Desertfest 2021

It's all about the dank cavernous sound of apocalyptic ritual worship. Cult of Occult deals in the kind of lethargic doom that will haunt your nightmares with menacing riffage, unholy howls and other sounds that seem to seep from the depths of hell. Subtle they are not, but then again: satanic rituals have no need for subtlety.

Bismut arose from a series of explosive and experimental jam sessions in the caverns of the Nijmegen, NL underground. Since their debut performance in November 2016 the trio has played many kick-ass shows in the Netherlands and abroad, marked by vicious riffing and heavily drawn-out grooves - as captured on their debut 'Schwerpunkt' from 2018 and last year's 'Retrocausality'.

Rising from the ashes of legendary Dutch doomsters The Devil's Blood, DOOL has wasted no time carving their own path with their mix of dark rock, gothic pop and psychedelic metal. The reasons for this are many: an impeccable live reputation, a supreme musical vision, some bonafide classic tracks, the charisma of frontwoman Ryanne van Dorst.. but truth be told, the sum is greater than all its parts.

Travelling from their home base Dortmund, the power rock trio Daily Thompson have spent the last four years on the road. As such they have honed their sensational mix of grunge, garage and indie rock work into their very own kind of killer fuzz-blues. They know how to rock a psych groove, but their blend of two distinct lead vocals is where the hidden force lies.

Hailing from our homebase Antwerp, the Indians have been blowing up dodgy underground spots for the past few years, earning a reputation for being the noisiest, fuzziest, tranci-est and plain funk-iest bunch of slackers in the 'hood. Shades of nineties altrock and blasting drones will melt your brain and if they don't do the trick, their unique visual show certainly will!

There are two groups of people in the world: those who have never seen Motorpsycho perform, and those that try to see them as much as they can. Over 30 years and more than 20 albums, the Norsemen have lived many lives, trying their hand at every musical genre you can think of. Whatever you put in, what comes out is vintage Motorpsycho: raw and pure, yet refined and always exciting as hell.  

Known to many and admired by all, My Sleeping Karma is not only a band but a world of its own. All for the right reasons as their signature, mantric style of instrumental psychedelia puts the listener in a state of introspective equilibrium perhaps only matched by meditation itself. Having recently gone through a tragedy of losing their longtime drummer and friend Steffen Weigand, My Sleeping Karma managed to rise above and came back to playing live only last December.

Hailing from the unlikely place of Lviv (Ukraine) and using a cryptic joke as your band name. There are easier ways to cement a reputation in the stoner rock scene, but that's exactly how Somali Yacht Club does it. Of course, it's all about the music and on that front they deliver in spades. A unique blend of stoner riffs, postrock sensibility and effective atmospheric songwriting, SYC's sound is as unique as their band name.. and maybe that's why it actually fits like a glove.

Three amigos from Brugge, Belgium who ride their vintage riffs on extended journeys into outer space. No words are needed, just pure instrumental jams that borrow heavily from all the classics but excel in addictive fun and free-range psychedelics. Check out their latest 'Moving In Silence' to hear what that means, but be aware that this is one trip best experienced live.

Black Rainbows have been rocking their way through time and space since their formation in 2005. No strangers to the scene, them Italians know their sound, know their craft and surely know their crowd. Are you ready for that classic Sunday stoner rock showdown?

Masters at their craft, Colour Haze will grace our grounds to cast spells all over and especially those of mind-altering potential. Hardly any band brings out the best of both the stoner and psychedelic realms in such an organic way as Colour Haze does. Their live performance is considered by some experts to be the 8th Wonder of the World - we completely agree.

Emerging from the shadowy streets of Liverpool in 2006, Conan is a sonic behemoth in the realm of doom metal. Founded by the relentless Jon Davis, Conan crafts a sound that is as monumental as it is primal, dragging listeners into a cavernous abyss of colossal riffs and thunderous drums. Their music is not just heard; it is felt—a seismic wave that reverberates through your flesh and soul alike. We’re more than ready for the return of the king. 

Dopelord is a Polish doom metal band blending crushing riffs with psychedelic vibes. Formed in 2010, they draw from classic doom and stoner rock. Albums like Hippie Killer and Sign of the Devil showcase their heavy, hypnotic sound. They are known for intense live shows and their devoted cult following across Europe.

