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Artist......: Sandstorm
Album.......: Desert Warrior
Year........: 2021
Genre.......: Heavy Metal
Type........: EP
Label.......: Independent
Language....: English
Source......: WEB/FLAC (16bit)
Quality.....: 931kbps / 44.1 kHz / Stereo
Tracks......: 4 tracks
Playtime....: 00:21:00
Size........: 139.8 MiB
R.Date......: 2026-07-14
S.Date......: 2021-02-26
Url.........: https://open.qobuz.com/album/nr8j720sfswpb
01. Desert Warrior 5:20
02. Eat Me Alive 4:40
03. Evil Wins 5:35
04. Power of the Pyramids 5:25
It was but the spring of 2020 when DYING VICTIMS
unleashed SANDSTORM's debut album, Time to Strike, onto
the worldwide metal scene. Prior to that, the
Vancouver-based band had self-released the album in
early 2019, and while the initial run sold out quickly,
it remained a diamond in the rough. But indeed, diamonds
shine regardless, and soon enough did Time to Strike's
gleam reach all corners of the globe: here was glorious
(and gloriously scrappy) pre-speed/thrash HEAVY METAL in
the literally ancient, sword-wielding style so favored
in the early '80s, rendered in such authentic (and
authentically over-the-top) style, you'd be forgiven for
thinking that this was some unearthed relic from the
era. Word spread, and rightly, that SANDSTORM were the
Real Deal.
And now, with the imminent release of Desert Warrior,
SANDSTORM prove loudly that they are the REAL fucking
DEAL! A swift-yet-generous record at 21 minutes, the
four songs comprising Desert Warrior are thematically
unified by classic late '60s / early '70s sci-fi tropes,
and the power-trio suitably keep the focus squarely on
riffs and atmosphere. Those riffs retain the same
feeling as the full-length predecessor - nothing
overdriven, everything moving at a hot-rockin' pace -
and where medieval magick ran riot across a strongly
rock 'n' roll backbone, here do SANDSTORM evoke a strong
sense of the epic and tragic. That Desert Warrior's
atmosphere is noticeably more moody takes nothing away
from the metallic heights they reach; if anything, one
could liken the mini-album to ghostly NWOBHM bordering
on lonerist AOR, but still with a propensity to kick out
the jams when needed. For proof, see the aptly titled
"Evil Wins" and note the specter of Mercyful Fate
floating nearby. Plus, the band aren't monikered
SANDSTORM for nothing: it was about damn time they did a
record called Desert Warrior and made a musical
mini-movie of sorts!
Still obscure and old-school as ever, SANDSTORM etch out
an even more undeniable identity with Desert Warrior.
Will you enter the wasteland with them?