Written by: Steve Lucas
Band:
Album Title:
Release Date:
King Kraken
March of the Gods
18th April 2025
The 18th of April 2025 sees the release of March of the Gods. This is the second studio album from Welsh hard rockers King Kraken. My advice is strap in tight – it’s a hell of a ride. It’s full of heavy riffs, face-melting guitar solos and a rhythm section with relentless energy that keeps you on your toes. The vocals pack a real punch, and the songs are inspired by a mixture of real-life stories and fantastic tales. It really does have something for every rock fan.
Scream gets us underway. No count in from the drums or buildup of volume or subtle introduction of a riff. It just launches and I find myself thinking I’ve missed a bit, but there’s no time for that. We’re off. A thunderous riff is followed by a roar of vocals, and I get a tingling sense of anticipation that something monstrous has been released. This track encapsulates all the elements mentioned in the intro. The pace and pattern of the opening set the tone, but the engine room has a knack of being able to change the feel of a track with simple changes. The chorus is the first example of that – it’s the same tempo but has a processional power to it. Then there is a bridge with a melodic bass line, which feels like a chance to brace yourself for the assault of the final chorus. With a liberal sprinkling of imaginative guitar licks and solos throughout the track, my appetite is well and truly whetted for what is still to come. The track is a story about a guy the band know and his struggles with mental health issues. It sets the scene of how desperate things can be for someone suffering and feeling lost and alone. But it’s actually a positive message that with some fighting spirit and the right people around you, you can beat it and come out stronger. A great opener.
Then we head to the fantasy world and there is no time to rest. El Giganto is coming to get you. This monster is enormous and ruthless and full of different ways to kill you. You really should be scared. Even without seeing the artwork, you can paint a picture of the colossal beast wreaking havoc. Don’t fret if this track doesn’t give you nightmares – there are a few more contenders on the album! This track features my favourite lyric from the album – “He is feeding on the screaming’. It also features more of the band’s ability to change the feel of a track with rhythmic changes.
Next up is Bezerker, a slower tempo track with a quieter opening. But don’t be fooled, this is no drop in momentum. After just a few bars, a riff loaded with pinched harmonics (all guitarists know there is no such thing as too many pinched harmonics) brings the power back, and I’d be surprised if your head isn’t nodding in time with the beat before the verse starts. The inspiration for the song is the pounding drum of a Viking longship that provides the rhythm for the oarsmen. It’s another track that doesn’t require any imagery – you have it in your mind’s eye long before you reach the end of the song.
Now we have the title track – March of the Gods. This is a full-on assault on the senses. It could be a film score from an epic movie. That’s what I took from it anyway. There are more of those rhythm changes, but in this track, they are not subtle. They are more deliberate and give the track a sense of drama. I guess you can make your own mind up if the Gods in the track title are a force for good or a force for evil. But whichever side you come down on, you’ll be in no doubt about their power.
Hero is the most personal song on the album and, for me anyway, it’s a power ballad. The subject matter is clear from the lyrics. It’s a song about the mark a father makes on their son and dealing with the son’s grief of losing their role model. It resonated with me personally as I’m sure it will with a great many who have lost a parent. Musically, it’s a real change of style that is executed perfectly. Despite being so different from the preceding tracks, it isn’t out of place. It fits beautifully in the middle of the album and shows off the band’s ability to transition to a different style.
If there’s any justice, it will become the ear worm of many new fans and give them the opportunity to share their talents with big audiences far and wide.
Vigilante is a song about a superhero with a dark side. It’s a popular culture theme that is a particular favourite of vocalist Mark Donoghue. There have been many movies featuring these flawed but (mostly) well-meaning characters in recent years. I’ll leave it to you to choose which one it is for you. Musically, it picks up the tempo and power of the album and gets the heart rate up again to get your blood pumping. There is a distinct grunge feel to the midsection that again shows the band’s ability to use different styles of music.
Preacher begins as another slower but powerful track. But keep your wits about you, there’s an awful lot going on in this track. The title and lyrics tell the tale of a man of God prepared to do un-godly things for the greater good. Once again, we find the middle of the track filled with something different. It switches from the slow and deliberate beat of the opening of the track to a fast-paced guitar duel and then reverts to finish. It’s another clever and thoughtful bit of songcraft.
This next track might be the one I’m most looking forward to seeing live. This is going to have venues bouncing. Magnum Opus is a driving track. The intro is the engine revving on the start line of some dystopian race. The verse is the scream of the tyres spinning and in a cloud of smoke we’re catapulted into mayhem. A real petrol-head’s song. It doesn’t let up at all – it’s the very definition of pedal to the metal.
Chainsaw Saviour is as close as you can get to a horror movie in a song. You can see all of those horror movie posters from your youth, and you should allow yourself some nostalgic indulgence. If we saw the ‘one armed chainsaw wielding maniac’, we’d all freak out right? But we know he’s not real and the nightmare wouldn’t last long. But our brains need some nervous energy from time to time. It keeps us alive.
Under the Sun isn’t just the end of the album, it’s the apocalypse put to music. There’s a relentless nature to this track. It pounds away and lyrics like ‘The world is collapsing, your soul’s come undone’ paint the picture perfectly. Never fear though folks, the soundtrack to the apocalypse is a great track. We’ll all go off to our fiery end with a great guitar riff ringing in our ears. Is there a better way to go? I think not.
I was fortunate enough to have the chance to interview King Kraken about this album a couple of weeks ago. I’d already written the album review, and I have changed a few bits since speaking to them, but not much. The interview gave me some insight into the story behind the band and each track. But that’s their story. What’s written above is what I took from the album. It’s great. It ticks a lot of my boxes. It’s heavy, full of great riffs and soaring vocals. And it’s clear that this is the work of some very talented individuals who have found the right, like minded individuals to create music with. It really is a fantastic album. If there’s any justice, it will become the ear worm of many new fans and give them the opportunity to share their talents with big audiences far and wide.
Long live the Kraken!
You can pre-order March of the Gods here or pre-save on Spotify here
If you want to read more about the band and this album in their own words, click on the link below to go to the write up of the interview I did with them a few weeks ago: https://emergingrockbands.co.uk/interview-king-kraken
King Kraken are:
Mark Donoghue – Vocals
Adam Healey – Guitar
Pete Rose – Guitar
Richard Lee Mears – Drums
Karl Meyer – Bass
Track Listing
1. Scream
2. El Giganto
3. Bezerker
4. March of the Gods
5. Hero
6. Vigilante
7. Preacher
8. Magnum Opus
9. Chainsaw Saviour
10. Under the Sun