With 'I Just Want To Be A Sound', Kadavar embarks on a bold new path. This seventh album embraces complete creative freedom, offering a dynamic mix of rock, ballads, and pop. Free from boundaries or labels, they deliver a pure and unfiltered musical experience. With the addition of guitarist Jascha Kreft and producer Max Rieger, the Berlin band pushes all limits. Inspired by the ever-changing energy of their city, this album feels grand, daring, and liberating. Kadavar invites you to let go of everything and fully surrender to the music.

For the last 5 years, Maida Vale has been making waves as the next big promise in the Swedish psych scene. It even got them nominated in the prestigious P3 Guld awards in their home country, but the rest of Europe has followed suit thanks to an intensive touring schedule and two killer albums of daring and driving psychrock. Add to that a crackling intensity onstage that never fails to electrify the audience, and you see how this is destined to become a DF crowd favourite!

A bunch of virtuoso players hailing from Madrid, Mohama Saz is truly something special. Fusing Anatolian psych rock (is that a thing? It is now!) with North-American free jazz and their own Spanish folk tradition, with a little Tuareg grooves and Arabic flavor for good measure.. they pull from many strains to bridge the gap between modern (prog) rock and ancient traditions. Each of their four studio albums holds many wonders, but it is on stage that the magic truly comes to life. A discovery not to be missed!

Sunnata absolutely slayed the midnight slot at 2019's Desertfest Belgium, so we're much looking forward to their return. This year they released 'Burning in Heaven, Melting on Earth' their heavily anticipated follow-up to minor cult classic 'Outlands'. It may be the most definitive statement of their art, an intoxicating blend of ritual vocal harmonies, eastern melodies and heavy dubwise grooves. Bring your strongest narcotic of choice!

Temple Fang is a precious, fragile ecosystem thriving in an apocalyptic landscape of media hype and inflation. While the industry claws for numbers, this band remains fiercely committed to their ideals. Since 2018, they have taken the heavy-psych underground by storm with their ritualistic live shows at Roadburn and beyond, fueled by South American plant medicine and a belief in the "magick" of the moment.

For years, many doubted if their untamed live sound could ever be captured in a studio. In 2025, they prove the skeptics wrong with ‘Lifted from the Wind’ on Stickman Records—their true studio debut. Now fully formed with powerhouse drummer Daan Wopereis, the band delivers a sprawling double record where 20-minute psych freakouts live alongside elegant prog ballads. With mind-bending riffs and triple vocal harmonies, Temple Fang uses rock ’n’ roll as a means to attain spiritual freedom. It’s ecstatic, heavy, and delivered with pure love.

The region of Epirus is famous for its landscape of mammoth mountains and holy rivers - and also experimental heavy rock! Villagers Of Ioannina City are deeply influenced by Greek nature and cosmic phenomena. Their unique brand of heavy psychedelic rock is infused with musical traditions from the region and folk instruments such as bagpipes, flutes and didgeridoos. Establishing themselves as one of the biggest heavy bands in Greece, they have sold out some of the biggest venues in the country.

If there ever was a contest to elect the official European stoner anthem, 'Vidage' by 1000mods would certainly be a serious contender. Just check the video where it is chanted in unison during one of their stadium concerts. That could already be their crowning achievement, but 1000mods (you pronounce it 'chillia' for 'a thousand' in Greek) have since released 3 more albums, growing ever more succesful, playing bigger and better stages in Europe, then the States, with Australia just around the corner.

There is something in the water or the ground in the West of Flanders, Belgium - and it is unholy. How else can you explain the onslaught of incredibly heavy grimy bands, crying out from the middle of a lonely field? Alkerdeel's black doom is peppered with a wicked sense of sardonic humour, but that doesn't mean their a laughing matter. In fact, bring a fresh pair of underpants - for it will truly be soiled once they're done with their on-stage slaught of the senses.

Since 2005, Hangman's Chair has been refining their sound to become a European answer to NoLa sludge. Over the years, they have managed to outgrow that description with a keen sense of songwriting and an international live reputation that established them as one of the most respected bands in the scene, sharing the stage with the likes of Karma To Burn and High On Fire and playing Hellfest, Roadburn and our very own DFBE. With an upcoming release on Nuclear Blast, this could well be the next chapter for Hangman's Chair!

