An Unforgettable Weekend of Album Launches and Live Energy
- Noel Mifsud
- 23 hours ago
- 4 min read
Less than twenty-four hours after Eric Ace unveiled his debut solo album (read here), Malta's rock scene continued its remarkable weekend with three more veteran bands launching new releases. X-Vandals, Lord Adder and Delirium MT joined forces for what became the island's first-ever triple album launch event.
Titled Judgement of Deserted Souls, the event took place at Tigullio on Saturday, 5 June, combining live music with a charitable cause. Proceeds from ticket sales, together with funds raised through a motorcycle ride held before the performances, were donated to DAR Bjorn. On 12 June, a cheque for €2,420 was presented to the foundation, proving that the local rock and metal community can make a difference both on and off the stage.
Delirium MT returned with their second album and a refreshed line-up that has noticeably reshaped their musical direction. The power metal influences that characterised parts of their earlier material have largely been replaced by a more aggressive, direct and hard-hitting sound. The band also introduced their new guitarist during the launch event. Although he did not perform on the recording of the album itself, his live debut added another dimension to the band's performance, making their already powerful sound feel even tighter and more energetic.
On 20 May, Delirium MT introduced Gozitan guitarist Chris "Xandru" Curmi through the band's social media pages, describing him as follows:
"Xandru picked up the guitar at just 11 years old and is entirely self-taught. His passion for the instrument was sparked by watching bands perform, where it was always the guitarist who caught his attention and inspired him to play.
His musical influences include a variety of thrash, speed, hardcore punk, and a touch of groove. Whilst he follows and listens to many local bands, his favourite are X-Vandals while internationally he draws inspiration from acts such as Motörhead, Metallica, and Iron Maiden.
From the very first rehearsal, his energy, passion, and heavy-hitting riffs confirmed he was the perfect fit for Delirium MT — and we can't wait for you all to witness it live."
Following their explosive performance, Delirium MT also thanked everyone involved in making the event possible, posting an extensive message on social media in which they praised fellow bands X-Vandals and Lord Adder for their performances, acknowledged sound engineer Russell for his work throughout the evening, and expressed gratitude to Music Playground, Tigullio, Skullbikers Malta, the participating motorcycle clubs and independent riders, as well as Jalen Kickboxing, Egalité, EZ Creations, Smashed to Shit, ALS Malta and Arts Council Malta. They concluded by thanking everyone who attended before promising fans: "WE'RE BACK — with more to come soon!"
Despite Delirium MT's memorable set, they were not the first band to take the stage. Opening the evening were X-Vandals, who mixed new material from their freshly released album Final Judgement with fan favourites from their previous three studio albums, released in 2006, 2009 and 2017.
The eleven tracks on Final Judgement were written by Ray Schembri and Albert Bell, who rejoined the band in 2019 after an absence of 28 years. Bell had originally played bass when the band was still known simply as Vandals, but this time he returned as a second guitarist.
Lyrically, X-Vandals continue to explore themes of a dystopian future, yet musically the band sounds stronger than ever. Every song reflects the experience and professionalism of its members, resulting in one of the band's most cohesive releases to date. Having waited nine years since their previous album, I can only hope fans will not have to wait nearly as long for another.
Bringing the evening to a close were veterans Lord Adder, who unveiled their sixth studio album, Desert Porch Hangout. The record follows Operation Pedestal and 1565, both of which were released simultaneously through digital platforms on 5 February 2022. Those albums certainly deserve a physical release, but for now the spotlight belongs to Desert Porch Hangout.
Musically, the album continues exactly where its predecessors left off. Lord Adder once again deliver their trademark blend of raunchy rock 'n' roll that comfortably walks the fine line between traditional heavy metal and uncompromising American hard rock—a style perfectly reflected by the album's title and attitude.
One person whose contribution deserves special recognition is Raymond Micallef. The X-Vandals and Lord Adder drummer also handled production duties for all three albums released during the event. For a producer tackling three different records simultaneously, this was certainly a baptism of fire. Nevertheless, he succeeded in capturing the unique identity of each band while highlighting the strengths of the individual musicians. The achievement is particularly impressive considering he was also performing with two of the bands, while Delirium MT's album represented the only project on which he had no songwriting involvement.
Looking back, it was an exceptional weekend for Maltese rock. Four quality albums were released within the space of two days, offering fans an abundance of excellent new music. For anyone who appreciates home-grown music, my advice is simple: get hold of all four releases, turn the volume up, and enjoy them exactly as they were meant to be heard.
