Khemmis

Rectangle with a 2 headed crow in front of the sun on the back, logo across the zipper on the front. Discharge print on Independent Trading Co zip-up hoodies.

1. Rainbow in the Dark 04:01
2. Empty Throne 06:03
3. A Conversation with Death 04:50
4. Bloodletting (Live) 07:18
5. Three Gates (Live) 07:08
6. The Bereaved (Live) 09:03

"Useful record made to make Khemmis fans like me happy during quarantine. Something new. Inspiring songs (i.e. covering fucking Dio). Worth every penny." - bcb723

Circle with a 3-eyed skull. Printed on black with dark heather sleeve raglans.

4'x2' flag featuring the cover art of the Desolation album.

Rectangle with a 2 headed crow in front of the sun. Printed on Canvas tees.

Circle with 2 dueling wizards. Printed on coal Tultex tees.

Wizard with arms outstretched and staff in hand. Printed on Canvas tees.

Horned crowned goddess in a circle with Khemmis logo. Printed on Canvas tees.

1. Torn Asunder 05:31

2. Ash, Cinder, Smoke 06:54
3. Serpentine 08:11
4. Antediluvian 06:00
5. Burden of Sin 05:31
6. The Bereaved 09:00

20 Buck Spin has, over the course of the last ten years, worked with the best of the best in the doom genre; bands as diverse as Samothrace, Graves At Sea, Pallbearer, Yob, Mournful Congregation, Lycus, Atlantean Kodex and more. In that tradition, the label is proud to present KHEMMIS, a quartet from Denver, who, on their debut full-length Absolution brings components of many of the aforementioned label alumni and forge a venerable testament to what heavy doom rock is in 2015.

The six meticulously crafted songs on Absolution reveal a level of musicianship and writing skill seldom heard on debut albums. Often within the scope of a single song, KHEMMIS veers effortlessly between the crushing heaviness of Southern sludge and the somber melodies of traditional doom metal, cohesively weaving the disparate styles into their own immediately recognizable form. Vocally, KHEMMIS also utilizes a dual approach, sometimes harsh and guttural, but generally through a stunningly smooth classic doom/heavy rock delivery that even adamant fans of Pete Stahl and Wino will applaud. The powerfully adept rhythm section perfectly anchor the towering riff mastery and colorful dual guitar harmonies, all brought together by Dave Otero's (Cobalt, Nightbringer) pitch perfect production work.

From the album opener "Torn Asunder" to closing track "The Bereaved," the latter of which will stand as THE doom track of 2015, Absolution is among the highlight surprises of the year.

1. Torn Asunder 05:31

2. Ash, Cinder, Smoke 06:54

3. Serpentine 08:11
4. Antediluvian 06:00
5. Burden of Sin 05:31
6. The Bereaved 09:00

20 Buck Spin has, over the course of the last ten years, worked with the best of the best in the doom genre; bands as diverse as Samothrace, Graves At Sea, Pallbearer, Yob, Mournful Congregation, Lycus, Atlantean Kodex and more. In that tradition, the label is proud to present KHEMMIS, a quartet from Denver, who, on their debut full-length Absolution brings components of many of the aforementioned label alumni and forge a venerable testament to what heavy doom rock is in 2015.

The six meticulously crafted songs on Absolution reveal a level of musicianship and writing skill seldom heard on debut albums. Often within the scope of a single song, KHEMMIS veers effortlessly between the crushing heaviness of Southern sludge and the somber melodies of traditional doom metal, cohesively weaving the disparate styles into their own immediately recognizable form. Vocally, KHEMMIS also utilizes a dual approach, sometimes harsh and guttural, but generally through a stunningly smooth classic doom/heavy rock delivery that even adamant fans of Pete Stahl and Wino will applaud. The powerfully adept rhythm section perfectly anchor the towering riff mastery and colorful dual guitar harmonies, all brought together by Dave Otero's (Cobalt, Nightbringer) pitch perfect production work.

