2025 proved to be a monumental year for Wales’s King Kraken. Not only did the band release their second album March of the Gods, but they also played two milestone shows at Stonedead Festival and the Bloodstock Winter Gathering show at KK’s Steel Mill, where they performed alongside legendary bands Venom Inc and Candlemass.
A year of hard gigging saw them travel the length of the UK, from Brighton to Bradford, Edinburgh to London and Newport to Norwich. have seen the band shift up several gears, both in live show but also in the quality of their song writing. They also kept it local, participating in charity event Rock for Llamau at their local venue, The Patriot – Home of Rock as well as a sold-out album launch at Hangar 18 in Swansea in April.
March of the Gods received universally positive reviews. The production skills of Romesh Dodangoda (Motörhead, Bullet for My Valentine, Bring Me the Horizon) captured the huge sound of the band, whilst their singles were supported by clever and varied videos including the zombie fuelled Chainsaw Saviour, the Viking muscle of Bezerker and the emotional Hero, a song which crashed into the Planet Rock playlist with ease. Their final single, March of the Gods also received airplay from both Planet Rock as well as Kerrang! and Primordial Radio. “Equal parts brawn, brains and bombast, King Kraken have delivered a thumping follow-up that’s not just good. It’s crackin’.” - James MacKinnon, Kerrang! April 2025
Having undergone a change in line-up after their Stonedead show, the band continued their onward march with two sold-out Welsh shows supporting Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons before rounding off the year with a huge set at KK’s Steel Mill and several shows with Crobot when they stepped in to replace Asomvel.
2026 holds much promise for King Kraken. They have been busy with Romesh in the studio and will be delivering new music across the year. They have several festival shows in the diary, including the opening band set at the Welsh Classic Rock Steelhouse event. Before that, they will participate in the Takedown at Portsmouth, tour the country with friends Fury, before they head to Call of the Wild, SOS and Hammerdown and a welcome return to Hella Rocks in Coventry in early September. Oh, and there’s the small matter of playing at Chepstow Castle with Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, Chris Holmes (WASP) and the Tygers of Pan Tang in late August.
2025 was busy, but these boys are greedy! Hold onto your hats, because 2026 will see further progress made!
