10 Bands you should definitely see at Desertfest

Doom Metal rests strong upon the throne of London’s underground metal scene. Like a mighty king, it sits, fat and satisfied - stretching its iron-clad fingers across the Isles, crowning riff-lords with every thunderous downstroke. It is the hitmaker of our time, spawning more successful subjects than you can shake a sceptre at. And if Doom Metal is king, there is no greater cathedral than the mighty Desertfest, the greatest celebration of reef and riff on planet earth.

It is a magical time, where the faithful gather in droves across Camden Town like a herd of cloaked, beer-soaked penguins waddling between venues toward their great pilgrimage. All are acolytes of the mighty riff and all of its stalwart alterations. It’s also an age of discovery, to see what can be done to this consecrated subgenre, what advances and innovations await the starved faithful. Beyond the headliners, there lies a den of unsung riff-wielders waiting to rattle your bones in all manner of new ways. We’re talking about the deep cuts, the strange ones, the bands you didn’t know you needed in your life until they obliterate your senses. So, strap your helmet on, grind your teeth, and prepare for battle - here are ten other bands you need to see at this year’s almighty D-fest.

OLDBLOOD

First up, OLDBLOOD, hailing from the industrial wasteland of North London. Opening with an exciting one, Oldblood actually started in 2018 and showed a promising beginning with ‘Arms to the Sky,’ combining just about any metal subgenre you can think of into a harrowing cocktail that makes the blood run cold. They are the sonic equivalent of a bad trip in an abandoned slaughterhouse. With new singles coming out hot and fast, and some new blood in their lineup, Oldblood are ready to inject some of that London gloom into your veins once again. A welcome addition to the lineup and possibly the start of bold new digs for the band.

CASTLE RAT

Following them are doom darlings CASTLE RAT from the Big Apple. Metal ‘zines are foaming at the mouth over them, and for good reason. The mediaeval lovechild of the film Excalibur and an early Nazareth record, they were practically launched headfirst into prominence due to their spacey production and insanely good aesthetic. They are hands-down the best looking band at the festival, chiefly in part of rhythm guitarist and singer Riley Pinkerton, who looks like a Frazetta painting just sashayed off the canvas to conquer the world. They are sure to excite those with a penchant for sword and/or sorcery. Their set is going to be a battlefield. Get there early or prepare to be hewn in twain.

PLANET OF ZEUS

From the sprawling Attic basin comes Hellenic riff-slingers PLANET OF ZEUS. Having been around the block since 2000, these guys are the archons of the Greek doom metal scene and their sound is as colossal as their name suggests. It isn’t any wonder that they are back to rock the house in lowly London once again, bringing some of that much-needed Athenian heat to our cold, cold hearts. A Planet Of Zeus show is like being at the sort of parties you wish you were invited to at school, a boomtown bacchanalia. Yiamas!

STONED JESUS

Like a great leviathan starring from the earth comes STONED JESUS from Ukraine. ‘I’m The Mountain’ is a modern doom standard in a similar vein to ‘Unchained Melody’ and ‘The Rite Of Spring.’ With a controlled command of multiple genres, they wield the breadth of musical innovation that stretches as vast as the steppe of their homeland. Proudly Ukrainian, defiantly powerful, and ready to remind us all what real resilience looks like through the common language of pure, face-melting riffage.

SONS OF ALPHA CENTAURI

And let’s not forget SONS OF ALPHA CENTAURI – D-fest vets who first graced the main stage back at its inaugural festival in 2012. If riff-rock was a meal, these guys would be a Michelin-starred lobster feast served on a gold-plated anvil. This year, they return to their instrumental beginnings, bringing towering walls of distortion, introspective interludes, and enough sonic weight to collapse your lungs. There’s no ambiguity here, the reason you should see these guys is because they’re good. Really good.

BOBBIE DAZZLE

If the sturm und drang of doom metal is getting you down, D-fest’s serotonin jolt comes in the form of BOBBIE DAZZLE, your prescription musical Prozac. After departing from doom band Alunah, Bobbie Dazzle is the project of one Siân Greenaway who decided that sometimes the sun must come out even on rainy days. This one is a testament to the diversity of Desertfest’s offerings; delivering punchy hooks, catchy choruses, and riffs pulled straight from an era where free love and Levi Jeans ruled the earth. Bobbie Dazzle is proof that sometimes D-fest isn’t just for the bearded and bell-bottomed doomlords - it’s for people who actually want to enjoy themselves, too. If you skip this, you probably hate fun. Sorry.

FROGLORD

Ribbit. They came from beyond space to enslave the earth. Ribbit. Croak. It’s FROGLORD. They are a doom metal band that dress up like frogs and write colossal riffs. When they’re not driving their motorcar down Toad hall, they can be found in the swamps of Bristol. Beginning as a one-frog project during the pandemic, they leapt from the lily pad to every major swamp in Britain. With vocals slimier than a BP oil spill and riffs so ribbiting it makes you croak with anticipation, they provide less of a stage presence and more of a precursor to the Great Amphibian Awakening of 2026. You have been warned. Ribbit.

GREEN MILK FROM THE PLANET ORANGE

Please clear the way for GREEN MILK FROM THE PLANET ORANGE, all the way from Tokyo, Japan. Experimental (or just plain mental) whirlwind of J-rock absurdity that hits like a gunshot to the gonads delivered with the force of a derailed Shinkansen. It really has to be seen to be believed, as the great Crowbar described; sonic excess in its purest form. If you are frothing at the mouth for some seriously novel and ferociously realised adventures into the realm of musical possibility, then look no further. These fine folks will help you realise that long-awaited Spongebob-ian pursuit of acquiring a taste for free-form jazz.

BARBARIAN HERMIT

Meanwhile, BARBARIAN HERMIT ask just one crucial question: Are you from Manchester? If yes, you already know the deal. If no, then it’s time for a brutal crash course in northern life. With riffs as thick as chimney smoke, the Hermits are ready to make initiates from non-believers. It’s fun, it’s awesome, it absolutely rips hard. And if you’re still not convinced, their new album will flatten you into a Mancunian pancake. Need we say any more? 

EARTH

Last but certainly not least are drone titans EARTH from Washington state. They are a bigger band than any on this list, yes. But it appears that their presence has not been hyped up as much as we would have hoped. 1993’s ‘Earth 2’ wrote the handbook on drone. It’s the type of music you feel in your stomach when the bass rattles the air. They also have tenure, being around longer than anybody on this list. Hell, even if you are of the cowboy-inclined, their 2005 album ‘Hex’ will have you dancing, dancing, saying that you will never die. Every single doom band at this festival owes them a tithe. This is where the term ‘heaviness’ originates, this is the very blueprint. Like Godflesh last year, Earth will provide D-fest with a much deserved sprinkling of ambient heaviness, waiting to turn your eardrums into fine mush. Bow down.

There you have it, unmissable bands at Desertfest 2025. It will be a wonderful family reunion once more; the faithful gathering, the amplifiers humming their warm song, the drink and mirth flowing like a river of bad decisions. Whether you’re here for the soulful wailing of Zeal & Ardor, the amphibian insurgency of Froglord, or the sun-baked euphoria of Bobbie Dazzle, one thing is certain – you are now part of the ritual. Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em. Keep the faith. And prepare for obliteration. Some of the most riveting memories of the year are about to be made.

See you in the pit.

Words: Kiarash Golshani