'Chaos Engine' and 'Castle of Bone' are remasters of our original versions taken from our 2020 EP 'CHAOS ENGINE'.
Enjoy!
Produced & Mixed by Romesh Dodangoda
Recorded at Long Wave Recording Studios, Cardiff
Recorded by Romesh Dodangoda & Tom Cory
Assisted by Jake Hillcoat
Additional Editing - Martin Corkhill, Tim Vincent
copyright 2022
Vocals - Mark Donoghue
Lead - Adam Healey
Rhythm - Pete Rose
Bass - Karl Meyer
Drums - Richard Lee Mears
BIOGRAPHY
Formed in 2018, South Wales five-piece, King Kraken, are currently kicking up a storm following the release of their debut album MCLXXX. King Kraken comprise the gravel-throated roar of the prowling bear Mark Donoghue, the thunderous timekeeping of Richard Lee Mears on drums, who locks in tight with bassist Karl Meyers and rhythm guitarist Pete Rose to provide the platform for virtuoso guitarist Adam Healey to spill forth his stellar lead breaks.
Following a huge show at Hammerfest 2020, which saw the band fill the main hall at the O2 Academy in Birmingham, King Kraken were forced to slow their push for global domination by the COVID pandemic. Not ones to rest on their laurels, they regrouped, released their Chaos Engine EP, and returned to writing. The result is the astonishing MCLXXX. Produced by legendary producer Romesh Dodangoda (Motörhead, Bullet for My Valentine, Bring Me the Horizon), it contains ten tracks that feature the essence of Kraken - big thick riffs, the bluesy lead work, huge drums and the commanding vocals of Mark Donoghue. There’s versatility aplenty, from the bombastic opener “Devil’s Night”, through to the groove of “Proctor’s Ledge”. The highly reviewed album has received rave reviews throughout, as in, Metal Hammer, ERB, Fireworks and Powerplay.
The band blasted their way through 2023 with a series of highly regarded singles from the album, including the monstrous “Haddonfield 78”, which has received nearly 40,000 listens on Spotify at the time of writing, with support from big hitters Kerrang and the BBC.
The follow up single “Green Terror”, also smashed it with the same support from the big media stations such as Kerrang and Planet Rock etc. King Kraken also made it to number 3 in the Primordial Radio’s “up vote chart”, and second place in the Classic Rock Radio track of the week, (second only to the winery dogs). With currently 52,000 streams on Spotify and being played all over the world at this present time, this prestigious single slammed the charts as hard hitting as its accompanying wrestling video.
King kraken have recently teamed up with Andy Pilkington at Very Metal Art, to bring the single “Man Made Monster” to life on video. Plus a chilli sauce to go with it, made in collaboration with Chilli of the Valley.
It’s in the live arena where King Kraken really comes to life. Having toured extensively in 2022, they returned to The Redhouse Cymru, in Merthyr Tydfil, for their triumphant album launch party on January 27th 2023, with over 200 fans from across the country selling out the venue in a momentously memorable night.
In the past 18 months, the green machine has continued to build on its early foundations with hard work and numerous gigs across the UK. The band have travelled all around the UK, From Exeter to Edinburgh, Leicester to Carlisle, to deliver their high octane show to the ever increasing army of fans.
Since late 2022, King Kraken have supported many high-profile artists, including Monster Truck, Crowbar, South of Salem, Fury, The Black Spiders, Chris Slade (AC/DC), Geoff Tate and Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons. King Kraken have also played at festivals around the country, including Call Of The Wild Festival and SOS Festival.
So far, 2024 has seen them play at Rockmantic Festival in Carlisle, and support Crowbar in Swansea. They will headline Smoke On Trent Festival, Stoke on Trent in April, Friday Night at Station 18 Festival, Swansea in May, Bloodstock Festival M2TM Grand Final London in June, and they are also booked in to play at several other festivals.
King Kraken haven’t rested on their laurels in any way shape or form with the promise of new music to come later in 2024. Early sounds are promising, and if it’s anything like the quality of the debut, then we are in for a real treat..Under the shrewd and experienced management of the Grumpy Clown Booking Agency, King Kraken is now taking steps up to the next level.
Over 2500 plays all over the world including...
OUT NOW!
“Unbelievable, their sound is awesome and they are so tight it just defies logic that this is their first offering.The production along with the content on this album is outstanding and it has to be a contender for album of the year even if it is only January.”
10/10 - ROCK N LOAD
This new album re-establishes King Kraken as one of the most exciting prospects for the UK hard rock and heavy metal scene. Like a sea monster waiting to rise, their ascent continues.
9/10 - POWERPLAY ROCK & METAL MAGAZINE
“King Kraken are taking the metal scene by storm… What an album, it is hard to believe that it is a debut, but it is, I am sold.”
5/5 - GET READY TO ROCK
"Ten slices of brilliant Metal gems... every track on this record is equally as good as the other."
4/5 - MUSIC TRESPASS
"MCLXXX is a must-have for your collection."
8.8/10 - METAL EXPRESS RADIO
“There aren’t many debut albums which hold your attention from start to finish. MCLXXX is one of them. It’s a superb release.”
MOSHVILLE TIMES
"If you need a fix of sizeable riffs; that intertwine and change in an instance, incredibly powerful vocal that is grounded with both melody and forged out of molten steel and a rhythm section that fuses all this together with aggression and technical wizardry, then this album is going to be right up your hard rocking street. Go find it, go buy it and go mental!!!"
ROCK & ROLL CIRCUS
“It is immense. Phenomenal. Just Phenomenal.”
UBER ROCK
“MCLXXX’ is ten tracks of in-your-face, rampaging, nightmarish Heavy Metal, and boy is it good!” FIREWORKS MAGAZINE
"an album which simply inflamed our senses, instincts and pleasure. Is it too early to say serious album of the year contender?"
THE RINGMASTER REVIEW
“A pounding juggernaut of unrelenting, face-melting, infectious grooves… Check out one of the best Metal bands on the scene, this release is truly excellent.”
9.5/10 - METAL GODS MELTDOWN
“This is a solid and entertaining debut album that tells you King Kraken are a band to keep an eye on.”
9/10 - ROCKED TO THE BONES
“I loved this… an album of the year candidate, for sure. One of my new favourite modern bands.”
9/10 - OVERTONE MAGAZINE
“WOW – This is superb. Heavy, groovy with monster-sized riffs. The production is superb, and the songs are well crafted.”
9/10 - MY GLOBAL MIND
“Ten tracks of lung-busting vocals, groove-orientated riffs, and scary lyrics to send out a solid statement of intent. King Kraken may have released a monstrous debut album that is as rare today as the Kraken itself. The band are certainly a force of nature worth keeping an eye out for.”
9/10 - RAMBLIN MAN'S REVIEWS
“A proper heavy metal juggernaut with several killer tunes that are more than capable of frying your brain.”
5/6 - ETERNAL TERROR LIVE
"A very impressive debut album."
5/5 - PLANET MOSH
“The songs here could rival the legendary beast on size alone. This is a colossal, riff-filled album of classic metal and blues-influenced hard rock...There's a huge amount of potential stored in this bunch; you'd do well to keep an eye on them.”
7/10 - METAL HAMMER
“The future for King Kraken is pretty bright as they move forward with such an accomplished debut tucked neatly under their bullet belts. Great stuff!”
SENTINEL DAILY
"King Kraken have written something deserving of the History Book of Rock."
CYDERBABY