Warning: you won't understand a word of their lyrics. Not only because their death grunt is on point, but also because they use a local dialect from the West-Flemish region. Named after a fabled water spirit that features heavily in Flemish folklore, Kludde is one of the most original and fearsome extreme metal bands in the land, fusing slow sludge with black metal atmospherics to terrifying effect. For proof, just check their recent album 'In de kwelm' (and no, we don't know what that means either).

Monkey3 are an unstoppable force of introspective space exploration. Their take on instrumental psychedelic rock is nuanced and carries the listener through progressive soundscapes that together form a captivating spectacle that must be witnessed to be fully understood. Monkey3's music is the perfect soundtrack for a journey into the deep unknown, with each song taking the listener on a trip through imaginative landscapes.

The first thing that strikes you about Regarde Les Hommes Tomber is the gnarly evil band name. The second thing is the grandiose soundscape they conjure, rooted in black metal but pushing far beyond its boundaries. Ambient passages are mixed with ferocious riffing, gaining them their reputation of one of France's best extreme metal outfits.

SLIFT’s ILION is a towering work of rock music, a steamrolling record that starts at the highest peak and never lets up. If that sounds overwhelming, trust that this Toulouse trio have you in good hands. Their third full-length feels massive and oceanic, merging the furious intensity of metal and the wigged-out guitar heroics of psych rock with post-rock’s epic sense of scale. Heavy shit, to be sure—but fear not, because you don’t need much to get what SLIFT are dishing out on ILION. All you need are two ears, an open mind, and the willingness to be truly blown away.

When Birth of Joy and Death Alley played a sold-out joint farewell show at Paradiso A'dam, little did we know that only a few months later, their demise would give birth to a new and exciting sound: the sound of Splinter. Capturing the pure energy of rock across all eras, their secret weapon is, without a doubt, the electrifying organ of Gertjan Gutman. Kadavar definitely knows what's up, as they immediately signed the band to their own label Robotor Records. The result: The blistering debut album 'Filthy Pleasures' that was recorded in a swift two days.

Belgium’s Wolvennest conjure hypnotic ritual dark rock infused with black metal, krautrock, and drone. Their sprawling compositions merge trance-inducing rhythms with occult atmospheres, as heard on their acclaimed double album Temple(2020). Expect a dense, immersive live experience where sound becomes ceremony.

Detrvire consists of the guitar-drums tandem Muzah & Deha. Hailing from the streets of Brussels, their melodic crust hardcore metal is sure to lift you up or beat you down - whichever comes first. And whatever may be the case, Detrvire gets destroyed in the process.

Guitarist Rodrigo Fuentealba is Belgian rock royalty. Making his name in the legendary surf band Fifty Foot Combo, he has struck out with ever more daring ensembles, of which Manngold de Cobre was one of the wildest: an avant-garde noise punk big band. Now pared down to a quartet, the revived Manngold is no less ambitious, throwing hardrock, kraut, free jazz and psychedelia in a blender and turning up the dial to maximum force.

With their latest album 3, Belgian krautrockers MOTOR!K are adding a new chapter to their discography. While the key elements from their previous albums MOTOR!K and 2 (hypnotic bass lines, pounding drums and repetitive guitar lines) are also presented here, this album is slightly different from its predessecors and explores new musical horizons.

Belgium's guitarist/synthesist Joeri Dobbeleir, also the song composer in MOTOR!K, together with Dirk Ivens - Guitar / FX (known for his work with The Klinik and Dive amongst others) and drummer Dries D'Hollander are continuing to keep the instrumental Krautrock vibe alive on stage like they proved on Desertfest and Roadburn to name a few.

Ambient meets krautrock meets postrock meets shoegaze meets ...... , MOTOR!K takes you on a compelling musical journey through sound from the seventies up till now.

Eleanora takes the blueprint of unorthodox post-hardcore bands like Botch, Converge, and Circle Takes the Square, then applies it to sludge, hardcore, and screamo. On their debut 'MERE' from 2020, the Ghent-based Belgians bend all the rules and make up some of their own as well.

