Maybe
I don't need to do an introduction for today's guests as they have
already been featured on the blog multiple times. This will be the
3rd
interview that I will be carrying out with one of the UK's finest
Stoner Rock bands.
Why
I am interviewing a band for the 3rd
time. Well they have an exciting 6 months coming up or so.
- Eagerly Awaited 3rd album.
- Another epic UK/IRE Tour with Karma To Burn.
So
ladies and gentlemen here is Desert Storm. If you want to read the
other interviews I did with the guys. Here and Here.
Q1
– Hi guys. Thanks for doing this. How are things with you all
today.
Good
thanks!
Q2
– Been a while since we featured you. Thought it was best to see
how you guys were doing. So have things changed with Desert Storm
over the last 12 months or so.
Yes.
We are about to release our third album 'Omniscient' which was
recorded and mixed by Jamie Dodd that did the last Orange Goblin
album. Still looking for a label...but hopefully be out for the Karma
To Burn UK/IRE Tour in August.
Q3
– It's been a year or so since Horizontal Life was released upon to
the world. Did the response from fans and critics surprise you. As it
got some major praise. Were you expecting that.
We
are happy with the album, and were all really pleased with the
response. Hopefully people will enjoy the new release as we all feel
the material and production is a big step up.
Q4
– Looking back on “Horizontal Life” would you change anything
about it. If so, what would you change about it.
Maybe
it was a bit long and self indulgent in places...but overall we're
still very proud of what we achieved.
Q5
– You have just finished or still recording your 3rd
album. How was the recording of that album. Was it different compared
to Horizontal Life.
Yes
the album is completely finished. Just waiting on artwork and a label
to put it out. This time around we chose another engineer, and
decided to record in London with Jamie Dodd, who has worked on the
last Orange Goblin record...and I believe he is doing their new one
as well.
The
main difference this time was we recorded it all in one week, rather
than weekends over a few months...we feel it sounds more coherent
this way.
Q6
– What can we expect from the album. And when will it be released.
I
think it's our heaviest album so far, but there is still plenty of
the blues/groove stuff and a few other surprises. Hopefully it will
be out for Fri 15th Aug...the first show on the UK/IRE Tour and in
our home town.
Q7
– Is it a different style of sounds compared to Horizontal Life.
The
sounds are similar, but a slightly different blend to what is on
Horizontal Life. I think it has captured our live sound better as
well.
Q8
– You have a massive UK/IRE Tour with Karma To Burn coming up. How
did that come about as you did something similar in 2012.
Well
me & Elliot run buried in smoke promotions and are Karma To
Burn's UK booking agents...so why not put us on the tour as support
and give ourselves some good exposure ;)
Q9
– What can people expect on the tour.
CARNAGE
- RIFFS, BEER, SWEAT, BLOOD, MORE SWEAT....MAYBE SOME
LADIES...PROBABLY NOT THOUGH...MORE BEER!
Q10
– Which bands and artists influenced you as musicians. Any
particular band or album that stand out.
Black
Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, ZZ Top. Clutch, Karma To Burn, Orange Goblin,
Tool, Kyuss, Monster Magnet, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Down, Pantera,
Metallica, BB King, Slayer, Black Flag, Isis, Torche, Neurosis,
Weedeater, Rage Against The Machine, Jerry Douglas, Clive Carroll,
Honky, Peter Pan Speedrock, Zeke, The Sword, Sleep, High on Fire,
Red Fang, Alter Bridge, Exodus, Megadeth, Korn, Limp Bizkit, NWA, Dr
Dre, Massive Attach, Eminem, Venetian Snares, Task Force, Sepultura,
Foreign Beggars, the list goes on.....
Desert Storm with HONKY
Q11
– How big of a help has BandCamp and the Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal
community been in promoting your music.
Bandcamp
has been great, we seem to sell a fair bit of music through that
site... doom/sludge/stoner metal community has been good...although I
don't think we fit in 100% as we are more of a blues/metal
band...with elements of stoner/sludge, I guess there is enough of a
crossover that some stoner/doom fans get it...but not everyone does.
Q12
– I know I have asked you this question previously but what is your
verdict on the current state of the UK Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metal
scene. It has been thriving over the last few years. Can you see this
continuing or do you see a natural decline when you're performing
gigs at home or on the road.
I
guess it's strong, there are a lot of good bands out there that are
working hard, it's a shame a lot of venues are closing and promoters
calling it a day, we (buried in smoke) don't promote as regularly as
we did because we kept losing money, people always moan about good
bands not coming to town...but when they do they don't attend.
Q13
– What is your musical set-up when playing live or recording your
music. Any hints and tips would you like to give to the budding
musicians out there.
We
use Orange, Mesa Boogie, Diesel, Sovtek and Chris goes through a Mark
Bass rig...seems to be a powerful sound...so we recommend this gear!
Q14
– We are massive Vinyl Heads here at Sludgelord. Are you vinyl fans
yourselves.
Yes
we love vinyl, hopefully the new album will be out on vinyl...but
it's very expensive to press.
Q15
– What is your verdict on the whole crowd-funding scene. Where
bands ask fans to fund their next album. Are you a fan of that
platform. Would yourselves ever go down this route.
NO!
Total shit, everyone else has to fund it themselves. I don't mind
bands doing pre-orders where the person funding has paid for their
copy of the album in advance...but bands that just ask for money then
expect the fans to buy a copy as well is terrible, especially the
bigger bands that have money!
Q16
– This is more of a question for Ryan and Elliot. It seems your
promotions company – Buried In Smoke – is still going strong. How
is running a promotions company in today's music scene. Is the live
music scene thriving or are there still issues with people not
turning upto shows. And does this make it hard for you both to
participate with Desert Storm at the same time.
Yeah
we still put on killer shows, but not monthly anymore as people don't
come out to gigs, and we can't afford to keep losing money. So we are
very selective with what we put on now.
Q17
– The last thing before you go, Do you have anything else to say to
your fans.
Thanks
for all the support, new album out soon. Come see us on tour with
Karma To Burn Fri 15th Aug-Mon 1st Sept. Tickets available at
www.seetickets.com
Well
guys. Thanks for doing this. Always great talking to you guys. Can't
wait to hear the new album and to see you with Karma To Burn once
more at Newcastle in August 2014.
Check The Band From Links Below
Written by Steve Howe
