It makes sense, then, that the Khemmis behind Khemmis–—Hutcherson, fellow vocalist/guitarist Phil Pendergast, drummer Zach Coleman, and newly-appointed bassist David Small—is different in many ways. While the band has often felt synonymous with the Denver metal scene, Pendergast and Coleman have since moved away to Washington and North Carolina respectively. But that separation only made their return to Flatline Audio, Dave Otero’s studio in Westminster, Colorado, that much more focused.

“Like some baptisms, it was full immersion on this one,” says Coleman. “I don’t think we’ve ever really had that…We really got in the fucking weeds on it, and in a way that [we] hadn’t quite done before. It felt totally focused.”

And yet, Khemmis today feel more like the band they’ve always wanted to be than ever before. They believe not only in the power of the music they’re making, but their bandmates’ ability to make it with them.

“We have so much trust in each other,” says Pendergast. “Me and Zach moving away, in some ways, actually strengthened that, ’cause it’s kind of proven to ourselves that when we get back together, we can trust each other to do what we need to do. We’ve been able to reconnect to that sense of just how badass it is that we get to even do this.”

“It feels a lot like the early days where it’s really fun again,” adds Coleman. “Like we’re on a hot streak with writing and riffs and material…I had some kind of mental breakthroughs where, like, I feel really inspired and motivated.”

The addition of Small on bass in 2022 also reinvigorated Khemmis’ love for what they do. For David, the band’s visceral power got its hooks in him the minute they first jammed nearly five years ago. “I remember Ben and I left [that practice] together, and I just turned to him and I was like, Damn, the fucking energy of this music is so much fun. It’s infectious.”

“I had no doubt that [Dave] could come in and learn the songs, but one of the things that the three of us were really impressed by was the ease with which he was able to find that place where he is a solid part of the rhythm,” recalls Hutcherson. “He’s locking in with Zach but was also receptive to our feedback to be like, Hey, there’s some space to breathe.” 

“We’re flexing new muscles with Dave and Zach as the rhythm section,” adds Pendergast. “Dave’s able to hold his own while expanding on what Zach lays down. It feels like a big level up for me.”

The result of these developments is dense, blood-infused honey for the ear. Khemmis is a grand spiritual celebration of heavy metal, a concept album framed as a ritual of musical freedom that starts with the pounding rhythms of “Invocation of the Dreamer” and culminates with the starlit exaltation of “Benediction Tones.” Tracks like “Corpsebloom Garden” and “Carrion King” gallop forth on merciless hooves of steel, while anthems like “Grief’s Reverie” and “Tomb of Roses” overflow with infectious emotion too sincere for bands trying to fit a mold. Across the album’s eight, tightly-written tracks, Khemmis visit every corner of metal’s landscape and sing the praises of what they find there.

“[This record] embraces that fun in playing heavy metal together again,” says Pendergast. “I think that it’s really cathartic, almost an act of rebellion, to just give in to the joy of playing music again.”

That jubilant darkness is one of the record’s greatest strengths. “Corpsebloom Garden” features Hutcherson’s guttural vocals at their nastiest, while “Gilded Chambers” kicks off with a burst of furious drumming from Coleman that might surprise some longtime fans of Khemmis. This continued dedication to metal’s extreme aspects is part of what makes these songs so damn entertaining.

“Mayhem is fun,” chuckles Pendergast. “This album deliberately plays out as an invocation of the joy of heavy metal, as a ritual.”

“When we were doing pre-production, Zach was like, I have this idea for this thing,” says Hutcherson about the intro of “Gilded Chambers.” “He played it and he’s like, But we can change it. We’re like, Don’t fucking change anything! That’s how it starts!”

Even with their well-honed craft and reinforced sense of self, Khemmis are still embracing change. Fans will notice the record’s cover art, with a lush, esoteric oil painting by artist Christopher Remmers replacing the barbarian illustrations of Sam Turner that have adorned their previous full-length releases.

“The moment that Phil brought in Christopher Remmers’ art was just like…holy shit,” raves Hutcherson. “It’s celebrating the capital H, capital M of Heavy Metal.”

“It’s clearly part of the same story, but we’re seeing a different version of it, from a different perspective,” says Pendergast. “It’s just better tied to the aesthetics of the album and how we’re engaging with themes and imagery on the record.”

The change in cover art is just one of the ways in which Khemmis’ latest album features a band that can stand up to anything—a personnel change, members moving, the whole world going to Hell—and remain joyously unshakeable. Maybe that’s why it feels appropriate that this one is self-titled. Here is Khemmis in their truest form.

“Our litmus test for every album is, Is this a thing we would want to listen to? And if the answer is, Yes, then who gives a fuck what the rest of the world thinks?” laughs Hutcherson. “Obviously, it would suck if everyone said it sucks, but…we wouldn’t believe it. Because that’s not why we’re doing it. We’re doing it because it makes sense to us. We can’t imagine not doing it.”

Khemmis’ self-titled album comes out June 12th, 2026 on Nuclear Blast.

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 are available at:

https://khemmisdoom.com/live/

Khemmis is available for pre-order now, including a ‘Deluxe Edition’ of the record offered by the band, which features exclusive extras—a behind-the-scenes photobook, an autographed promo photo, and more—directly from their website.

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.