2bscure NWOBHM Releases have pulled another rabbit out of the hat unearthing yet another “lost” band from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal days. This time it’s Kraken.
Formed in the late 1970s they were a bit unusual from the norm style wise. Sure, heavy stuff going on and plenty of it.
Though they had the ability to stretch out in to quirky time changes, sometimes a bit dark, a bit progressive and even some freeform jazz and a bit of reggae here and there.
What we have here is a limited edition run of 500 CDs featuring the band’s sole single and a four track demo from 1982. Just over half an hour of music – though what a half hour!
Takes a few spins to get in to properly though when the penny drops you’ll hear how different yet how good Kraken were.
Fantasy Reality a slightly doomy, dark punchy rocker as it pounds along. A tasty opener. Deadman’s Dreamland is similar bringing in some of that quirkiness.
Then we have the marvellous, expansive Winged Bulls of Ninevh. They must have gone out to the local DIY store and bought up a huge number of kitchen sinks to chuck at the song such is the range and sheer variety packed in here. It has the lot and then some. It rocks hard, big chords, riffs, solos, fast bits, slower bits, quirky bits and back again. Somewhere between late 1970s Rush, Max Webster and Black Sabbath.
Then on to the 1980 demos. Four songs here. Freak Show, Saurian God, the Destroyer and the Hydra.
Generally the four are more straight ahead “traditional” NWOBHM style affairs though each have that quirkiness and a good bit of progginess running through them.
Check out the Hydra for example. An excellent rocker with a chunky riff then the reggae-style interlude mid-song before the measured solo kicks in leading to the big finish. Have a listen:
Kraken sure enough had the ability and were that bit different (in a good way) to many of their peers, it wasn’t enough to see them make it
And whilst that is indeed a shame, the Kraken has been released thanks to Obscure NWOBHM Releases.
The CD was released just a few days ago from when I’m typing this post. As mentioned it’s a limited run of 500 copies. Bagged mine from the label. As I type they are showing copies still available as are the “usual suspects” of Sonic Age Records and No Remorse.
Act fast if you’d like a copy for yourself – highly recommended “lost” NWOBHM. Here are links to see if any are left:
Obscure NWOBHM Releases
https://onreleases.bigcartel.com
Sonic Age Records:
https://sonicagerecords.com
No Remorse
https://www.noremorse.gr