2018 marks the return of Oxford-based sludge-metal titans Desert Storm as they prepare to follow the release of 2014’s critically-acclaimed Omniscient album with their new opus Sentinels, confirmed for release this coming March 16th via APF Records.
Recorded with engineer Jamie Dodd (Orange Goblin) at Flesh & Bone Studio’s, Hackney and tracked by Steve ‘Geezer’ Watkins at Woodworm studios (which has also been used by legendary Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi), ‘Sentinels’ is a colossal sounding record, it’s ten tracks punching the listener with an oppressive towering monolithic sound that batters, but never dulls the senses.
‘This album is a natural progression from our previous releases,’ explains guitarist Ryan Cole. ‘It has the Desert Storm sound, but has moved in a much harder, darker and heavier direction.’
Today we get to hear the first rumblings from Sentinels in the shape of Too Far Gone, a brutal, pounding powerhouse of a track that tackles the bleak subject of excessive binge drinking. ‘It’s the paradox of hard liquor being both the cause and the remedy of the sickness,’ states vocalist Matt Ryan. ‘Self-destruction and punishment of the body. It’s inspired by the tragic tales of Bon Scott and John Bonham, along with fictional characters Ben Sanderson of Leaving Las Vegas and to a lesser extent, Jim Lahey of Trailer Park Boys. It’s a miserable outcome as our song begins with alcoholism and ends in death.’
Stream Too Far Gone here:
Sentinels features the following tracks:
Journey’s End
Too Far Gone
The Brawl
Kingdom Of Horns
Gearhead
Drifter
The Extrovert
Convulsion
Capsized
Outro
In addition to the album’s release, the band will be hitting the road hard throughout February, March and beyond in the UK and Europe. This is a band that have never been afraid to get in the van and have shared stages with a who’s who of heavy talent over the years, including Karma To Burn, Corrosion Of Conformity, Red Fang, VoiVod, Orange Goblin, Crowbar, Weedeater, Valiant Thor and many more.
Catch Desert Storm live at the following dates in the UK and Europe:
03.02.18 | United Kingdom | Manchester | The Bread Shed
17.02.18 | United Kingdom | Birmingham | o2 Academy
22.02.18 | United Kingdom | London | The Devonshire Arms
23.02.18 | Netherlands | Rotterdam | Baroeg
24.02.18 | Netherlands | Eindhoven | The Jack Cafe
25.02.18 | France | Douai | Red Studio
26.02.18 | Belgium | Antwerp | Kids Rhythm & blues bar
27.02.18 | Germany | Berlin | Urban Spree
28.02.18 | Germany | Weimar | Gerber3
01.03.18 | Germany | Dresden | Chemiefabrik
02.03.18 | Czech Republic | Prague | Theremin
03.03.18 | Poland | Warsaw | Hydrozagadka
04.03.18 | Slovakia | Bratislava | Fuga
05.03.18 | Slovakia | Kosice | Collosseum
06.03.18 | Poland | Katowice | Klub Faust
07.03.18 | Poland | Wroclaw | Black Moon
08.03.18 | Germany | TBC
09.03.18 | Netherlands | Zwolle | Jacks Bar
10.03.18 | Belgium | Brussels | Rock Classic
07.07.18 | United Kingdom | Bradford | Underground
28.07.18 | United Kingdom | Bournemouth | The Anvil
04.08.18 | United Kingdom | Abingdon | Abingdon Town F.C
25.08.18 | United Kingdom | Bolton | Alma Inn
29.09.18 | United Kingdom | Sheffield | o2 Academy