Band Line Up 2024
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, 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, Stock 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.
