When you think of Colorado, your mind jumps to mountain ranges, thin air, and a culture that worships both the outdoors and the underground. Out of that landscape comes Khemmis, a Denver quartet who’ve carved themselves into modern metal with a sound that’s equal parts crushing doom and soaring melody. If the Rockies had a soundtrack, it’d be Khemmis, immense, looming, and impossible to ignore.
The Rise of Khemmis
Formed in 2012, Khemmis came up through Denver’s fertile heavy scene with a mission to make doom metal that wasn’t shackled by tradition. They didn’t just riff slow, they injected hooks, harmony, and guitar heroics that pulled in fans beyond the sludge and funeral doom diehards.
Khemmis is Zach Coleman (Drums), Phil Pendergast (Guitar/Vocals), Ben Hutcherson (Guitar/Vocals) and David Small (Bass).
Their breakout came with 2016’s Hunted, an album that landed on countless “Best of” lists and proved the band weren’t just another underground curiosity. Instead, they were a group reshaping what doom could be in the 21st century: heavy, heartfelt, and unafraid of melody.
Sound of the Rockies
What makes Khemmis distinctly Colorado isn’t just geography, it’s the way they channel vastness. Tracks like ‘Above the Water’ (Hunted) or ‘Isolation’ (Deceiver, 2021) feel cinematic, built for both dingy clubs and sprawling mountain highways. Their riffs are thick and weather beaten, while the dual vocals, gruff growls paired with clean, almost trad-metal soaring, give the songs an emotional punch.
They carry doom’s weight but refuse to wallow. Instead, their music has a triumphant, almost cathartic quality, like finally making it to a mountain summit after hours of punishing climb. Make sense?
Recognition and Reach
By the time Nuclear Blast signed them, Khemmis had already established themselves as one of America’s most promising doom exports. They’ve shared stages with Mastodon, Baroness, and Sleep, cementing their place in the pantheon of modern heavyweights.
But despite that reach, they’ve never lost touch with their roots. Denver isn’t just home, it’s a crucible that shaped their sound. The band still embody the DIY spirit of the Colorado scene, where hardcore, doom, and punk bleed into one another in basements and small clubs.
Essential Spins
If you’re diving into Khemmis for the first time, start here:
Above the Water’ (Hunted, 2016) – The perfect introduction, massive riffs, soaring vocals, and enough doom weight to crush mountains.
‘Isolation’ (Deceiver, 2021) – A track that shows how far they’ve pushed their sound, balancing melancholy with anthemic power.
‘Candlelight’ (Hunted, 2016) – Eearly Khemmis, capturing their beginnings while hinting at where they’d go next.
Why Khemmis?
For our American Road Trip, Khemmis are the perfect Colorado entry because they embody what this series is about: music that reflects its environment. They sound like Colorado looks—stark, imposing, but with moments of beauty that floor you when you least expect it.
In a genre often weighed down by clichés, Khemmis have managed to make doom feel alive again, pushing it forward without losing its roots. Whether you’re a lifelong doom disciple or just someone looking to get lost in riffs that feel like avalanches, Khemmis are the band to put on your Colorado playlist.
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