Category: Desert Rock

DESERT'SMOKE - Desert Smoke (Review)

3/28/2025

Written by: The Administrator

A glorious thing happened about two minutes and 15 seconds into "Fuzzy Txitxu," the first track off the self-titled new album from Lisbon's Desert'Smoke. After lazily scanning the promo email, I had fully intended to let some instrumental stoner psychedelia run in the background as I worked through a hefty pile of admin tasks. And things did start off predictably, with a mellow intro establishing mellow ambience. But plans were thwarted as the track...erupted. There was absolutely nothing about those spaced-out leads squirming over that rip-roaring riff that qualified as background music.

Desert'Smoke were proving unexpectedly engaging. Enthralling, even. As much as I tried to focus on the task at hand, the music made it impossible. And so I focused on the music instead. Rest in peace, productivity. Good riddance.

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FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: April 12th, 2024 Feat. Necrot, Corvus Corone, Heavy Temple, and Exist

4/12/2024

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On the very occasional Friday, a wagon arrives at the Sleeping Village’s crumbling gates, stuffed to the brim with sustenance. Today is the day we must offload all this new music, and so, in the process, we thought it would be worthwhile to share some choice cuts from this veritable mass of fresh meat. This is what we’ll be--and have been--listening to today here at the Village HQ. We hope you join us in doing so!

On the docket for today, April 12th, 2024
Necrot, Corvus Corone, Heavy Temple, and Exist

Necrot - Lifeless Birth
(Tankcrimes)

Yeah. I don't anticipate that you are expecting me to report anything to the contrary, but Necrot have this whole death metal thing down to a science. Lifeless Birth gets in and gets the job done with absolutely zero excess. In comparison to prior efforts, this is a little more melodic in the guitar department--check out "Winds of Hell" in particular. There is an added emphasis on earworms that burrow long after the tracks are over, and as an outspoken fan of catchy songwriting in the OSDM space, these are the moments that put a big grin on my face. That said, they haven't let up on the aggression in the slightest--Lifeless Birth is markedly mean. This album reads as confident and precise, and will surely sit comfortably in many a year end list.

Find it here!

Corvus Corone - The Finality of Winter
(Syrup Moose Records)

With a runtime stretching over the 1.5 hour mark, The Finality of Winter is a commitment unto itself. And if you have the time and enjoy drinking deep of funereal waters, the time is well spent indeed. This album is a slow burn in the absolute very best sense, and Corvus Corone demonstrates the power of calmly and sparsely developing a motif rather than piling on layers of oppressive texture. The doom elements aren't as intense or heavy as you might find in most examples of the style--this is primarily lightfooted, minimalistic, and often ambient. Airy, even, with ample cleans. I very much enjoy the use of bells throughout to enhance the somber vibe, as well as the harrowing harsh vocals. An album built for contemplation and revisitation, if e'er there was.

Find it here!

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DESERT'SMOKE - Desert Smoke (Review)

FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: April 12th, 2024 Feat. Necrot, Corvus Corone, Heavy Temple, and Exist

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