Desert

Desert was founded in 2002 by guitarist Max Shafranski and his friends in one of Israel's industrial and cultural centers, the city of Beer-Sheva.The name was chosen as the symbol of geographical situation of the band - it was located in the middle of biblical sands where Moses had led his people to the Promised Land ages ago.

In 2004 vocalist Alexei Raymar and keyboard player Oleg Aryutkin (just 16 years old at the time!) joined the band and things became serious. The band has expanded it's musical palette since then, mixing in some darker colors to go with power metal glitter. Through the following years Desert released a demo “The Way To Honor” (2004) and a self- produced EP “Prophecy Of The Madman” (2006), both received positive reviews in web-zines all over the world.

After some initial shuffling, the line-up was complete with a bassist Vadim Shulman and drummer Zohar Telor. The final line-up became known in Israel for it's energetic heavy metal show, well rehearsed with great attention to both musical and visual elements of the performance. The band has been gigging through Israel in various places ranging from small clubs to open air festivals, constantly aiming to outperform itself, and also was an opening act for Sabaton and Draconian shows in Tel-Aviv.

Desert's debut album, entitled 'Star of Delusive Hopes', is due to be released this winter. The material was recorded in June 2009 under the supervision of producer Nick Savio (White Skull, Cyber Cross) in town of Vicenza, Italy. Joakim Broden, the lead singer of Swedish band SABATON, contributed his vocals to one of the songs - "Lament For Soldier’s Glory (Order 227)". Mix and mastering were done by Andy LaRocque – a legendary Grammy nominated guitarist of King Diamond in his own Sonic Train Studios in Varberg, Sweden. 'Star of Delusive Hopes' tells stories of great men and women who lived and gave their lives for freedom and beliefs, stories of lost hopes and betrayal. The lyrics describe great deeds by Giordano Bruno, Joan of Arc, heroes of Massada siege, and unknown soldiers who died in the fields of Russia. For the ladies out there the band even wrote a love ballad…[ to be continued