BIOGRAPHY
Two years since the release of debut album ‘MCLXXX’, it’s time for the
Kraken to rise once again. Not that the band, comprising vocalist Mark
Donoghue, drummer Richard Lee Mears, bassist Karl Meyer, rhythm guitarist Pete Rose and lead guitarist Adam Healey have been resting on their laurels for one minute. Oh no.
2023 saw the band gig hard across the UK, with a series of well attended club shows as well as invitations to play high profile festivals such as Call of the Wild, SOS Festival, Wildfire and Station 18. From Exeter to Edinburgh, Leicester to Carlisle, King Kraken has delivered their high octane show to the ever-increasing army of fans.
Over the past two years the band has also supported a range of high-profile artists including Monster Truck, South of Salem, Fury, and legends Geoff Tate and Crowbar. In May 2024 the band pulled in the biggest crowd of the Station 18 Festival, where a stunning headline set saw the band win more new admirers. And in the summer, King Kraken were invited to play at the prestigious Bloodstock Open Air Festival in Derbyshire. Going head-to-head with the mighty Clutch, the band deliver a phenomenal 30-minute set to a huge crowd. Two weeks later they were personally invited to the Stonedead Festival for a special meet and greet session.
Mere days after Bloodstock, the band were back in the studio, demonstrating their ferocious work ethic and never say die attitude. With returning producer Romesh Dodangoda keeping them in shape, their second album March of the Gods is planned for release in early 2025. With new songs already going down a storm, a new album and tour booked, 2025 is looking to be the best year yet. In fact, it might just be the Year of the Kraken.
'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
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