Diaries of Doom

  The last day of the festival runs around all too quickly, but there are still a few tales to be told before the proceedings are through. Dvne open up the Roundhouse on Sunday afternoon, with a set exclusively drawing from the earth-shattering  Etemen Ænka from last year. Towers sounds, well, as towering as it does on record. Their epic, melodic, progressive sludge seems to have reached increasingly new and bigger audiences recently and their spot on such a big stage, though announced at short notice, is thoroughly well deserved and you can see from Dan's big grin how much they're enjoying their moment in the spotlight. They're full of technical wizardry, but have enough big grooves to get the crowd moving and headbanging - such as the end of Mleccha or the titanic riffs in Satuya. The drum fills are nothing short of crazy at times and both vocalists only seem to improve with every passing year. Their interludes between songs are worth a mention, too - bridging the songs, ...

I get myself down to London after a half-day at work for around half past 5, checking in to the Dev just as Dunes take to the stage. Their groovy, stoner-infused alternative rock is a great first act of the weekend for me. It's laid back without feeling lazy, and with shades of Clutch and earlier QOTSA, is easy on the ears while still rocking out and making my head nod with every bluesy groove. Their new album Gargoyles is only a week old by this point, and they baptise it in glorious, fuzz-soaked style. I'm surprised how full the venue already feels for around five in the evening, and as more pints are poured and the beers begin to flow, the crowd cheer louder and louder, showing them well-deserved appreciation. I can definitely see Dunes on the Desertfest bill again. My next stop is Truckfighters , and I manage to catch about the latter two-thirds of their set. It's full to the brim with sprawling jams, hard grooves and most importantly - good fun. Without a doubt, thei...

Desertfest London is back in Camden this week! Today I've got an article with a few bands that can't be missed at the festival. The lineup is strong enough that every band on the bill would be a worthy mention on here, but unfortunately, I'm on a time constraint and no one would read to the end of it anyway. I've gone with ten because it's a nice, round number. Come say hello if you're going and you see me there.  1. Electric Wizard (the Roundhouse, Sunday, 21:45) The main attraction at The Roundhouse on the Sunday. As far as I can see online, it's their first show in about two and a half years. Do they need an introduction? No.  2. Dvne (the Roundhouse, Sunday, 15:00) If you've got one of those coveted Sunday Roundhouse tickets, do yourself a favour and get down early for Dvne. The Scottish prog metallers are going from strength to strength at the moment and you wouldn't bet against them eventually being revered in the same way that this festival...