Desert Colossus – Apparatus

by Mark 'Yeti' Richard · April 16, 2026

Desert Colossus is a four-piece stoner rock band from Zaandam, Netherlands. They consist of Frank Zoomer on vocals and guitar, Leon van Wijk on guitar and backing vocals, Tom Collé, bass, backing vocals/accordion, and Frank Fey on drums, backing vocals/synths. They have released four full length albums including: 2016’s Self Titled, 2017’s Omnibeul, 2020’s Eyes and Tongues, and their latest, 2026’s Apparatus. Apparatus was released on March 1st 2026 and contains nine tracks at forty six minutes long.

When “Hermit” hits the speakers with its classic metal introduction, they quickly amplify the riffs into a devastating flow of fuzzy rhythms. Stoner grooves rooted in heavy riff rock, “Feel Me Up” splices in dynamic guitar harmonies with the uncompromising riffing. The high register vocals of Frank Zoomer help propel their sound even further. Heavy grunge elements flavor in the hooks and the sometimes aggressive but melodic vocals are the key to the catchiness of these songs. “Vanity” is a heavy pounding of sludgy simplicity mixed with melody. The slamming rhythms are joined with the soaring vocals and the music just floats along with a pleasant resonance.

“Pixie House On The Wax” has a smooth and rocking appeal, with its melodious glide down a fuzz rocking path. “Sweet Cherries Hang Low” has a more straightforward guitar driven sound with those classic stoner rocking grooves that brings this song alive. Inspired leads and steamrolling riffs, Desert Colossus are not as primitive as one might expect. “Three Eyed Fox” is a seven a a half minute musical journey into the deep corridors of desert rock. The riffs and melodies work simultaneously, sometimes traversing in soothing psychedelia or trampling doom. There’s a progressive component to these rhythms that are subtle but effective. After the sonic boom of fuzz and distortion, Desert Colossus springs on an acoustically clean guitar derived track, simply titled “Interlude”. A beautifully composed distortion break, the minute and a half harmony showcase the musical talents of the band, and gives you a pause before the final storm.

“Black-out” cranks back into the fuzzed-out desert rocking grooves that defines a lot of what Apparatus is all about. The catchy and punishing tones are tamed down a little by Zoomer’s powerful voice but they both coalesce tightly together throughout the record. The final track, “Come Forth” is a grandiose execution of traditional stoner rock, soaked in heavy psych, and rinsed with grunge. Desert Colossus sets the listener on a full trip of audio enhanced cosmic jamming that is happening on the ending sequence of the song. It’s heavy but orchestrated doom, if there is such a thing. Apparatus is a terrific asset to your stoner rock collection, for those seeking out the more classic desert tones, wrapped in an alluring cauldron of originality.