By Nate Wilde
For generations, heavy music has served as a worthy and efficient means to disconnect from the mundane and often harsh, debilitating, and unwanted advances of everyday life.
Sitting and listening to a record that causes one to involuntarily clench one’s fists and headbang from the sheer energy and passion is an experience that metalheads know all too well and quite frankly, an experience that non-metalheads could likely benefit from.
One of the newest bands to supply this specialized form of therapy hails from Colorado and not only do they pay sufficient homage to those that came before them, but they do it in a fresh, modern, and absolutely crushing way that spares not a single ounce of brutality.
The city of Greeley has once again continued the tradition of pushing out remarkable heavy metal bands with Kaoticus, a skull-crushing outfit consisting of guitarists Adrian Bolton and Nathan Muraguri, drummer Matthew Alexander, and bassist Tali “Talimitus” Jorge.
Kaoticus will be releasing their debut EP, ‘Mass Hysteria’ on March 14, 2025, but have meanwhile been generous enough to release numerous tracks from the upcoming release to the general public in preparation.
The record kicks off with the group’s namesake track, ‘Kaoticus,’ which serves as a fitting introduction to the band both musically and lyrically. It’s here that we’re given the first taste of the band’s ferocity which consists of fast-paced chugging, and often dueling, guitars, vocals from numerous members that range from black metal-style high pitched screeching to low death metal-style growling, and a racing drum section with double kicks so fast that it’s a challenge for the average listener’s brain to keep up.
Bassist Talimitus is also showcased on the track via a tasty slap and pop line, as are virtuosic lead guitar sections reminiscent of Slayer’s Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, Pantera’s Dimebag Darrell, and Zakk Wylde; a mind-melting theme that persists through the disc.
Speaking of Slayer, the influence from the San Francisco thrash giants on Kaoticus is undeniable, but make no mistake, the Greeley band is nothing short of original and is able to pay significant homage while creating their own brand of ‘heavy.’
Not only is a variety of influences heard on Mass Hysteria, but the band explores numerous lyrical themes as well. One of the most notable comes from the track, ‘Die Thylamide,’ a title that plays on the scientific name for the hallucinogenic drug LSD, lysergic acid diethylamide. Kaoticus combines a cool, heavy soundtrack to a lyrical narrative that speaks on nefarious topics like the MKUltra project of the 1950s.
From the spooky clean guitar intros to the virtuosic lead sections, the high-pitched vocal screams to the low-pitched growls, backed up by a rhythm section that can be described as nothing short of bombastic, Kaoticus has proven themselves as not only one of Colorado’s premiere metal bands right from the beginning, but a force that will no doubt be one to be reckoned with in the future.
