Desert is a Power Metal band founded in 2002 by guitarist Max Shafranski in one of Israel’s industrial and cultural centers, the city of Beer-Sheva. The band’s name was chosen for a reason – it was located in the middle of biblical sands where Moses has led his people to the Promised Land ages ago.

Their debut album, entitled ‘Star of Delusive Hopes’, was released in late 2010 through Greek label Sleaszy Rider Records. The album tells stories of great men and women who lived and gave their for freedom and beliefs, stories of lost hopes and betrayal. The lyrics describe great deeds by Giordano Bruno, Joan of Arc, heroes of Massada siedge, and unknown soldiers who fought and died in the fields of Russia.

The band made the following announcement on their Facebook Page regarding splitting from it’s record label Sleaszy Rider Records:

“Desert’s way had many unexpected turns and we sure had to make some tough decisions on our way, over the last 10 years.

Splitting paths is never easy! Nevertheless, we are announcing that Desert has decided to depart from it’s record label, Sleaszy Rider Records.

This was a decision taken by the band, and all six of us agreed on it.

Desert released it’s debut album, Star of Delusive Hopes, through Sleaszy Rider Records, in January 2011, and it’s been a great period for us, many awesome shows played, many great friends made, both in Israel and abroad!

While deep into writing and preparing the next album, we’ve reached a point, where our vision of how we should develop, promote, and support the band was not shared by the label.

So we sat down, drank some beers, and decided it is time to try and do things our way this time!

The contract between Desert and Sleaszy Rider Records was terminated and we stayed friends, with no hard feelings.

We, Desert, wish Sleaszy Rider the best of luck in business, and hope to see many productive years and many great metal albums from this label!

We have not decided yet whether we’ll be looking for a label to publish the next album, probably to be released within a year.
Hopefully, a partner, with ideas simillar to ours, will be found.

Stay true,

Desert”

Check out Desert on YouTube | MySpace | Twitter.

Buy Desert’s albums and merch here.