For those not in the know, right out of the starting gate, it’s apparent that the eagerly awaited new King Llama album, Fata Implexis (translating to “fate intertwined”), is something special, commanding and category-elastic.

The fiery and whip smart instrumental band’s tune “Lora Ky” packs an immediate and visceral punch, within its sophisticated changes, spidery guitar riffs, tricky unison lines and mosaic-like structure, built from material conjured up by guitarist-songwriter Ryan T. Bailey.

The song serves as a prelude and on-ramp to the electrifying journey unfolding over six tracks—including the multi-sectional 11-minute epic “Sir Isaac.”

What to call this music? Is it prog rock, post-fusion, and earthier variation on math rock, which also manages to be suitable for the jam band universe? Or is it, as the dynamic drummer Luis Briones wonders, something along the lines of “experimental fusion-influenced jam band music?

By whatever name or genre identifier, this music makes a bold statement on impact and paves the way for a bright future for this unique band.

At the core of the operation is a deep musical connection between guitarist-composer Bailey and Briones, who have tended the King Llama fires for many years and released their debut, Return to Ox in 2016.

As with much of the music world, the band’s forward motion was interrupted by the pandemic and the shuttering of live music, which then led to a long process of composing, rethinking and expanding the vision of the band.

1. Lora Ky
2. Bus Stop
3. Sir Isaac
4. Hamilton
5. Level Z
6. Vita et Mors

This brand new album, four years on from their last release, opens on the fervently-charged Lora Ky and then brings us the funky Bus Stop and the veritably shimmering at times, propellant and startling at others Sir Isaac.

Produced by Multi-Platinum and Grammy Award Winning Producer/Engineer Dennis MacKay (David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Jeff Beck, Stanley Clarke, Whitney Houston), along next is the all-encompassing rhythms within Hamilton, the album rounding out on the sweeping Level Z, closing on the impassioned, strident opus Vita et Mors.

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