Day 2 of Desertfest had to pull double duty to enliven the tired Friday crowd, with their knee complaints and petrified necks, and bring the weekenders up to date with the energy required. With the biggest headliners planned for the evening Roundhouse rounds, the MJB team spread out on a reconnaissance tour of the day’s lineup. With the festival now in its full swing, most relaxed into its general vibes. Black Heart doubled as a market hub and a great meeting point for friend groups. Some had their bodies tattooed at the pop-up parlour, others shopped away in the Satanic market set up right opposite the bar. Many sipped away the branded Desertfest beer in the company of the sunshine, as when this happens in the UK, it usually signals day drinking festivities. Even the walk up to Chalk Farm once under the influence of the golden elixir seemed a bit less daunting.
Scott Hepple and the Sun Band
Perhaps the only moment of the day when the Underworld was tolerably cool, Scott Hepple’s 60s infused rock’n’roll brought in the heat with a toe-tapping set, promoting their debut album, English Mustard. Coming off a 9-date UK tour and heading out to Desertfest Berlin, the young band showed no sign of tiredness, especially Luc on drums, who was the embodiment of every kid’s dream of playing drums: smashing things and having fun. As Alfred on bass put it, “I really feel like across the tour, me and Luc have really started locking it. It’s great going to the back of the stage, looking at Luc and getting in the zone together.” Rux
Torus
Opening the Underworld Stage on Saturday, Torus was the perfect re-energizing choice, shaking off the post-Friday fatigue. The trio delivers alt-rock that echoes giants like Nirvana or Queens of the Stone Age, yet they’re far from copycats. They’ve carved out their own little space with a set of tunes that feel written for the radio, but on their own terms. On stage, they’re fun, light, and bursting with youthful energy. A perfect bridge for anyone just beginning to explore the fringe genres that Desertfest embraces. I adored their performance — it felt like descending into the sweaty hotbox that is the Underworld somehow transported me back to the early 2000s. Their guitar work was sharp, with clever use of distortion and effects that never went over the top — subtle enough to let the classic electric guitar shine. Their songs, though simple on the surface, pack a strong narrative punch. A special treat that afternoon was their cover of Toxic by Britney Spears — a fun moment where we all got to sing along. Nat
Maha Sohona
No band was more custom-made for what I needed that early afternoon than Swedish Maha Sohona. Starting off with the dramatic doom piece Scavengers, they soon mellowed into more ephemeral soundscaping, like floating downstream on a shaded river. Theirs was a set to sway and journey to. Take a piece like Luftslott: equal parts distortion and warmth, the gentle guitar line and the grunge vocals blending peaceably together. Live, the bass came through even clearer, like a second heartbeat or a sonic hug. They were the perfect Desertfest band, taking you to a different plane of existence where groove is king. Rux
Konvent
Danish blackened death-doom opened the Roundhouse stage on Saturday. That large space was a perfect home for their set and held their extreme and intense songs. Their heavy, funeral-blackened riffs echoed intensely, accompanied by the insane guttural screams and growls from vocalist Rikke Emilie List. Purely demonic in nature, clearly coming from another world, it sets them apart from other bands slotted into their niche blend of genres. Konvent took the metal world by storm since the release of their debut album Puritan Masochism, which garnered critical acclaim. Arriving from the much faster-paced Torus, I personally needed a small readjustment, as their set’s thundering was also much slower in tempo. The double espresso I was sipping did not help with the slowing down process, but Roundhouse hospitality is irresistible. Melancholy kicked in after a couple of songs, which is what wakes up within their listeners. Many gazed into the distance, present in their bodies, but their spirits gone, in another world. Nat
Longheads
At least one underground band had to be seen that day, especially from the psychedelic realm, which was otherwise missing from my weekend lineup. I always encourage festivalgoers to check out the smaller stages; that’s where the real hidden gems live. Longheads deliver a heavy strain of psych-rock — fuzzy, intense, and mind-bending. For fans of Krautrock, 70s vibes, and sprawling solos, they’re an absolute hit. It was a standout set that transformed the small venue into a wild, kaleidoscopic dimension — like we all passed through the 2001: A Space Odyssey monolith into fever-dream terrain. I surrendered to the experience completely, leaving all expectations at the door and letting the music carry me wherever it wanted. It was like diving into a river and letting the current decide the direction. Nat
El Moono
