Desertfest 2026 – Friday : The Review

Sergeant Thunderhoof 

The atmosphere over at the fabled Electric Ballroom is markedly more relaxed than the crowded Underworld, as Sergeant Thunderhoof gears up for their set. They steal the show, with an hour of rip-roaring, raucous riffs and huge choruses. Determined to make their mark on this edition of Desertfest, they distil the essence of the festival down into a relatable, grounded and joyful set. It’s slick and professional, aided by impeccable sound. Surely, there has never been a better endorsement for Orange amps than when Thunderhoof’s crushing riffs hit the front row. – NC

Photo Credit:

Jessi Lotti

Kushthulu

This tiny venue is packed with bodies, waiting for this stoner/doom/sludge/ADHDoom metal band to unleash sound. And they certainly make their presence known. The bass makes the floor shudder and hits everybody in the very packed room. There is barely enough room to breathe, never mind move, but nobody seems interested in escape. The sound is colossal yet remarkably controlled, and riffs arrive in waves of distortion thick enough to blot out thought. Drums boom with industrial weight, and every crescendo feels calibrated to strip the skin from your skull. They play heavy, have a great sound, and make sure every face is melted completely off. – CL

Praetorian

Next up at the Black Heart is Praetorian. This four-piece are known for their on-stage antics, and usually, the theatrics arrive later in the set, but tonight, frontman Tom wastes no time. Shirtless and already screaming before both feet have properly hit the floor, he launches himself into the crowd as the audience instinctively parts around him. It is undeniably intimidating, though fully in keeping with the band’s bruising fusion of noise and sludge metal. They sound large and strong in front of a wanting crowd. Bass-heavy riffs surged through the crowd, a crowd that interacted with the band as much as they gave to them. By the last song, the distinction between audience and band has collapsed entirely, culminating in a heap of bodies at the centre of the floor, arms wrapped around the vocalist. Big up the ‘Torian. – CL

Photo Credit:

Tim Bugbee

Gnome

There’s a real buzz brewing for Gnome today, as a room completely stuffed full of red hats can attest to. For all the hype, however, the Belgians produce nothing outstanding. Yes, their musicianship is elite, and the chemistry within the band is notable, but a lack of interesting ideas makes an hour set feel like a chore. Clearly, the feeling is not universal, because many here are having the time of their lives. Their off-kilter, radio-friendly doom rock ticks all the right boxes but simply lacks any emotional weight. Were it goofy enough, it could be fun, but the gimmick does a lot of the heavy lifting in the absence of anything of substance. – NC

Daufødt

Daufødt deliver an absolute barnstorming set over at the beloved Black Heart. The Norwegian noise-punk quartet are vibrant and exuberant without ever compromising on the heavy. Possibly the youngest band at the festival, the youthful Scandinavians are a refreshing change of pace, and their 45 minutes of breakneck, blackened crust-punk is about as energetic as Desertfest gets. A joy to behold and cathartic, to boot. – NC

Hermano

It’s hard to imagine a world in which Desertfest exists without John Garcia, formerly of Kyuss, but whilst many may owe him a debt, maybe ninety minutes’ worth is pushing it. It’s not the first delay, and it won’t be the last, as Hermano takes to the stage fifteen minutes late; clearly, the stoner-rock bands are in no hurry. They blast through a serviceable set of fuzzy, grungey doom and cap the night off with a splash of polish, but it’s not exactly headline stuff. Hermano are clearly experienced, if a little dull. That said, Hermano do have a lot of fun during their set, and it does transfer to the audience. As they banter about the numerous substances they have imbibed (or will imbibe), it seems the spirit of rock n’ roll is alive and well in Hermano. Whilst they may lack any world-beating material, you cannot fault their musicianship. Certainly, there are very good moments, as they employ a host of mind-bending guitar sounds, from wailing wah-wah pedals to crushing fuzzy grooves, and they sure aren’t short of a good hook or two. Regardless, it just never quite hits the heights that you might expect of a Friday night festival headliner. – NC

Photo Credit:

Tim Bugbee