A View From The Back Of The Room: King Kraken

King Kraken, Eulogy & Who Knows Didley, Liquid Lounge, Maesteg

Yep it's another one of those gigs in a small Valley's town that we so frequently drive from the capital to attend. Usually we go on the back of one or two bands we know, this one wasn't a punt though, in fact we have seen all three bands on the same bill only recently in Fuel Rock Club albeit in a different order. We were there to see King Kraken a band who haven't even been together for a year but have proved to be one of the most surprising entry into this years M2TM, constantly bringing massive riffs to their performances and slickness that has been trained by all the members being in several bands previously (Psycho Kiss and The Boom Sons, the two we've actually reviewed). Why Maesteg? well KK frontman Mark is from the town and is on a mission to bring original rock bands to it rather than the slew of covers bands that play venues such as the Liquid Lounge.

So we took a 45 minute trip up to where Bridgend meets Port Talbot, parked outside in a town that has more takeaways per square foot than anywhere else I've seen in the UK and wandered into this "social club" that was full of Sixth-Formers drinking Jagerbombs, interspersed with the members of the various bands setting up with their friends and families sitting and drinking. I will say the venue went all out for this gig as every staff member was bedecked in a bright green King Kraken t-shirt and they had even put on a (very drinkable) King Kraken IPA for the night. While we caught up with the band beforehand the terrible jukebox choices of the 18 year olds was drown out by the sound of roaring engines and petrol as the Valley Commandos made an appearance bringing  a huge number to the small venue as the drinks started to flow.

With a very cool Easy Rider-esque photoshoot done courtesy of our amazing photographer it was time for the bands and in a total reversal of the last time we had seen this line up Who Knows Didley (7) came on to the stage first, they have had a lineup change since the last time as drummer Craig has been replaced by a (very) young man who's name I didn't catch, but he has injected a new fierceness into this band despite this being his first gig (ever), he's one hell of a drummer and the 'more seasoned' members of Didley have also upped their game with the harmonies really working well as the classic rock riffs came out starting a fire that only burnt brighter as the evening progressed. Consummate in their professionalism and workrate both on and off the stage Didley are a band that seem to go from strength to strength.

Next up a band we are very familiar with modern rock three piece Eulogy (8) taking the stage for their slick, anthemic hard rock. A band that are always so tight live they have a number of go-to songs now that are full of great riffs from Mike Williams that immediately draw attention, with Neil Thomas bringing the bass grooves and some of the best vocals on the South wales circuit. Tracks such as You'll Die Alone, Cross To Bear and the brilliant Blood Red Skies, a song so good they played it twice! You really need to see Eulogy if you haven't as every time they impress, hopefully we'll see them creeping further up the bills of line up's soon.

So with the stove now cooking properly it was time for the main event, as this was the bands own show the stage set up was very different from their Fuel shows. Drummer Rich brought his huge full kit with him (and proceed to use every inch of it) so the stage was very much dominated by it leaving just bassist Karl and lead guitarist Adam flanking either side while guitarist Pete and vocalist Mark were basically on the floor. Not that this matters as the frontman of these old world riff monsters cuts an imposing shape and with an equally imposing voice, now featuring some snarling along with the more powerful soaring cleans. King Kraken (9) were probably the best I've ever seen them here, they have added new elements to the set that just really elevate them another level, I'm not going to give any spoilers as this apparently is one of their preparations for the M2TM final but it gives them a new gravitas that really got you ready for heavy hitters such as War Machine and Freak.

What was also evident is that the band themselves have tried and tested these songs to the point that there was a lot of Zakk Wylde guitar widdling from Adam while the rest of the band riffed away like their lives depended on it. Noticeably emotional Mark took the soapbox between each song to declare how they were trying to reintroduce original rock music to Maesteg and the surrounding areas and when you see what they do over in the Gwent valley with The Patriot, The Dolls House, it's hard to argue, still with an influx of talent from the West of Wales it won't be long until this happens in my opinion especially with bands like King Kraken decimating stages.

The machine rolled on giving the partisan crowd along with some randoms, one of whom called  KK the best band he's ever scene in Maesteg, a taste of the set they were going to play for the final. It's a beast folks, really but that is all in the very near future, with good heads on their collective shoulders King Kraken are looking beyond this and are ready to take over not just South Wales but further afield as soon as possible. With a great collection of songs, and more coming soon, King Kraken destroyed the Liquid Lounge in what's becoming a theme with their shows. These Cephalopod obsessed riff monsters, were raised from the briny deep once again and they crushed all in their path.