Switching the type of energy completely, El Moono’s almost death metal vocals were a kick in the chest and a punch to the gut. Confrontational and liberating, this was a set for people who have to work on becoming more comfortable with conflict. Taking inspiration from both post-rock and hardcore, the result is both transporting and disturbing, just as any good piece of art should be. This marked the end of tour for the Brighton band, who have been on the road promoting their debut album, The Waking Sun, an emotional life-changing experience for every performer on stage. Rux
Pallbearer
We all held our breaths for Pallbearer. They arrived only 15 minutes before their set was due to start, because of being held up at customs — sometimes a real nightmare for artists. This didn’t give them enough time to soundcheck, but as their show went on, they settled into their sound. An hour of their time on stage was filled with five songs — lengthy and beautifully crafted mixes of doom with melodic and progressive elements. It was a real feast for the ears, and fans stood there soaking it all up. A slow burn at its finest, they bridge the gap between the more doom-heavy bands, making them a beginner-friendly selection for less experienced listeners. They blend emotionally phased guitar solos that speak a thousand words with Brett Campbell’s vocal layers in between — transcending melancholy and contemplation. Given to the Grave resonated most with my ears. It’s the closing track of their debut album Sorrow and Extinction, and it put me in a spiritual mood, adding depth to the overall feeling of rebirth. That particular track, in such a big space, makes you feel rinsed. The climactic parts of the song really ruptured something within the space, as we all just drifted away — embracing the out-of-body experience. It was a beautiful set, great preparation for Amenra, who were coming on next. Nat
Lust Ritual
Given I couldn’t even get in for most of the set and had to listen through the Dev windows, the enthusiasm for Lust Ritual was visible, palpable and audible. The doom metal band, fronted by Ieva Isabella Ruiz, is a condensed powerhouse of 70s larger-than-life rockstar energy, with vocals in turn chocolatey and growling. “We never intended to do doom vibes, we all have different influences, but we ended up creating this groovy old-school sound and I’m quite happy about that” Ieva shared, as the current lineup is getting ready to release their first full-length album at the end of the year. Rux
Amenra
They emanate stoicism from the moment they walk on stage. There’s no space for friendly waves or smiles. This show is serious—it carries unbearable weight. When sound filled the Roundhouse, everyone froze, feeling its power. Then, trance-inducing rhythms embraced us all, gently guiding us into movements that felt almost like bowing. Some in the crowd let go completely, moving in a snake-like dance, as if Amenra were their charmer. Others resisted, standing frozen, trying to grasp the overwhelming visuals. It was a feast for the senses. To read more click here. Nat
Planet of Zeus
One of the bands Spotify pushed relentlessly upon me in my early days of exploring stoner rock, Greece’s own Planet of Zeus was my most anticipated band of the day. I planted myself in the best spot in Underworld (facing an industrial fan on full blast) and got treated to a band living up to the name of their second album, Macho Libre, as they embarked full-throttle no-break-pedal into their set, spanning over 20 years of music. We got some delicious riffs to headbang to and, like my beloved Clutch, they’re not afraid of some badass yelling. Mustachioed frontman Babis, looking as fit for an Americana-influenced band as anything, riled up the crowd and the quickly appearing surfers, got us chanting, got us dancing. “You are Planet of Zeus”, he closed. For a band who’s been touring since the year 2000, to have reached audiences outside their home country is always gratifying and special, and perhaps even more so when the genre you play is not associated with said country. They rocked, plain and simple. Rocked our socks off. Rux
Zeal & Ardor
I won’t lie to you—we all had fun. We weren’t just standing there taking notes, trying to analyze what we were hearing. WE LIVED, WE BREATHED, WE DANCED, WE HEADBANGED. To be completely truthful, we lost it and forgot we were even working. The set was flawless in execution, with sound dialed in to perfection. The shamanic, fever-inducing rhythms felt like a life-changing Ayahuasca retreat—transportive and transformative, breaking through the illusion of reality (whatever that even is). Their blend of sounds, enhanced by electronic and drum and bass elements, felt like a really good trip. No bad juju—just pure joy. The crowd’s reaction was all cheers, dancing, moshing, fists and horns raised high in the air. Let’s not forget—we all gathered to worship Satan at the end of the day (wink wink). The rhythms took hold of me and Rux; we danced so hard that people gave us space to whip our hair freely. Some even joined in—happy to be part of something larger than themselves or to ditch their tired friends who had nothing left in the tank. To read more click here. Nat