Website [Release date 27.01.23]
King Kraken are a 5 five piece from South Wales, formed in September 2018, who are taking the metal scene by storm, festival by festival, gig by gig. Their new album entitled ‘MCLXXX’ is just about to hit us squarely between the eyes, be under no illusion that their warm Welsh tones bely the heavy Kraken sound that is about to be unleashed as the follow up to their self-titled EP from 2019.
As legend goes, MCLXXX is the year (1180) of the first ever sighting of the Kraken, please make a note that 2023 is the year that King Kraken arose and truly claimed the metal scene as their own. Produced by none other than Romesh Dodangoda (Those Damn Crows, Inglorious, Motorhead), this is an album that will clear any post-Christmas blues and have you head banging in no time!
From the heavy opening riffs of ‘Devil’s Night’ you know that this debut album is incredibly accomplished, heavy groove orientated, melodic songs with sublime guitar work, heavy bass and drum beats that compliment Mark’s vocals perfectly.
MCLXXX takes inspiration from horror and sci-fi films with cleverly crafted, story-telling lyrics that will entice you in. The album has 10 tracks all of which are monstrously good! Absolute standout tracks for me are ‘Bastard Liar’, ‘Haddonfield’78’, ‘Man-Made Monster’, ‘Chaos Engine’ and the epic closer, ‘Castle of Bone’ but I could easily have picked more!
‘Green Terror’ is the latest single, maintaining the accomplished musicianship standard with sublime riffs, heavy rhythm and a catchy chorus. The ‘Halloween’ inspired single ‘Haddonfield 78’ (with a Michael Myers style video to accompany it) is superb and includes a rather magnificent guitar solo borne out of a fit of pique as a result of a rather frustrating house purchase.
Be under no illusion that this band can’t pull this sound off live, if you have caught them at HRH Metal, Bloodstock m2tm, Hammerfest, HRH Roadtrip, or headlining Quarantune Rocks, you’ll know it is one hell of a party delivering full-on rock, they undoubtedly can and do raise the roof, catch them on the road soon.
What an album, it is hard to believe that it is a debut, but it is, I am sold! King Kraken, a legend is born, first album review of 2023, love it and already added to my best of 2023! *****
Review by Karen Clayton
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
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Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024
ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)
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