Beer-loving stoners from Brescia and Bergamo, Italy - who even have their own beer. Starting out in 2009 as a bonafide desert rock band, subsequent albums have seen them moving into ever more psychedelic and heavy spheres. Hence the sprawling hypnotic jams that occur on stage, veering from fuzzy rock to heavy doom, to outer space and back again.

Super-massive rock from Eindhoven Rock City! Since 2010 the quartet have been honing their craft, sharing the stage with genre luminaries like Truckfighters, Red Fang, Clutch and Baroness and releasing four top-notch albums that will surely appeal to anyone who thinks QOTSA have somewhat lost the plot.

“Peuk” the Dutch word for cigarette bud. Something you carelessly throw away, something you step on after enjoying it. Short inhales, long draws, deep inside your longs and your brain. And then you discard it, onto the next rush. This is exactly what the Limburg based Trio brings musically. A layer of tar to cover your soul. As addictive as nicotine. Think Hole, think Pixies, think Sonic Youth, think much more than all of this. Think Peuk.

"Satan fucked a Panzer and the offshoot is TankZilla." No, really. Peter Pan Speedrock frontman Peter Van Elderen hooked up with former Wolfskop drummer Marcin Hurkmans, and the rest is not so much history but very actual rifftastic rocking madness! Live reports are never less than hysterical in all the best ways.

The Great Machine is hardly a band, it’s an unstoppable force of nature! This Israeli power trio has been wreaking havoc for a few good years now and we couldn’t be more stoked to have them return to the festival. Known for their explosive sonic barrage and next level performances, The Great Machine mean it with their whole hearts. So brace yourself for one mad, sweat-drenched ride.

In 1782,  Anna Göldi was condemned, tortured and killed during the last witchcraft trial in Europe. More than 2,5 centuries later, Marco Nieddu and Gabriele Fancellu form an Italian doom band that references this sad and pitiful occurence. Their debut album on Heavy Sounds features powerful drums, intense bass and super-fuzzy guitars in a display of dark and swaggering mega-riff stoner doom, singing of occult spells and ruthless torture, the pleasure of sex and perfidious revenge.

A heavy doom father-son collab! Chris Babalis Jr. and Sr. join their twin-guitar forces with family friends Dimosthenis Varikos and Marios Louvaris to create a stoner sound that is dark, heavy and fuzzy. Their third full-length album "Caravan" was conceived and recorded during the height of Corona, and presents a heavy, sublime and pitch black journey into the vast unknown.

The experimental rock of Diemen Sniep first caught the attention of local press and audience through the debut single 'PEST', followed by the debut album 'Life Without Adrenaline' in the summer of 2021. Led by multi-instrumentalist Chad Levitt, the Liège-based Diemen Sniep take inspiration from esteemed noiserockers like Swans and Daughters, then throw electronic and ethnical elements in the mix.

The surprising side-project of John Roan, who achieved considerable local fame with Belgian dance juggernaut Arsenal. Working with Brent Vanneste (Stake) and Stephane Missegers (dEUS), Roan channels his love for post and black metal, but never tries to imitate. The result is an intriguing and highly original sound that will redefine your perception of what extreme metal can be.

Forget Desert Rock - this is TUNDRA Rock! Forging their own Scandinavian version of the SoCal stoner sound, SLOMOSA employs downtuned guitars, heavy grooves and clear vocals along with thoughtful songwriting that even allows a hint of pop. After a number of highly acclaimed singles, their self-titled debut album (2020) hit hard, garnering praise from The Obelisk himself who called them "Norway’s new shooting stars of huge rock".

Prepare yourself for some electrified, high octane rock'n'roll power action! Mixing killer guitar riffs, big-balls-out bass ripping, wild pounding drums, and ludicrous volume, these Brussel-based rawkers mean some serious business. Avoid at your peril!

For over 15 years now, The Machine have hauled their poor jokes and overly loud amps to a plethora of clubs and festivals throughout Europe. Throughout this time, they have never been one to stay in their lane, veering from instrumental psych jams to focused song writing, to a heavy flirt with noise rock and grunge that now dominates their sound. Unless, you know, they've changed lanes once again.

The three ladies that make up Swiss heavy blues outfit Velvet Two Stripes will give any lame shredding dude a run for his money. With a raw sound steeped in blues, garage rock and riot grrrl punk, the charismatic trio have been the talk of the town for a while now, and with good reason.