It’s not exactly a rare occurrence anymore to see bands of all kinds from all over bringing together several different styles to create something interesting whether it be completely transforming their style or changing it from one song to the next. To see it done well, though, is another thing altogether that we just don’t get often enough. When I went to go play the latest from Kalahari, that wasn’t something I was ready to experience but it’s the sheer quality and excellence of it all that really blew me away for this exceptional EP.

I try not to get too lost in the complex and sometimes largely unnecessary finesse of genrefication given how ridiculous it can be at times with how often it feels like you’re breaking down any piece of music too much, but it was hard for me to not do that as the whole of “Theia” takes a little from so many different places from all over metal to create a fluid listen that’s just as diverse as it is exciting. At first, I felt that Kalahari would go for a smooth progressive sound, but almost as soon as you get comfortable with that idea “Theia” changes gears to something that’s much more intense than what I was expecting in just about every department from the vocals to the very songwriting, and it bounces between the two for the whole of the album. That can easily sound like a clusterfuck, especially when it in the hands of a band that’s incapable of balancing it all, but it’s for the entirety of this EP that Kalahari shows us that they are undoubtedly a cut above much of their competition with just the first track. It creates an immensely eclectic album that has absolutely nailed the hard the achieve the goal of keeping the listener wholly engaged for the entirety of your work,. and “Theia” is nothing if not engaging at the very least. Kalahari not only gives us multiple styles seamlessly brought into one listen but they also do it in nothing but grand style. It’s all pulled off virtually without flaw to where you cannot help but fall into what this act has created here while constantly in some state of marvel as each track progresses with gripping intensity, pieces smooth than water, and capability that’s no less than infectious that, when brought together in the right amounts, is absurdly infectious right from the get-go.

This is a fantastic example of a band that has ambition and beats the odds to create something that is beyond interesting to listen to. Kalahari faced great challenges when crafting this EP, of that I’m sure, and to see them execute it with deadly precision and stunning quality is far more fascinating in just about every form. “Theia” has so much to offer than just a couple of flavors, and if you really want something that’s to get your imagination going like few other albums like this can, then you just can’t go wrong with these five exceptional songs.

PURCHASE “Theia” on Bandcamp here.