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DESOLAT Launches a ‘Pig Race’ Toward the End of the World
Dancing Toward Apocalypse
Vienna-based hardcore punk/noise rock trio DESOLAT have released ‘Pig Race To The Apocalypse’, the first single from their third studio album, "People As Idiots & Idiots As Leaders". The band describes the track as the second chapter of an angry look at the political and social climate of the world today, while the album as a whole unfolds as a nine-track narrative tracing an increasingly darkening state of mind.
In its place within the album’s sequence, ‘Pig Race To The Apocalypse’ also represents one of the early stages of that narrative. Guitarist and vocalist Alfred Satani describes the track as the second assessment of the current state of the world, laying its bleak perspective bare. Musically, Satani points to clear THE JESUS LIZARD and HELMET influences, suggesting that the song can be seen as a dance track to accompany the end of the world.
DESOLAT’s approach on the new album is about more than the political lyrics of individual songs. "People As Idiots & Idiots As Leaders" follows a chronological progression of states of mind as defined by the band: an initial assessment of the social and political landscape gives way to depression, anger, cynicism, and ultimately resignation. Titles such as ‘This Sadness Makes Me Rage’, ‘No Depression When Dead’, and ‘Good People Keep Their Mouths Shut While The Assholes Believe The World Belongs To Them’ reflect different stages of that progression.
The album’s political backdrop encompasses the fragility of democracy, authoritarian politics, the rise of far-right movements, and the transformation of social media into an increasingly radicalized space for communication. Rather than remaining an observer looking in from the outside, DESOLAT channels this reality into its music through its own anger and frustration. The band acknowledges the album’s bleak tone while emphasizing that its anger remains palpable in both the lyrics and the energy of the music.
A shift in DESOLAT’s sonic identity is also evident on the album. While retaining its foundations in noise rock, sludge, and hardcore punk, the band incorporates emocore influences into its sound for the first time in a pronounced way, drawing on its members’ previous projects. The result expands the band’s aggressive framework with a different emotional layer that was absent from its earlier work.
The guest lineup on "People As Idiots & Idiots As Leaders" includes former SWANS member Jarboe, MOZO MOZO saxophonist Michael Masen, and RBK of post-punk band ROLLTREPPE. As with its predecessor, the album was recorded and mixed at Cosmix Studio in Vienna by Rainer Spänle. Mastering was handled at Unisound by Dan Swanö, known for his work with EDGE OF SANITY, KATATONIA, and BLOODBATH.
"People As Idiots & Idiots As Leaders" will be released digitally and on marbled oxblood vinyl on October 9, 2026. The album will reach listeners through an international DIY collaboration involving nine record labels and three distributors from Austria, the US, France, Germany, Croatia, the UK, and the Netherlands. The US release is being handled by Reptilian Records and Exotic Fever Records, while Bloodshed666 Records, Grazil Records, Araki Records, minoRobscuR, Geenger Records, Rat Run Records, and Geertruida are involved on the European side.
DESOLAT’s first live appearance of the album cycle will take place on October 16 at Venster99 in Vienna. The concert will also serve as the album’s official hometown release show.
[LIVE PERFORMANCE PHOTO HERE]
DESOLAT was formed following the breakup of stoner/sludge band CYRUSS in 2015. The trio consists of musicians from Vienna’s underground scene who have been involved with bands including PHAL:ANGST, CYRUSS, DIM PROSPECTS, LA LIGNE MAGINOT, GFRAST, FACE THE OWL, RADIKALKUR, and E.M.S. The band’s second album, "Get Sick And Let Me Watch You Die", was released in 2024 through U.S.-based Reptilian Records.
DESOLAT’s third album marks a new phase in which the band expands its political anger into a broader social framework following its previous release. The first indication of that shift has now arrived with ‘Pig Race To The Apocalypse’.
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