EP Review: Theia by Kalahari (Self Released)

Italian metal band, Kalahari, are all set to release their debut EP titled Theia. Theia is a self released EP and will drop on the 26th of June this year.

Kalahari formed in Forli, Italy in 2017. A demo titled First Burn followed in 2018 announcing the band and setting them off on a journey to getting their name out there. A year of gigging, especially locally saw them gain a decent fanbase and the foundation required to move on to the next step. That all important first release and that time is almost upon us with the incoming release of Theia.

As a band, Kalahari have a wide range of musical and metal genre interests. That has helped the band form a wide reaching sound that is hard to pin down to one particular genre. Powerful break downs, galloping riffs, acoustic arpeggios and layers of melody. It’s just good metal. Lyrically, the band deal with social and existential issues making current times pretty suitable for this release.

Theia is actually a concept album reflecting on Earth’s formation from a catastrophic event that gives birth to life and shapes the world thereafter. Theia herself comes from Greek mythology. The goddess of the sun, the moon and dawn and the spear of destruction and creation. Death and rebirth.

Kalahari are Nicola Pellacani on vocals with Gabriele Bartolucci and Gino Annichiarico on guitars. Joshua Pini is on the bass and Alessandro Visani is on drums.

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Theia was recorded, mixed and mastered at Mathlab Recording Studio in Montale, Italy and comes with EP artwork by Ludovico Cioffi (LC Artworks) and further artwork by Geber Eduardo Luis.

Theia comes with 5 tracks on it, weighing in at around 22 minutes in total length. It kicks off with the title track, Theia. Some atmospherics, a gentle but sombre guitar joins as the intro builds up layer by layer. I love the gloomy start to the song that grows and grows before switching in to a fiery metal anthem. Wicked drums blast out as the frontman hammers us with a powerful roar. The music comes fast now with a punchy riff that hooks you in.

The vocals are clean and traditional in the verses but switch to uncleans in parts creating a nice contrast. The drums are phenomenal and really stand out, shaking your bones to the core. Theia has so many transitions too, switching too a wickedly dark section with a crunchy rhythm and dark vocals that builds up into a nice breakdown before flying back into the track again. There is a lot going on but it works in an immensely enjoyable opener. How are Kalahari going to match that? Well, with ease it appears as we jump in to Followers of the Lich.

This is such a great song. The stomping beat in the intro is great, blended nicely with an imposing melody. The verses have a nice thrash feel to them there is a glorious mix of vocal styles. Chuck in a fiery little solo too, just for good measure. Again the song comes with a massive transition near the end into a more melodic death metal vibe, just enough to turn a pit into a frenzy.

Zombie Night keeps the catchy intros going with another strong start that instantly piques your interest. The drums are brilliant again in a track that comes quick and with venom. The contrasting vocals in the verse come over a bassy riff that you cant help but head bang to before it launches into a chorus that beautifully harks back to the 80’s.

I Am The Mountain drops the pace down to a gentle acoustic melody and faded drum beat for the intro as Pellacani sings sublimely over the top. It is a really nice, gentle ballad track and it works well. It is catchy, well played and well sung, cleanly, but with a bit of bite to the vocals. I especially enjoy it when it steps up the power a bit half way through and by the end of the track, I am in love with it. The vocals are immense and the guitar melodies and solos sprinkled over the song are inspirational. This is beautiful and brilliant.

The final track of this masterful release is Cabled Core. Not wanting us to leave on a ballad, Kalahari instead hit us with a huge slab of catchy metal. The intro rhythm, the bass and drums instantly get the adrenaline pumping again. The vocals mix up again hitting us with higher cleans backed by deathly growls. The guitar melody in the build up to the solo is majestic. The solos are brilliant and the decision to back them by faded “whoahs” is genius.

In fact the whole of Theia comes across like a release from a band with 20 years professional studio experience under their belt but with the drive, energy and creativity of a new band. It is really nice to hear a band claim to be multiple genre too and for them actually to be. In a world where everything appears to require a specific label, this can only be categorised as heavy metal. I think it is fantastic. It is made for me. Brilliant vocals with mixes of tones and depths. Catchy riffs, loads of transitions, huge bass groove, traditional sounding solos and immense drumming. All combined into cleaver and exciting song structures that grab your attention from the early notes and hold it all the way through.

Theia is one hell of a way to announce yourself and could well be my debut of the year. Kalahari are an exciting band and I can’t wait to hear what they do next.

Don’t miss out on this one, preorder a copy from the band here.

Kalahari Links

Bandcamp – Facebook – Instagram – YouTube – Digital Stores