Review Summary: Hailing from Long Island, New York, KALI is a force to be reckoned with in the speed and blackened death metal scene
Hailing from Long Island, New York, KALI is a force to be reckoned with in the speed and blackened death metal scene. Led by visionary guitar player and producer Josh McGuire, the band channels ancient mythology through a blistering sonic assault, fully capturing the horrors and beasts they sing about. KALI’s music is raw, aggressive, and unapologetically brutal, taking no prisoners in their quest to forge their own identity within extreme metal.
KALI recently unleashed their self-titled EP, consisting of three tracks and an intro. True to form, the EP is steeped in ferocity and intensity, drawing heavy influence from thrash metal legends like Slayer while pushing the boundaries into even darker territory. The raw production suits their aesthetic perfectly, adding a gritty, chaotic edge to their sound. The relentless riffing and breakneck speed, paired with guttural vocals, invoke a sense of ancient dread, as if the myths they sing about are being summoned to life right before your ears.
Not content with just their new material, KALI has also begun releasing remastered versions of their early tracks on YouTube, allowing fans to dive into the band’s origins. While the remasters give a new perspective on these early songs, the production quality remains a sticking point. The tracks often suffer from a low bitrate, which dilutes some of the impact and intricacies of their music. It’s clear that these songs have immense potential, but the rough quality of the recordings makes it difficult for them to fully shine.
Josh McGuire’s guitar work is the standout across both the EP and the remastered tracks. His riffs are both intricate and punishing, seamlessly blending the ferocity of speed metal with the darkness of blackened death metal. The band’s use of ancient mythology in their lyrics and imagery adds an extra layer of depth to their sound, grounding the chaos in something deeply primal.
While KALI’s music is undeniably powerful, it would be great to hear these songs in better quality. The remastered tracks on YouTube, while compelling, are hindered by their low-fidelity audio, which doesn’t do justice to the complex musicianship on display. A proper high-quality release would allow their intricate layers and crushing intensity to be fully appreciated, and it’s something that would undoubtedly elevate their already ferocious sound.
In the end, KALI is a band with immense promise, and despite the challenges of raw production, they are well on their way to carving out a niche in the extreme metal world. Here’s hoping we get to hear their music with the clarity and quality it deserves in the near future.
