Well, particularly, your Ol' Big Daddy loves to know some new bands and hear their first musical works. That's a conviction that Metal must go on, and we can't stay on the past endlessly. Yes, we'll always need more new bands, doing fine works, to keep on. And it's very good to hear this Australian quartet, THE KRAKEN (do not confound them with the British legendary NWOBHM band KRAKEN, please), and their EP "...Rises".

They do an old fashioned Metal in the very same vein from bands like MASTODON (but not as technical as them), BARONESS, BLACK SABBATH, and DEEP PURPLE, but with a particular and very aggressive way. Yes, they have guts and personality to do such a sound, with good vocals (sometimes reminding the way James Hetfield used to do on the past. But could be a bit better, to be honest), excellent riffs, and heavy bass and drums. Of course, their musical influences got some doses of modern Thrash Metal as well, so we really can feel that these guys are on the right way.

The sound quality is a bit raw and foggy, but it's not to the point to damage their musical efforts. In reality, we feel that this rawer atmosphere is something intentional, something that they need to put their music to flow the way THE KRAKEN must be.

The arrangements are the very soul of their music, done in aggressive and abrasive way, so their music is alive, and their five songs are all fine, but the greater moments are the aggressive and harsh "Slow Decay" (rear the power of the guitars in this mid tempo song), "Hole" and its more primordial 70s feeling, but as well, "Purps", a medley done with DEEP PURPLE classics "Fireball" and "Space Truckin'".

They really have guts, so let's hope a full album is on the way!