I've heard a lot of euphemisms for stoner rock, but "desert rock" is a new one for me. Megaton Communion hails from Cleveland, so this is clearly yet another way people are trying to differentiate this now-ancient sound.

Megaton Communion Red Sky Warning (Black Doomba Records)

Interestingly, Megaton Communion shifts the stoner gears by employing a healthy dose of the grunge. This is most easily heard in the breaks between the majestic stoner riffage. There's a recurring chord descant that would be at home on early Pearl Jam or Soundgarden, not that the rest of this sound would confuse anyone.

Even considering all that, the main difference is Joe Marshall's rough-hewn vocals, which provide a fascinating counter to the amazing sound this trio creates. There's almost a gruff southern rock feel to his voice, adding yet another curious layer to the orchestral wall of noise these guys lay down.

In the end, this is solid stoner rock. But Megaton Communion is doing a lot to carve its own space within that sizable estate. And on top of everything else, this stuff seriously rocks. Lose yourself in the grind.