Heavy Metal
Self Release
Release Date – April 18th 2025
Links: https://www.kingkraken.co.uk/
Line Up:
Mark Donoghue – Vocals
Pete Rose – Guitar
Adam Healey – Guitar
Karl Meyer – Bass
Richard Lee Mears – Drums
Tracklist:
Scream
El Giganto
Berzerker
March Of The Gods
Hero
Vigilante
Preacher
Magnum Opus
Chainsaw Saviour
Under The Sun
It’s fair to say that most of the members of Welsh rockers King Kraken have been around the block a few times. For me that makes their music all the more interesting. They play it big and loud, but they use their experience in playing for the song and given that this is just their second album they have proved that they have all been doing this for years.
Opener ‘Scream‘ doesn’t hang about as they just go for it from the off on a big ballsy riff and the masculine vocals of Donaghue. Another cracking riff starts ‘El Giganto‘ and it’s more of the same as it rattles along on a fine groove from Meyer and Mears. A slower guitar line and a building groove bring us some Viking metal on ‘Berserker‘ which is gonna get some horns thrown at it when they do it live. The title track is immense with a machine gun riff that chugs along then we get some blues and whole load of sentiment on ‘Hero‘. I won’t spoil it for you, but Donoghue gives a stellar performance on this. ‘Vigilante‘ brings the groove metal back then it’s some classic metal on ‘Preacher‘ and ‘Magnum Opus‘ before the mid-paced Sabbath worship of ‘Chainsaw Saviour‘. Final number ‘Under The Sun‘ goes from chugging banger to power metal ballad.
Crikey this is good. The sounds and performances producer Romesh Dodangoda has got out of these down to earth unassuming valley boys is nothing short of extraordinary. They have produced a future classic here because there is not a bad track or any filler on this album. Da iawn guys pethau ardderchog.
Written by: Smudge
Ratings: 9/10
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