Queensland four-piece KALATONE talk chaos, connection, and the raw energy behind their debut EP Pathways.
Hailing from South-East Queensland, KALATONE are not interested in playing it safe. The four-piece bring a mix of grit and dynamics that refuses to sit neatly in any box. Their debut EP Pathways is already out, and with an appearance at Rock Is Not Dead 2 at The Brightside on August 30, they’re taking their sound straight to the stage.
When asked to sum themselves up, the band put it simply: “We’re basically a sonic punch to the chest – raw emotion, unapologetic heaviness, and songs that actually mean something. Post-grunge is in our DNA, but there’s a progressive rock brain and a metal heart beating underneath it all. We love soaring hooks, crushing riffs, and grooves that grab you by the gut. If you’ve never heard us, imagine the grit of the 90s colliding with the energy of now… and turn it up loud.”
That rawness is central to Pathways. The band admit that getting the record finished wasn’t easy. “There were times where life outside the band was chaotic – schedules clashing, personal stuff, lineup changes – all the usual reasons bands pull the pin. Walking away would’ve been easy. But every single time, someone would bring in a riff, a lyric, or even just an idea that sparked something in all of us. That moment where you go, ‘Oh… that’s why we’re doing this’ – that kept pulling us back to finish it.”
Rejecting polish in favor of feel was a conscious choice. “We’ve all heard albums that sound perfect but feel dead. That’s not us. There were definitely voices saying, ‘Use digital amps, add some synths, make it radio-friendly,’ but we didn’t want to hide behind any of that. With the exception of a few extra backing vocals here and there, there’s nothing on Pathways that we can’t do fully live — no backing tracks, no ‘hidden instruments.’ Just us, the gear, and the magic of music. We wanted you to feel like you’re standing in the room with us, amps rattling your ribcage.”
The EP spans a wide sonic range without losing cohesion, something the band says comes down to purpose. “It’s all about intention. We’re not throwing in light-and-shade moments just because we can – they have to serve the song. The heavy parts hit harder because of the space around them, and the quieter moments mean more because you know something big is coming. It’s like breathing: inhale, exhale… explode.”
That blend of old and new is woven deep into KALATONE’s DNA. “We all grew up with that 90s grit in our ears – bands like Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, and Tool – and it’s become part of our DNA. But we’ve also spent years absorbing music from completely different worlds: country, jazz, pop, orchestral, metal, prog… you name it. Adrian leans into the heavier, more technical side, Gav gravitates to raw rock tones, Dave has a huge orchestral and jazz background, and there’s plenty of crossover in what we love. When we get in a room together, all those influences naturally bleed into the songs. That’s why it feels familiar but still fresh – it’s not about chasing an era, it’s about taking what we love from the past and throwing it into who we are now.”
On Pathways, the band each carry their own favorite moments. “The opening riff to ‘Firestarter’ still feels like a statement – like the EP saying, ‘We’re here, and we’re not holding back.’ Lyrically, ‘Signs’ cuts deep because of its honesty. ‘Chosen Ones’ has always felt like a dedication to musicians out there chasing it, and ‘Ghost Inside My Shell’ hits on a whole other emotional level.”
“And then there’s ‘Nostalgia’ – the song that brought us all together. It was the first track Tim had written lyrics and sung for that truly defined what would become KALATONE, and it holds a special place for all of us. Every track has a layer that connects differently every time we hear it.”
On playing live, the band say unpredictability is key. “When you’re in a room with a band, the air changes — someone might hold a note longer, smash a chord harder, or lock eyes with the crowd and completely change the vibe. You can’t fake that on a screen. That human push-and-pull is what makes live music electric.”
For KALATONE, success isn’t about streams or charts, at least not yet. “Success right now is looking out at a crowd and seeing people we’ve never met singing our lyrics back to us. It’s that connection – knowing we wrote something in a jam room that’s now living in someone else’s head and heart. The bigger the stage and the louder the crowd, the better… but that connection is everything.”
And there’s no slowing down. “We’re already writing the next chapter. It’s heavier in some places, more atmospheric in others, and we’re pushing ourselves harder than before. More shows, more music, and more opportunities to make a room shake. That’s the plan.”
For anyone yet to experience them live, the band leave one final thought: “The intensity – and not just the ‘in-your-face’ stuff. We can absolutely blow your hair back, but there’s also subtlety and rawness that lets us take you on a full ride. We’ll hit you hard, but we’ll also mess with all five senses — we want you to laugh, cry, get goosebumps, and leave the room feeling different to when you walked in.”
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