Killer Kaya: Live at Wall of Fog Album Review

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Written by Anna-Kay Reeves

Photos by Maren Morales

Psychedelic rock often features a surf-rock twang, but Killer Kaya’s depths take the genre from beachy groove to siren song. The Austin band’s latest album Live at Wall of Fog is a well-balanced mix of technical skill and experimentation, scratching the itch for classic psych in a new way. Top-notch sound production and the band’s excellent rapport with one another—honed by frequent gigs and collaborative music writing—make this live album easy listening.

Killer Kaya’s discography has a consistent sense of mischief as masterful musicians bend and break the rules they know so well. The consistency of their sound is in part thanks to the decade-long continued participation of founding members Apoorva Chiplunkar, lead vocalist, and Zach Rengert, who plays guitar and keys. On Live at Wall of Fog, that core element is complemented by richer instrumental layers brought by Texas-era members: drummer Justin Kass, bassist Pete Legasey, and guitarist George Fox.

A meditation on place and space, Live at Wall of Fog is the band’s first release since relocating from Santa Barbara to Austin. “It's a really different kind of surrounding that we're in now, and I think that does influence and kind of permeate your music,” Chiplunkar said.

“Cosmic Cowgirl”

The album’s opener, “Cosmic Cowgirl,” is a dreamy reflection of Austin’s boots-and-blaze aesthetic. The rolling surf-rock guitar of the intro quickly gains an edge through gritty shredding and Chiplunkar’s commanding vocals. As a classically trained opera vocalist, her range and control are striking in the unexpected but thrilling context of rock and roll. The track plunges listeners into the album’s electric energy—and surfacing isn’t recommended.

“A lot of this music on this new album is about themes of the desert and resilience and rebirth and growth,” Chiplunkar said. “And I think that a lot of that is moving to a new place and creating a new life for yourself.”

“The Princess and Her Tiger”

This playful power anthem draws on personal history, tracing Chiplunkar’s heritage from India to California to Texas. Sung entirely in Marathi—a first for the first-generation Indian American artist—the track is a standout.

“I'd never written a song in my other language like that. And I don't know if that would have happened back [in California],” she said.

Inspired by a daydream of chasing her orange tabby, Saffron, through a palace, the track’s sweeping epic mood transcends language. It wouldn’t be out of place on a fantasy-action game soundtrack.

“Funk Shway”

Perhaps the most lyrically driven track on the album, “Funk Shway” is a stoner heartbreak song. While vocals are central to Killer Kaya’s sound, lyrics typically play a secondary role—more operatic mood than literal meaning. But here, softer instrumentation brings raw lines to the forefront:

“You have broken my heart, you have torn me apart.”

The track gradually builds into reggae-laced, sci-fi psychedelia. By the end, it's clear: that alien made a mistake.

“Alexandria” and “Embers of the Phoenix”

By “Alexandria,” listeners are spellbound. Killer Kaya’s creative world is steeped in myth and mystery. Are these songs pure fantasy or half-remembered history? It’s anyone’s guess. “Alexandria” shifts the mood toward snaking guitar-vocal harmonies, leaning into a punk incantation vibe that carries through “Gilded Menagerie.”

“Gilded Menagerie”

The album’s second half showcases the band’s cohesion. Solos are strategic, never self-indulgent, with vocals and instruments working in tandem. Killer Kaya’s unity stems from years of collaboration and a democratic songwriting process.

“We kind of all take part in what everybody else is doing,” Chiplunkar said. “Pete, our bass player, might have a great thought about, ‘Hey, maybe you sing this line a little more staccato.’ ... Everybody really does care about each part of a song and how it's written.”

Every member is credited as a songwriter on the entire album.

“Disco Catharsis”

Live at Wall of Fog ends on a high note with the bouncy, keys-driven “Disco Catharsis.” At once intense and upbeat, its funk-pop riffs are dance-inducing. Start with a stream—then catch Killer Kaya live this spring:

Hot tip: the band’s upcoming show at Crow Bar on Saturday May 17th will be a Wall of Fog studio showcase. Wall of Fog, owned and operated by Xavier Juarez, specializes in live tracking. Doors open at 9 and $10 gets you sounds from Killer Kaya, Como Las Movies, and Death Palmz. Wall of Fog vinyls from all three bands will be available for purchase.