Denver's long-revered torchbearers of doom KHEMMIS have officially released their highly anticipated new self-titled album today via Nuclear Blast Records. Marking the band's first studio album since 2021's acclaimed Deceiver, Khemmis stands as a powerful reaffirmation of the band's singular identity, blending towering riffs, haunting melodies, triumphant heavy metal heroism, and crushing emotional weight into one of the most compelling records of their career.
Stream/Purchase Khemmis: https://khemmis.bfan.link/khemmis-album
To celebrate today's release, the band has also unveiled a new music video directed by Alex Pace for the album standout ‘Gilded Chambers.’
Speaking on the track, vocalist and guitarist Phil Pendergast comments:
"If your aim is to write an album full of rippers, at least one has to kick off with a time honored Heavy Metal tradition -- the drum intro -- and resolve around a sing-along chorus. 'Gilded Chambers' is that track. The accompanying video comes from the track's live premiere in Denver, proving that motorcycle-ready riffs, psychedelia-tinged bridges, and death metal breakdowns make this one kill live. Check it out, then join us in the pit this summer. Horns up!"
‘GILDED CHAMBERS’ MUSIC VIDEO:
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 embark on a headlining tour this month 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.
“Forsake The Light” North American Headline Tour W / NECROFIER & WRETCHED
June 19 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theater
June 20 - Seattle, WA - Substation
June 21 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater
June 23 - Sacramento, CA - Starlet Room
June 24 - Berkeley, CA - Cornerstone
June 25 - Santa Cruz, CA - Felton Music Hall
June 26 - Los Angeles, CA - Lodge Room
June 27 - San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick
June 28 - Pioneertown, CA - Pappy & Harriet’s
June 30 - Phoenix, AZ - Nile Theater
July 1 - Cottonwood, AZ - Queen B
July 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
“Forsake The Light” European Headline Tour W / CELESTIAL SANCTUARY
Oct 10 - Bochum, DE - Die Trompete
Oct 11 - Hengelo, NL - Metropool
Oct 13 - Birmingham, UK - The Flapper
Oct 14 - Manchester, UK - The Bread Shed
Oct 15 - London, UK - The Underworld
Oct 16 - Portsmouth, UK - Kola
Oct 17 - Paris, FR - Backstage By The Mill
Oct 18 - Liege, BE - Desertfest
Oct 19 - Leipzig, DE - Naumanns
Oct 20 - Prague, CZ - Subzero
Oct 21 - Berlin, DE - Cassiopeia
Oct 22 - Hamburg, DE - Monkeys
Oct 23 - Copenhell Metal Cruise*
Oct 24 - Oslo, NO - Hostsabbat*
*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 arrives June 12th, 2026 via Nuclear Blast, capturing the band in their truest and most energized form.
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