From the album opener "Torn Asunder" to closing track "The Bereaved," the latter of which will stand as THE doom track of 2015, Absolution is among the highlight surprises of the year.

1. Above the Water 07:22
2. Candlelight 07:19
3. Three Gates 06:37
4. Beyond the Door 09:00
5. Hunted 13:30

The first album from Denver’s Khemmis, ‘Absolution’, was released by 20 Buck Spin in July 2015 and slowly but surely steamrolled all that came in contact with its unforgettable heaviness and classic melodicism. Virtually unknown outside Denver upon release, the band gathered acclaim over the ensuing months and by year end had landed in the #9 spot on Decibel Magazine’s annual top 40 albums of the year, not a small accomplishment for a band on its debut album.

The new album ‘Hunted’ reveals a Khemmis fortified in its purpose and vision, forging an unrivaled synthesis between immense Doom riffs and Maiden-esque harmony. Overall song length has increased yielding more expansively arranged and dramatic storms of elegance and melancholy.

And yet Khemmis are not content to plod through a sea of tears, they are always a rock band first, in service to the movement of the song, even approaching a High On Fire like pace to open the pummeling ’Three Gates'. The lauded singing of vocalist Phil Pendergast reaches ascendent new heights on tracks like ‘Candlelight’ and ‘Beyond The Door’, while the tasteful use of harsh vocals remains, providing a dark foreboding contrast. The 13-minute title track once again closes the album with an epic stunner.

Undoubtedly ‘Hunted’ is an album that will solidify Khemmis’s place at the vanguard of Doom’s most notable modern manifestations, in large part because they transcend the label itself. They’ve seamlessly blended their influences into an extraordinarily listenable album worthy of countless spins. With such a glut of music released nowadays, ‘Hunted’ stands apart, rewarding repeat listens with songs seared straight into the heart.

1. Bloodletting 06:24
2. Isolation 04:48
3. Flesh to Nothing 07:31
4. The Seer 06:02
5. Maw of Time 07:23
6. From Ruin 09:27

Anticipation was high for the release of ‘Hunted’ in 2016, the sophomore album from Denver’s Khemmis and follow up to acclaimed debut ‘Absolution’ . Rather than the all too common sophomore slump, Khemmis raised the stakes and blew everyone away with their rapidly progressing songwriting and production quality, culminating in ‘Hunted’ being named Album Of The Year for 2016 by Decibel Magazine.

Now in 2018, after wrapping up the Decibel Magazine Tour with Enslaved, Wolves In The Throne Room and Myrkur, the excitement for Khemmis’s third album ‘Desolation’, due June 22nd, is palpable across the metal spectrum. Fortunately, when you hail from a place known as the Mile High City lofty expectations come with the territory and the band has created what will come to be known as the definitive Khemmis classic.

From the stadium-sized opening notes of ‘Bloodletting’ it is immediately evident that Khemmis are again putting distance between themselves and their earlier influences to inform a sound that is singularly their own. ‘Isolation’, recently aired live on the Decibel Tour, is the album’s lead single and most immediate track, with the classic metal melodies the band have become revered for shining throughout. On epic closer ’From Ruin’ and throughout the entirety of the album, the lead vocals and melodies of Phil Pendergast are the clearest, most powerful and best arranged that the band has achieved. Working for the third time with Dave Otero at Flatline Audio in Denver, the band and producer now have the familiarity and mutual experience to arrive at the perfect symbiosis of songwriting, arrangement and production value.

While Khemmis are undeniably influenced by Doom and Classic Metal, to tag them with those labels doesn’t do justice to what’s accomplished on ‘Desolation’, a perfect representation of modern Heavy Metal in 2018 that integrates the past in a way only possible in the present. ‘Desolation’ is not just the best Khemmis record to date but a testament to the quality that Heavy Metal is still capable of.

A wizard in the middle of crossed blades. 4" woven patch.