Fret-shredding guitar licks, bluesy rhythmic grooves and a gravel-gargling vocalist. Three elements that collide to make one of Oxford’s most dynamic underground bands, Desert Storm. On the surface, this Botley-based five-piece are as metal as they come – it’s easy to hear the influence of hard rocking legends like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Pantera in their powerful overdriven sound. Once the bluesy growl of vocalist Matt Ryan enters the fray, though, comparisons can also be drawn to Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters and Lead Belly, making Desert Storm a difficult band to pigeonhole.

“It’s wide reaching,” says bassist Chris Benoist of his band’s musical background.

“While most of our stuff is metal, we have a real grounding in other styles like blues and folk, so there will be tracks on (recent debut album) Horizontal Life that may surprise you.

“We love to bring a lot of influences to our music, as our individual tastes are very diverse. It has received good praise so hopefully we are doing something right!”

The winning combination first manifested itself after five childhood friends began playing music together at secondary school in 2007. The band wrote music for their first gigs in the “barren farmhouse” of Coldroom Studios in Cumnor, before unleashing themselves in venues such as the Wheatsheaf, the Cellar and the late Gloucester Arms. Playing small shows with other local bands helped Desert Storm to form musical comradeships, meet future tour buddies and become a lauded name on the rock music circuit.

The band have branched out on their most recent UK tour, playing in cities from Edinburgh to Portsmouth in support of an American desert rock three-piece, Karma To Burn. Of course, they haven’t forgotten the city that raised them. The last night of the tour will be an explosive hometown finale at the Bullingdon in Cowley Road.

“Oxford has a great history of producing bands, so the more we can do to promote the local rock/metal scene the better,” Chris says. “At the end of the day, we are all representing the same city. I don’t know any band that wouldn’t be proud to say they come from Oxford.”

“Those attending on Monday should expect a groove-driven night of mayhem! It's the hometown show of the tour and the first time Karma To Burn have graced Oxford, so we intend to show them how we get down.”

  • Tickets for Desert Storm’s show with Karma To Burn cost £9 from wegottickets.com