Following some brief teasing on their social media, Denver, CO doom metal outfit Khemmis have rolled out their plans for their fifth studio album album. Opting for a self-titled affair this time out, the band will have that 8-song affair out on June 12th via Nuclear Blast. Guitarist/vocalist Ben Hutcherson had a bit to say about this new album and its lead single, “Invocation Of The Dreamer“. Elaborating on the album itself first, he offered:
“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—I don’t think we’re capable of writing ‘happy’ music nor can we disentangle our music from our own personal experiences—they are not mined from our suffering.
Instead, this record is a celebration of the music world that has sustained us, both individually and collectively, and has also gifted us with community and a sense of meaning. In many ways, we have reconnected with the energy and excitement from our earliest days as a band, an unabashed desire to play loud, heavy music. That exuberance is infused with a profound sense of gratitude to be able to create art with each other and to share it with the world.”
As for “Invocation Of The Dreamer“, which has arrived online in tandem with a video directed by Frank Guerra, Hutcherson offered:
“We knew that this song had to be the first single in much the same way we knew it had to be the album opener—it is an undeniable ripper. ‘Invocation Of The Dreamer‘ kicks the front door in, flips over your coffee table, and sets your living room on fire. It has everything you’d expect from a Khemmis song—big riffs, harmonized guitars, infectious vocal melodies—along with a slew of surprises, including blastbeats and a scorching bass break.”
While this marks the first time you can hear that song from the record, the band did previously debut another new track live prior. “Gilded Chambers” got its first live airing during an Englewood, CO show this past December.
“Khemmis” track listing:
01 – “Invocation Of The Dreamer“
02 – “Corpsebloom Garden“
03 – “Grief’s Reverie“
04 – “Beneath The Scythe“
05 – “Gilded Chambers“
06 – “Tomb Of Roses“
07 – “Carrion King“
08 – “Benediction Tones“
For pre-order options, head over to khemmis.bfan.link/invocation-of-the-dreamer. On the live front, Khemmis have announced a new North American run of shows to their summer plans in the form of the ‘Forsake The Light Tour‘. Texan black metal outfit Necrofier and North Carolinian death metallers Wretched have signed on to open that trek.
05/16 Oklahoma City, OK – The Criterion (feat. Acid Bath & Chat Pile)
With Necrofier & Wretched:
06/19 Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theater
06/20 Seattle, WA – Substation
06/21 Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater
06/23 Sacramento, CA – Starlet Room
06/24 Berkeley, CA – Cornerstone
06/25 Santa Cruz, CA – Felton Music Hall
06/26 Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room
06/27 San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick
06/28 Pioneertown, CA – Pappy & Harriet’s
06/30 Phoenix, AZ – Nile Theater
07/01 Cottonwood, AZ – Queen B
07/02 Albuquerque, NM – Sister
With Monolord:
08/27 Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
08/28 Louisville, KY – Portal
08/29 Atlanta, GA – Garden Club
08/30 Asheville, NC – Eulogy
08/31 Columbia, SC – New Brookland Tavern
09/02 Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts
09/03 Brooklyn, NY – Elsewhere
09/05 Baltimore, MD – Labor Daze
09/06 Cookeville, TN – Muddy Roots Festival
09/08 Columbus, OH – Ace of Cups
09/09 Detroit, MI – Sanctuary
09/10 Indianapolis, IN – Black Circle
Khemmis:
09/17-20 Austin, TX – RippleFest Texas
