Kaliya (Texas, USA) Self-titled (2015)

 Nagaz Wit Attitudes

    I actually had to do some leg work to obtain this album. Even though Kaliya hail from my home of DFW, I some how missed show after show. Even a show in which my band was suppose to open for them was cancelled due to overbooking by the venue. Eventually I caught up with the band opening for Aborted on a predominately metal bill. Their merch table was largely ignored, save for the over flow of metal-heads from neighboring tables who used the Kaliya spread as a place to set their drinks down. I think I was the only one who showed up specifically looking to pick up the band's newest release. Kaliya's 2015 self-titled CD is way more than just a coaster for some dipshit's half empty PBR. It's a great release from probably Dallas' best kept secret in underground extreme music. Combining equal parts hardcore, metal and melodic grindcore, Kaliya are a refreshing and dynamic addition to the Texas grindcore scene, while avoiding the metalcore and deathcore aspects of other bands that they've been compared to on the web. Lately [2015] Kaliya has been playing a string of shows to promote their new album after lying seemingly dormant since their 2011 release, Annihilator. 

    Manning the kit and thus putting the "grind" in Kaliya's death-grind cocktail, Jesse Fletcher is a leveled hand of precision and fluidity. His collected and composed style of drumming is in direct contrast to what you'd expect given his immense speed and sharpshooter blast beats. Jesse blasts with a steadfast bounce that I wish more grindcore bands utilized instead of spastic snare thrashings. Like his speed, his versatility is just as impressive. Grinding out a path, so to speak, from song to song, he shifts from d-beats and mid paced tempos tractored under by fast double bass pedals. Even commanding the album's slower tracks with heavy, doom laden spills. The latter two of which allow the death metal and the hardcore foundations to shine. It's clearly this trifecta of genres that lends to this album's awesomeness. 

    The viney network of death metal roots are mostly thanks to seeds sowed by tandem guitarists Thomas Booe and Ben Cooper. Whether it be the expeditious palm muted riffs, the whining throwback solos or the melodious leads that bleed through the songs, these guys are responsible for a majority of the Kaliya sound. Their crunchy tone and chugging riffs lend credence to the hardcore style imbedded in the band's breakdowns. And these guys aren't afraid to break it down. The melodic guitar overlays aren't so much in the vein of bands like Nasum, but hint more towards a blackened metal. Like wise, the dizzying guitar leads aren't your typical dissonant speedball riffs, but are more of an old school metal sound. Highlighting musical showmanship and cleanliness. Mike Arnold's bass is mostly hidden in the background, but can still be heard if you listen for it. Especially in intros and breaks that allow the bass to crank towards the forefront. 

    Vocally, Tyler Berry is amazing. His throaty style of vocals remind me a lot of Naplam Death's Barney Greenway's later work. That is if Barney had Tyler's range. His low, gruff roars are pretty much standard here. But he pilfers through a vocal bag of tricks that rotates from even lower gutturals to scratchy highs. Mark Hunt is recorded on the album as back up vocals so it gets a little convoluted on who's doing what. Hunt might be responsible for the goregrind, junkyard dog vocals. I'm not sure. What I do know is the vocals aren't just poured over grind tracks willy-nilly. The sound and style seem to show up exactly when and where they are needed. It's a subtle but effective trick and a veteran move. Kaliya's self-titled album is a texturally layered piece of death-grind. There's a lot going on here and this is a great CD by some very talented musicians. Recorded and mixed by Cara Neir's Garry Brent in one of his best sounding engineer projects I've heard. From the minigun drums, mowing down trees, to the just blatant guitar chops, everything is well captured. The album is more than a straight blast fest and is way more encompassing than just your average grindcore record. It's more calculated. More mature. Top-tier Dallas death-grind. Don't you dare call it deathcore! 

FFO: Napalm Death, Phobia, Pig Destroyer

Listen and/or buy: kaliyamusic.bandcamp.com

[Originally posted on May 2015, House of Grindcore]

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