Storm’s sound is convincing in every way, from the rhythmic intricacies to the blistering guitar solos. Along with the new pieces came a few old favourites: songs such as ‘Cosmic Drips’ and ‘Astral Planes’ have been in the band’s catalogue for over a year, but still remain totally fresh, and never fail to get the crowd moving. So loved was the band’s set that as the end of the night came, we started to hear the inevitable crowd chant of “F**K THE HOUSE OF COMMONS”. Regular Storm-goers will know that this means only one thing: an encore of the band’s thrashiest number, ‘Liberty Capping’. Needless to say, the Storm know exactly how to make one final impact. As Matt Ryan bellowed the final aforementioned lyric, not one voice in the house refused to join him, bringing a riotous end to a set that was electrifying from start to finish. If ever they needed a good advert for buying their album, this was it.