Denver, Colorado, doom metal band Khemmis will release its self-titled fifth album on June 12, 2026, via Nuclear Blast Records. It will be the band’s first album since 2021’s “Deceiver.” Pre-order the album here, and watch the music video for the first single, “Invocation of the Dreamer,” below.
“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,” guitarist/vocalist Ben Hutcherson said. “Ours have always been deeply personal songs born from tragedy and sorrow; while the songs on Khemmis are still undeniably dark—I don’t think we’re capable of writing ‘happy’ music nor can we disentangle our music from our own personal experiences—they are not mined from our suffering. Instead, this record is a celebration of the music world that has sustained us, both individually and collectively, and has also gifted us with community and a sense of meaning. In many ways, we have reconnected with the energy and excitement from our earliest days as a band, an unabashed desire to play loud, heavy music. That exuberance is infused with a profound sense of gratitude to be able to create art with each other and to share it with the world.”
The first single is accompanied by a music video directed by Frank Guerra.
“We knew that this song had to be the first single in much the same way we knew it had to be the album opener—it is an undeniable ripper,” Hutcherson said. “‘Invocation of the Dreamer’ kicks the front door in, flips over your coffee table, and sets your living room on fire. It has everything you’d expect from a Khemmis song—big riffs, harmonized guitars, infectious vocal melodies—along with a slew of surprises, including blastbeats and a scorching bass break.”
Khemmis will perform a 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 , including a Deluxe Edition, which features exclusive extras—a behind-the-scenes photobook, an autographed promo photo and more—directly from the band’s website.
“Khemmis” track list:
1. Invocation of the Dreamer
2. Corpsebloom Garden
3. Grief’s Reverie
4. Beneath the Scythe
5. Gilded Chambers
6. Tomb of Roses
7. Carrion King
8. Benediction Tones
Khemmis tour dates:
With Acid Bath and Chat Pile
May 16 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Criterion
Headline tour with Necrofier and 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
With 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
After 11 years of albums and global touring, Khemmis has cemented itself as a pillar of modern heavy metal. Yet as it approached its 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 its 2015 debut “Absolution,” followed by the acclaimed “Hunted,” “Desolation,” the “Doomed Heavy Metal” mini-LP and “Deceiver,” Khemmis has built a legacy of 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 its 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 remains unshaken—leaning into the music that defines it.