Khemmis announce their “Forsake The Light” European Tour for October 2026!
Photo credit: Brock Marlborough
Khemmis continue the march toward their towering new self-titled album with the news that they’ll be returning to Europe this October. The EU leg of their “Forsake The Light” tour will take the doom metal soothsayers across seven countries, including a performace on the Copenhagen Metal Cruise, and four dates across Germany and the UK. Celestial Sanctuary will be joining as supports.
Khemmis stated, “We cannot wait to bring the “Forsake The Light” tour overseas, with a long-overdue return to Europe and our first-ever UK headlining shows. We’re bringing the mighty Celestial Sanctuary with us for this run, so you know these shows are going to be HEAVY. See you soon, hellions!”
Tickets will go on-sale Friday 22nd May at 10am UK / 11am CEST HERE.
Khemmis “Forsake The Light” European Tour 2026
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)
Earlier this month, Khemmis released new track »Beneath The Scythe«, the latest single from the Denver heavy metal institution’s massively anticipated self-titled full-length, due out June 12th via Nuclear Blast Records.
Following the explosive first single »Invocation Of The Dreamer«, »Beneath The Scythe« digs even deeper into the band’s sharpened sense of purpose-melding colossal riffs, soaring melodies, and the unmistakable emotional weight that has defined Khemmis for over a decade. Taken from an album that finds the band reconnecting with the pure exhilaration of making heavy music together, the track captures both the darkness and triumphant spirit at the heart of »Khemmis«.
Stream »Beneath The Scythe« HERE.
Pre-order »Khemmis« HERE.
»Khemmis« – the follow-up to 2021’s acclaimed »Deceiver« – features eight tracks of unrelenting, monolithic heavy metal adorned by stunning artwork from Christopher Remmers. More than just another chapter, the record represents the band in their truest form: a celebration of heavy music, forged through camaraderie, conviction, and an enduring love of the riff.
Across eleven years, Khemmis have become one of modern metal’s most revered names, beginning with their 2015 debut »Absolution« and continuing through landmark releases like »Hunted« – named Decibel’s Album Of The Year – »Desolation«, and »Deceiver«. But while the band’s legacy is firmly established, »Khemmis« finds them energized by something more immediate: the joy of simply playing loud, heavy music together.
As Hutcherson explains:
“We decided early in the songwriting process that we wanted to write a tight, high-energy album that retained the essential ‘Khemmis sound’ while also embodying the joy of creating, experiencing, and loving heavy metal. Ours have always been deeply personal songs born from tragedy and sorrow; while the songs on Khemmis are still undeniably dark, they are not mined from our suffering. Instead, this record is a celebration of the music world that has sustained us.”
Khemmis will perform a special one-off show with Acid Bath in May before embarking on a headlining tour in early summer with support from Necrofier and Wretched, followed by an excursion with Monolord soon after. Tickets and additional tour information are available at khemmisdoom.com/live.
Khemmis North American Tour Dates:
Forsake The Light Headline Tour w/ Necrofier & Wretched
Jun 19 – Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theater
Jun 20 – Seattle, WA – Substation
Jun 21 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater
Jun 23 – Sacramento, CA – Starlet Room
Jun 24 – Berkeley, CA – Cornerstone
Jun 25 – Santa Cruz, CA – Felton Music Hall
Jun 26 – Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room
Jun 27 – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick
Jun 28 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy & Harriet’s
Jun 30 – Phoenix, AZ – Nile Theater
Jul 1 – Cottonwood, AZ – Queen B
Jul 2 – Albuquerque, NM – Sister
W/ Monolord
Aug 27 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
Aug 28 – Louisville, KY – Portal
Aug 29 – Atlanta, GA – Garden Club
Aug 30 – Asheville, NC – Eulogy
Aug 31 – Columbia, SC – New Brookland Tavern
Sep 2 – Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts
Sep 3 – Brooklyn, NY – Elsewhere
Sep 5 – Baltimore, MD – Labor Daze
Sep 8 – Columbus, OH – Ace of Cups
Sep 9 – Detroit, MI – Sanctuary
Sep 10 – Indianapolis, IN – Black Circle
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 arrives June 12th, 2026 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