Discovered as just another random band from a random site,
Desert Storm has been getting mixed receptions across the net. While the word on their their debut album,
Forked Tongues, has been almost unanimously positive, there have been an equal number of naysayers for their particular style. The unavoidable comparison to
Clutch, with like grooves and similar vocals, which to some is a praise, to others it seems to be their downfall. As the majority of the complaints are that they sounds a little
too much like Clutch.
Ed over at Doommantia had their sound a little more varied, comparing them to Clutch,
Down and
Orange Goblin, giving a little more variance but still keeping the underlying Clutch theme and it being a negative (he has sense changed his outlook a bit, upping the albums rating in the comments section of the post). I know reviews are opinions and everyone has their own, but this is not my outlook.
To me the Clutch references, while accurate, are nothing but a good thing. Even before reading Ed's review, or knowing much at all about Desert Storm, when I heard the first two tracks of Forked Tongues the comparisons slap you in the face. The instruments are all heavy groove, down-tuned, and jamming, and the vocals are deep, with a hint of growl. These first couple of songs, and the last three or four, could have easily come off of a Rare and Unreleased album by Clutch, coming from the era between their debut album,
Transnational Speedway League, and their follow-up,
Clutch. The only part that truly stands out, as an individual band, is the inclusion of a female on vocals; it adds a simple nuance to the track or two she is a part of. While it doesn't make any really big changes or contributions to the overall sound, it's an added layer that really stands out in my mind.
