“Listen while you read”
When you first hear King Kalopsia, it’s the groove that grabs you! Massive drums colliding with fuzz-drenched bass just pull you in! But sit with it long enough and you’ll hear more. Calculated chaos, a refusal to stay boxed in, and a deep respect for the El Paso scene that shaped them. We sat down with the two-piece to dig into their sound, their roots, and the surprising risks that define their music.
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The Roots of Heaviness
When asked about what shaped their sound, King Kalopsia doesn’t hesitate to rattle off a list of legends:
“Queens Of The Stone Age, Black Sabbath, Royal Blood, Death From Above 1979, Nine Inch Nails, The Melvins, System Of A Down, Motörhead.”
It’s a roll call of distortion, innovation, and raw power. You can hear those influences bleeding into their music today, a lineage of bands who mastered the art of making heavy sound feel alive and unpredictable.
Balancing Chaos and Calm
So how does a band rooted in heaviness decide when to ease off the gas? For King Kalopsia, it’s less of a calculation and more of a gut instinct.
“Most of the songs come out naturally. We tend to stay in heaviness to fill in empty spaces but it gets tiring, so we usually try to fit in breaks or calmer parts to balance out our energy.”
That natural push and pull is what gives their songs momentum.
Two People, One Wall of Sound
With just two members, you’d expect a stripped-back sound. Instead, King Kalopsia sounds like a wrecking crew. The secret?
“Playing heavier helps us make up for missing members. Lots of feedback and noise to help build up the tension. Mostly just focusing on big hits together to amplify our sound as a unit.”
It’s not about filling every space. It’s about using noise, tension, and unity to build something larger than the sum of its parts.
A Risk That Paid Off
Every band has that one track where they surprise themselves. For King Kalopsia, it was “Ticking Bomb.”
“As a bass player you don’t really see a lot of people using delay pedals or short loops. It’s very risky for me, if I mess up it will ring out.”
That risk became a defining trait. The kind of sonic gamble that gives a song character and makes it impossible to ignore.
El Paso Influence
Heavy music has deep roots in El Paso, and King Kalopsia proudly acknowledges the impact.
“We definitely have respect for the El Paso music scene in general. For our influences, we really appreciate everything At The Drive In and The Mars Volta have done. Their creativity really helped us try to think outside of the box regarding heavy music and not limiting ourselves.”
It’s not just about sounding heavy, it’s about pushing boundaries, a mindset woven into El Paso’s DNA.
The End of the World, Soundtracked
If you’ve never seen King Kalopsia live, picture this:
“I would like to think it’s like you are racing through a bunch of obstacles and it’s the end of the world. There’s just a shit storm and shits flying around but you are hell bent to stay alive while our music is blasting.”
It’s chaos, survival, and adrenaline wrapped up in distortion, an experience that feels cinematic and visceral all at once.
The Birth of King Kalopsia
So how did this apocalyptic sound come together? The band admits it was less of a master plan and more of a happy accident.
“For us, I think it came out of playing in different bands together, but always wanting something different. It was kind of an accident in a way, it came out of boredom. We just had that attitude to say fuck it, let’s just jam and see what happens.”
And just like that, King Kalopsia was born! Not from calculation, but from raw instinct and a refusal to sit still.
In the Studio with Let Down (Our Thoughts)
Hexx: When we first worked with King Kalopsia on our first live session (keep scrolling down), I honestly had no idea what I was in for. When John told me it was a two piece, I honestly didn’t know what type of music to expect. Was it jazzy? Was it screamo? Was it one of those new noise bands? I had no idea!
They strolled in, calm, cool and collected. Very soft spoken but grateful. They began setting up and we shared a couple of beers to break the ice. Before we knew it, all the microphones were up and we were ready to begin sound check. I came on the talk back microphone and said, “Alright guys, lets get a quick take in so we can get levels!”
Brian clicked off the song with his drum sticks and boom! I couldn’t believe what was coming out of the studio monitors from Brian and Tony. For a band to just have two members yet somehow manage to get the room shaking, was astonishing! Not only was it loud but the song was really good and had me bopin’ my head to the groove. John and I were just smiling enjoying the music as they rehearsed.
After the session was done and a few beers were in all of us, we got to hangout and just shoot the shit about music. Brian and Tony are some of the coolest, down-to-earth, musicians we have ever encountered. Their subdued attitudes were filled with laughter and smiles as the day progressed. Before we knew it, a few hours had passed.
Hanging out with amazing musicians like Brian and Tony are what owning a studio is all about. You forget that it’s work and just focus on what matters in life, hanging out with amazing people and just enjoying every moment. When John told me they were coming back, I was fuckin excited!
John: On our first session with King Kalopsia, I knew it would be a great experience only having to focus on 2 people. I had heard their music through their socials, but hearing them upfront is a completely different experience. It feels like if you’re getting dropkicked in the face at a bar fight.
I had crossed paths with Brian and Tony early on both in college and at the studio through different projects. I met Brian at UTEP on the drum line, and Tony through is previous band, Theory Room. Brian is a machine behind the drum set and Tony is able to make riffs that can rival even the heaviest/catchiest guitar riffs. As very quiet and humble guys these guys know how to fill in the gaps with their groovy and aggressive music.
After speaking with them, I found out we have so much in common and as a very shy and reserved person, it just takes one little similarity to bring out the “mini extrovert” to make me feel like I’ve known these guys for years. I’m so excited for what is in store for these awesome dudes.
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Watch King Kalopsia past performance!
