Kallidad bring mariachi metal flair

Sydney-based instrumental band Kallidad will bring their intriguing take on the metal genre to the Geraldton Hotel this Saturday.

The three-piece describe themselves as Mexican heavy metal, with two Spanish guitars adding flamenco flair to their sound.

Having recently returned from a string of shows in Japan, Kallidad have toured all around Australia and Europe, they plan to return to Switzerland, Denmark and Italy later this year.

Guitarist Tom Raven said the trio never planned on starting a band together.

“After school we moved out to a house together and started jamming,” he said.

“The Kallidad thing was just a hobby whilst we were doing other bands.

“But it quickly grew faster than everything else, so we stopped what we were doing and concentrated on Kallidad for a while. We certainly had no intention of forming a band and then touring Australia and going to Europe.”

Forming back in 2011, the trio spent their early days busking in Sydney.

Needing to capture the attention of people passing by, the boys began incorporating mariachi elements into their music.

Realising they were onto something, Kallidad continued down the mariachi metal path, sans singer.

“Not having a singer was never a conscious decision,” Raven said.

“We just never got one, and then it turned out we never really needed one.

“None of us can sing, either!”

At every show, the three-piece rock their signature face paint inspired by the Mexican Day of the Dead tradition, in particular sugar skulls.

Although Raven admits it can get annoying having to wear the face paint every time they play, he said.

“It’s all part of the show. We got the idea at the first festival we played at, Rainbow Serpent in Victoria,” he said.

“Everyone was dressed up and looked amazing, so we thought we had to do something and went off and did that. It just stuck ever since then.”

Kallidad played at Nukara Music Festival last year and will return to Chapman Valley in March. Tomorrow night’s gig at The Geraldton Hotel will be the first time Kallidad have played in Geraldton.