In what is certainly a shoo-in for comeback of the year, Kelakos, the beloved '70s American rock band, has returned after a 45-year hiatus with their second album, Hurtling Towards Extinction. Known for their fusion of powerful rock rhythms, mesmerizing guitar leads, and compelling vocals, Kelakos made an indelible mark with their catchy songwriting and rich, varied production on their debut album, 1978's Gone Are the Days.

But unfortunately, the days of Kelakos were short-lived... until now.

The roots of Kelakos can be traced back to their early days as Emergency Exit in 1969, opening for acts like Crow and Cold Blood. Beach town ice cream trucks doubled as transportation for their equipment during the summer, and the legendary Blue Bunny nightclub in Nantasket Beach, MA, would become their weekend home. Renamed The Criminals, three bandmates and a series of drummers played bars and college gigs in Boston and all over New England until 1975.

The band finally found their vintage sound as Kelakos, with George Kelakos Haberstroh (vocals/lead guitar), Carl Canedy (vocals/drums), Mark Sisson (vocals/guitars), and Linc Bloomfield (vocals/bass/rhythm guitars/keyboards). After three intensive years of paying their dues around the northeastern US, it was over for Kelakos the band, as they decided to go their own ways not long after the release and promotion of Gone Are The Days.

But to say it was over for the band members individually would be a huge mistake. Haberstroh continued to write and play while building up an extensive catalog of original songs. Canedy formed the internationally renowned heavy metal band, the Rods, while producing albums for the likes of Anthrax, Overkill, and Blue Cheer, and building a major reputation drumming on an impressive 47 albums including two solo LPs. Sisson transitioned from playing guitar in Kelakos to discovering a passion for pedal steel and lap guitar, which brings a distinctive new dimension to the current Kelakos sound. Meanwhile, Bloomfield pursued a career in international security serving in government, but kept his musical flame alive, recording songs in private. He returned to performing in 2003, and has since been recording, producing, and supporting charitable causes with his Washington DC band, Coalition of the Willing.

And by some crazy miracle, suddenly they are all back in 2023 as if they had never been apart. Sure, a band reuniting is generally not a big thing, but not every day does one re-group after some 45 years - and with the original members channeling the same drive, passion and musical personality! Yet somehow, Kelakos figured out how to do just that, recording a rich collection of 12 new songs. Hurtling Towards Extinction is proof that the music of Kelakos is timeless, and that their 47-year catalog of 27 songs is here to stay.