Concert Review: King Kraken / Fury (Studio Se7en, Witney - Saturday 16th March 2026)

Written: 17th March 2026

Now and then, as a fan of live music, you discover a venue previously unknown to you and it turns out to be something special. This was most certainly the case with the excellent Studio Se7en when they hosted King Kraken and Fury last night. Tucked away on an unassuming industrial estate in Witney near Oxford, Studio Se7en is a hidden gem that offers an intimate atmosphere, great sound, a high stage that offers great sight lines and a real sense of passion for live music.

Fury

Somewhat embarrassingly, considering how long they have been making music, I must admit to knowing very little about Fury prior to last night apart from having a couple of listens to their latest (and fifth) album Interceptor ahead of this gig. They begin the show with the title track from Interceptor, a blisteringly paced slice of melodic hard rock. From the first moment, they play with intensity and adrenaline-fuelled determination.

Merging power with melody, Fury are a tightly honed unit and have a range of stomping, anthemic tracks to back up their undoubted musical prowess. Frontman and guitarist Julian Jenkins is a compelling stage presence and his powerful voice forms a dynamic partnership with extremely talented fellow vocalist Nyah Ifill, who delivers every note with an impassioned fervour. Prince of Darkness, It’s Rock ‘n’ Roll and Hell of a Night keep the pace high with many of the crowd clearly knowing every word, encouraged by Jenkins to sing along. It is a good natured gig and everyone present is there to enjoy the music. Even during quieter moments, no talking can be heard and I always value this kind of respect at concerts.

In Pursuit of Destiny takes the tempo and the volume down a little with a soaring and heartfelt emotion to both the music and the lyrics. We're on the edge of destiny / Reaching out to infinity / Can't you hear it call to me / These wings set me free. Albeit equally as captivating, the music of Interceptor is a little more nuanced than the band’s older material and Star Trippin’ from 2016’s Lost In Space – which has an Iron Maiden style gallop - highlights the band’s roots in slightly heavier territories.

Guitarist Matt Fletcher is now firmly established in the line-up and his melodic trade-offs with Jenkins provide some of the show’s best moments. Bassist Becky Baldwin, who is currently part of Mercyful Fate, is a powerhouse player and during tracks such as Burnout, she looks every bit like one of the leading players of her generation, combining technical control with real presence. Walk Away provides another opportunity for Fury to demonstrate the confidence they have in forging their own direction, opening with a country-tinged introduction. The dual vocals from JJ and Nyah Ifill highlight the strengths of both performers and the impact Ifill has made since joining the band.

Julian Jenkins has an easy relationship with the audience and his inter-song banter is good humoured, although many are not so keen – all in good part – to join in with his chant of I’m going to buy JJ ten beers. This onstage confidence comes from many years of touring and it is obvious just how much the band appreciate those that have attended and continue to support live music.

With Dragon’s Song, a breakneck version of If You Get To Hell First and a fun and lively heavy metal version of What shall we do with the Drunken Sailor?, Fury round off the set with a rousing trio of songs. A highly entertaining and blistering performance, driven by thunderous rhythms and unrelenting energy. As my first Fury gig, I can safely say it will not be my last. Having purchased Interceptor (and also a jigsaw of the Born To Sin cover), I am indeed a convert.

Fury setlist: Interceptor / Prince of Darkness / It’s Rock ‘n’ Roll / Hell of a Night / In Pursuit of Destiny / Star Trippin’ / Embrace The Demons / Walk Away / Burnout / Road Warrior / Dragon’s Song / If You Get To Hell First / Drunken Sailor

King Kraken

King Kraken are a band with which I am far more familiar, having followed them since shortly after the release of their debut album. Having reviewed their second album March of the Gods, interviewed singer Mark Donoghue and drummer Richard Lee Mears and seen the band perform previously, including their wonderful opening set at Stonedead Festival last year, I am all set for another evening of roaring, earth-shaking songs. For those who have yet to hear them, they sit somewhere between Clutch, Sabbath and Mastodon with a touch of Blackstone Cherry.

Beginning the show with their new single Call To War (full review here), King Kraken announce themselves with furious, titanic riffs and the colossal voice of Mark Donoghue. Set within the story of The War of the Worlds, it is a fiery and gritty song that sees the audience raising their hands from the outset. The muscular Berserker and rampaging El Giganto immediately follow with the quartet intent on playing as many songs as possible in their allotted time. The excellent set-up of Studio Se7en means the there is a slightly lower smaller stage in front of the main stage and each time Mark Donoghue ventures down, his presence becomes even greater, as he is within a foot or two of those at the front.

Photo credit: Karen White

Scream, the as yet unreleased I Am The Apocalypse and Magnum Opus all further demonstrate King Kraken’s ability to produce pulse-racing and seismic tracks. With the band now operating as a four-piece, Adam Healey shows just how gifted he is, handling both lead and rhythm duties with impressive dexterity, threading in solos with blistering pace and precision. Bassist Karl Meyer is equally formidable, a wonderfully fluid and expressive player who does far more than simply underpin the sound, frequently weaving in intricate runs and nuances that add depth and character to the overall texture.

A love of films – particularly westerns and horror – comes through in much of King Kraken’s music and with Haddonfield ’78, Man Made Monster and The Ballad of Buffalo Bill, it is horror that is front and centre with Donoghue sardonically describing Buffalo Bill as ‘misunderstood’ during his introduction to the track. Shadows Fall – another new song – receives a wonderful reception and by the time the band are playing Hangman, many of the crowd are fully involved with heads banging and fists pumping the air.

The only truly noticeable drop in pace is for Hero, one of the band’s finest songs which begins with a truly gorgeous guitar introduction. A tribute by Mark Donoghue to the untimely passing of his father, it is noticeable how much it moves him each time it is performed. “It captures a snapshot in time that repeats itself every time a memory of my father is triggered. I knew I wanted to write something deeply emotional while at the same time not going overboard. I wanted to convey a message that was both raw and easy to understand. It certainly was a tough one to sing and still catches me off guard sometimes."

The evening ends with Chainsaw Saviour (another horror film reference – this time The Evil Dead) and a monstrous rendition of March of the Gods, during which drummer Richard Lee Mears is so utterly thunderous he threatens to break every skin on his kit. I still get chills every time Mark growls They are watching over you near the song’s conclusion. To mark the end of this co-headlining tour, the band are joined on stage by members of Fury for a celebratory singalong. With another two songs set for release later this year and album number three potentially scheduled for the middle of next year, there is much more to come from the mighty King Kraken.

Both bands delivered outstanding performances, watched each other play and their willingness to mingle with the crowd before and after the gig, shows how much they value their audience. If there is any justice, the next tour will see them playing bigger venues, as both deserve far wider recognition.

King Kraken setlist: Call To War / Berserker / El Giganto / Scream / I Am The Apocalypse / Magnum Opus / Haddonfield ’78 / The Ballad of Buffalo Bill / Green Terror / Man Made Monster / Shadows Fall / Hangman / Hero / Chainsaw Saviour / March of the Gods