REVIEW: King Kraken - March of The Gods

King Kraken have dropped their latest album March of The Gods, and if you're a fan of heavy rock looking for a newer band then this is the album for you. The five piece from South Wales have been steadily gaining fans since their first release in 2019. They've had supporting slots with bands such as Monster Truck, South of Salem, Fury, and legends Geoff Tate and Crowbar.

'Scream' kicks off the album strong with addictive melodies and an immersive bassline. Lead vocalist Mark Donoghue wastes no time in flaunting his voice with a catchy chorus, even throwing in some screams. The track is a great example of King Kraken's heavy rock soul, giving every element one would expect from the genre. ‘El Giganto’ is very playful with its lyrics, nostalgic in its rhythms as the lyrics describe the power of a demon in something reminiscent of a 90’s cartoon intro. A razor guitar solo shreds through the second half, before bringing in again that earworm of a chorus that us at Out Of Rage will have stuck in our heads for weeks to come. 

The next track ‘Berzerka’ begins more stripped back, with booming drums building up to be joined by the screeches of guitars, the bassline keeping low and groovy throughout. Its flow is seductive, accompanied by soulful vocals that grovel and growl about the themes of being left alone, contradictory yet working perfectly together. Next up is the title track, switching between different beats every few bars really keeping the listeners attention. Drummer Richard Lee Mears works hard across the track switching up the beats, using half time beats and fills to create unique sections that would certainly sound entirely different if featuring the same drum beat throughout, a very clever way to bring a lot of variation to the track. 

‘Hero’ is next on the roster, instantly standing out by opening with an instrumental reminiscent of something the Red Hot Chilli Peppers might release, but again Mark comes in with his incredibly soulful voice bringing it to a completely different genre. The song is particularly poignant as he sings about his father in what is definitely a stand out song for us, being both captivating and incredibly emotional. Switching it up again, ‘Vigilante’ brings back the tantalizingly groovy bass and roaring guitars, making any listener bust a move. This track is another seamless example of a true heavy rock track, full of rebellious lyrics and even slowing the tempo at the end to perfect headbanging speed. 

‘Preacher’ starts with an interesting beat, which takes a moment for the ears to adjust to. It's certainly addictive, incorporating that grooviness we've heard in previous sections of the album, but also slightly more playful like ‘El Giganto’ - these guys are not even slightly afraid to mix things up. The eighth song, the so-called 'Magnum Opus', starts low and booming, drums building up to a quintessential heavy rock riff and beat. Mark opts for a lower register vocal performance, matching up with the low guitar and bass as well as the extensive use of the bass drum.

Next up ‘Chainsaw Saviour’ brings visions of sweaty rooms full of battle jackets and long hair, all head banging in synchronization. Musically, it is quite similar to the last apart from a supersonic guitar solo in the second half, showcasing the fast fingers of the guitarists Adam Healey and Pete Rose. The track chosen to close the album is ‘Under The Sun’ which introduces new sounds of reverberating twangy guitars, unseen in the rest of the album. It helps to create that imagery of being in the overwhelming heat of the scorching sun, just as the name and lyrics speak of. The band throws out one last addictive chorus, before closing the entire album with a mass instrumental of all guitars, bass and drums coming together. 

To sum up the album - this is all a heavy rock fan could want. It brings playfulness, vulnerability and rebellion in its lyrics with instrumentals to match all those cohesively. King Kraken are already booked for a tour with new music in the works so if you enjoy this album, keep your eyes peeled for more - we know we are!

Score: 9/10

March of The Gods was released on April 18th 2025.

Words: Amy Smyth

Photos: King Kraken