Album Review: King Kraken – MCLXXX (Self Released)

Heavy, groove orientated hard-rockers, King Kraken will release their debut album, ‘MCLXXX’ on January 27th, 2023. A collection of songs featuring inspiration from a famous list of horror and sci-fi movies that had an early impact on the band’s vocalist and main wordsmith, Mark Donoghue.

Hard rock heaviness and groove, combined with a love of sci-fi and horror; MCLXXX seems like an album tailor made for us. Elements that we don’t just enjoy, we live for. So, it’s so very heartening to find King Kraken deliver on the promise of punchy hits of addictive noise.

Delivering a strong set of riffs, an infectious beat, and commanding vocals, the energetic groove of Devils Night gets the album started in style. King Kraken aim to get you moving on this album, and this opener will certainly succeed.

Following that, it’s a wilder bout of speed and heaviness with Bastard Liar. Before Green Terror makes the body shake and spasm as it tries to keep up with the catchiness, and Veins’ showcases so much energy, it ends up being one of the anthems of the entire album.

The ‘on the nose’ Halloween tribute that is Haddonfield ’78 comes next. King Kraken hitting the instruments hard but once again, delivering a groove-tastic example of hard rock. A track liable to make you head-bang until your neck aches, all while looking over your shoulder in fear of who might be approaching.

Having fun? How could you not be?

Especially as the second half of the album keeps the groovy heaviness trucking along nicely. King Kraken providing ripping and tearing mercilessness with Man Made Monster, brash meatiness with Walls of Jericho, and monolithic chunkiness with Proctors Ledge. Nothing to far removed from what has been experienced so far, but still exciting and listenable.

King Kraken’s endless groove showcase is ever prominent as the album reaches its latter stages too. The penultimate track, Chaos Engine, proving to be an apt title as the machine that is King Kraken is a bit more out of control here. Bloody brilliant track though.

As is the finale of Castle of Bone too. One last chance to expend any last vestiges of energy and go wild with King Kraken. A reaction that the band has more than earned considering the high quality of MCLXXX.

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