Denver heavy metal torchbearers Khemmis unveil powerful in-studio live performance from KEXP!
Photo credit: Brock Marlborough
Denver, Colorado based heavy metal torchbearers Khemmis have unveiled their recent in-studio performance for Seattle’s legendary KEXP, delivering a crushing showcase of the band’s signature blend of doom, melody and classic heavy metal.
Filmed at KEXP’s Seattle studios, the session captures Khemmis in their natural element, bringing the towering riffs and emotional weight of their celebrated live show into one of independent music’s most revered performance spaces.
The performance arrives on the heels of the release of the band’s acclaimed fifth studio album, »Khemmis«, available now worldwide via Nuclear Blast Records. The eight-song record marks Khemmis’ first full-length since 2021’s »Deceiver« and finds the band channeling more than a decade of evolution into a focused celebration of the heavy music that brought them together.
Featuring the singles »Invocation Of The Dreamer«, »Beneath The Scythe« and »Gilded Chambers«, Khemmis further expands the band’s unmistakable sound, balancing monolithic doom, soaring melodies, searing leads and moments of extreme-metal ferocity across eight tracks.
Stream/Purchase »Khemmis« HERE.
Khemmis will return to the road next week, joining Swedish doom titans Monolord for a run of U.S. dates beginning August 27th in Chicago. The band will then head overseas in October for the European leg of their “Forsake The Light” Tour, featuring special guests Celestial Sanctuary on select dates.
Tickets and additional information are available at khemmisdoom.com/live.
Khemmis w/ Monolord:
Aug 27 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
Aug 28 – Louisville, KY – Portal
Aug 29 – Atlanta, GA – Garden Club
Aug 30 – Asheville, NC – Eulogy [SOLD OUT]
Aug 31 – Asheville, NC – Eulogy [JUST ADDED]
Sep 2 – Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts
Sep 3 – Brooklyn, NY – Elsewhere
Sep 4 – Montague, MA – RPM Fest
Sep 5 – Baltimore, MD – Labor Daze
Sep 8 – Columbus, OH – Ace of Cups
Sep 9 – Detroit, MI – Sanctuary
Sep 10 – Indianapolis, IN – Black Circle [SOLD OUT]
Khemmis headline shows:
Sep 11 – Milwaukee, WI – X Ray Arcade
Sep 12 – Rock Island, IL – Wake Brewing
Sep 19 – Austin, TX – Ripplefest
Forsake The Light European Tour
w/ special guests: Celestial Sanctuary
10.10.26 Germany Bochum @ Die Trompete
11.10.26 The Netherlands Hengelo @ Metropool
13.10.26 UK Birmingham @ The Flapper
14.10.26 UK Manchester @ The Bread Shed
15.10.26 UK London @ The Underworld
16.10.26 UK Portsmouth @ Kola
17.10.26 France Paris @ Backstage By The Mill
18.10.26 Belgium Liège @ Desertfest
19.10.26 Germany Leipzig @ Naumanns
20.10.26 Czech Republic Prague @ Subzero
21.10.26 Germany Berlin @ Cassiopeia
22.10.26 Germany Hamburg @ Monkeys
23.10.26 Copenhagen Metal Cruise (* Khemmis only)
24.10.26 Norway Oslo @ Høstsabbat (* Khemmis only)
About Khemmis:
After eleven years of albums and global touring, Colorado’s Khemmis have cemented themselves as pillars of modern heavy metal. Yet as they approach their fifth full-length, the band found something newly vital: the simple joy of creating heavy music together. Formed with no expectations, the group’s longevity has become its foundation, with guitarist/vocalist Ben Hutcherson describing the band as a rare source of stability and camaraderie. Since their 2015 debut »Absolution«, followed by the acclaimed »Hunted«, »Desolation«, »Doomed Heavy Metal« MLP, and »Deceiver«, Khemmis have built a legacy of towering, spiritual doom that continues to resonate with fans worldwide.
Despite changes – including members relocating and bassist David Small joining in 2022 – the band emerged more focused than ever. Recording again at Flatline Audio in Colorado, the lineup of Hutcherson, Phil Pendergast, Zach Coleman, and Small leaned into renewed trust and chemistry, with distance paradoxically strengthening their bond. The addition of Small invigorated the rhythm section and encouraged experimentation, while the band rediscovered the excitement that defined their early days. That renewed energy fueled a collaborative atmosphere rooted in confidence, inspiration, and the shared thrill of simply playing heavy metal.
The resulting self-titled album is both a celebration and reinvention: a conceptually framed ritual of heavy metal that moves from the pounding »Invocation Of The Dreamer« to the climactic »Benediction Tones«, balancing galloping aggression with emotionally resonant anthems. The record embraces extremity, catharsis, and joy in equal measure, complemented by new visual direction from artist Christopher Remmers. Through lineup changes, distance, and a shifting world, Khemmis remain unshaken – leaning into the music that defines them. Their self-titled album is available now via Nuclear Blast, capturing the band in their truest and most energized form.
Courtesy of Nuclear Blast Records
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well