One of the perks of working for Metal Temple is that I'm afforded the opportunity, via pre-releases and promo kits, to hear a lot of new music and discover a lot of bands that I otherwise might have missed out on. While the digital revolution has given anyone with an Internet connection instant access to music from every band on the planet, this job has given me a tenfold advantage, at the very least. So I feel like I keep a pretty good "finger on the pulse" of the Hard Rock/Heavy Metal scene, and rarely does a really good band slip past me. I stand corrected. Needless to say, I was completely dumbfounded when a band from my hometown, that I had heard of, but at the same time, hadn't heard much of in regards to music, totally blew me away. That band is KILLER GANDHI.

Hailing from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and consisting of Steve McAnally on vocals/guitar, Josh Griffin on guitar, Brad Reed on bass, and Levi Dickerson (ex-ANTI-MORTEM) on drums, KILLER GANDHI has just released their powerful, 5-song EP, "Digital Messiah", the follow-up to their 2014 self-titled full length album. This polished, straightforward hard rock band are by no means newcomers to the music scene, as they've spent the past few years honing their craft and paying their dues, playing locally as often as possible. While flaunting the KILLER GANDHI brand of music to mainly a regional audience, the time has come for the masses to know their name and, more importantly, their music.

On "Digital Messiah", their distinctive sound immediately brought to mind a gritty, infectious style of rock n' roll similar to the heavier guitar-driven flair of UGLY KID JOE, mixed ever so smoothly with a vibe of the hit-producing juggernaut, FOO FIGHTERS. McAnally is one of those front men that possess a presence of old-school rock star swagger and his voice has a strong similarity to Whitfield Crane (UGLY KID JOE). The opening track, "Abba Zabba", is a perfect introduction to the EP and offers a glimpse of what's to come; with a galloping, bass-heavy rhythm, fuzz-infused riffs, and a vocal rollercoaster ride, this song instantly reminded me of GOLDEN EARRING's "Radar Love". While all five songs are ready for the big time, "Laugh Now, Die Later" is the song that could put KILLER GANDHI on the hard rock map and become a charting single. The bluesy guitar riff drew me in early and often, and the infectious chunky song structure has left this one stuck in my head for a couple of weeks now. I listen to a lot of music and "Digital Messiah" is one of those releases that I just can't seem to turn off.

With one of the most refreshing sounds I've heard in 2015, KILLER GANDHI has the potential to become a player in the hard rock genre, playing on bigger stages nationwide with the spotlight pointed directly on them. Hopefully I won't let a band this good go unnoticed in the future, especially if they're right in my own backyard. Don't make the same mistake I made, as I highly recommend "Digital Messiah" for any fan of straight-up hard rock. The EP is available for download, at the price of your choice, at www.killergandhi.com.