Some records are played. Others are summoned. NepCali’s new EP, Mahakali (released August 22, 2025), belongs firmly in the latter category. Across six tracks and 24 relentless minutes, the band delivers a searing blend of ethnic metal, ancient chants, and thunderous riffs—an invocation as much as an album. Equal parts protest and prayer, it channels the fierce energy of the Hindu goddess Kali into a work that feels ritualistic, rebellious, and profoundly alive.
Rooted in the immigrant experience, Mahakali is both a spiritual offering and a political statement. The EP rails against injustice, blind nationalism, and apathy, while still carving out space for hope and resilience. Songs like “Om Namah Shivaya” and the title track bridge Eastern spirituality with Western heaviness, merging Nepali and English lyrics into something raw yet uplifting. It’s music that confronts and consoles in the same breath.
The production behind Mahakali carries as much weight as its themes. Engineered by seven-time Grammy nominee Dennis Moody and anchored by Grammy-winning drummer Fernando Jaramillo, the sound is massive and precise without ever losing its edge. At the core, however, are the voices of Arpan Karki and Sunny Shrestha, whose guttural growls and sacred chants ground the record in cultural authenticity and emotional grit.
This is not background listening—it’s a total immersion. NepCali recommends cranking the volume, letting the riffs crash and the mantras resonate until the boundary between meditation and mosh pit disappears. That experience will only intensify on their Blessings Tour 2025/2026, where the EP’s communal energy is designed to erupt into something larger than sound: a shared ritual of resistance and renewal.
More than anything, Mahakali is a love letter to the NepCrew—the loyal fans who amplify the band’s message beyond the stage. It’s proof that music can be more than entertainment; it can be movement, community, and defiance. NepCali hasn’t just dropped an EP—they’ve sparked a fire that refuses to go out.
The Mahakali EP is available now on all streaming platforms.
Listen and support via Bandcamp:https://nepcali1.bandcamp.com/album/mahakali
Follow NepCali for Blessings Tour 2025/2026 updates and new album news.
