Paul Hutchings / From King Kraken To Stonedead: A 2025 Metal Year Full Of Highs

I had a look at my 2024 review before thinking about 2025. I thought 2024 was busy, but this year has really pushed me to the limits. Plenty of great live shows and some fine releases helped temper a few life challenges.

A double house move, some serious injuries to members of the family and a threat of a stabbing whilst watching Helloween at Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith in October proved the inevitable counterbalance to the highs that our music brings.

King Kraken: The Band of the Year

But enough negativity, 2025 was all about one band for me. KING KRAKEN.

I have attended close to 100 shows and festivals in 2025. Weekly club shows at The Patriot, beautifully intimate performances by EF, Overhead the albatross, FORT and Civil Service at Rough Trade in Bristol and Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff, as well as larger festivals, although I admit I did not miss Bloodstock one bit.

But standing in the crowd at 11 am on 23rd August, watching close to 5,000 people fill the arena at Stonedead as my good friends in King Kraken prepared to open the event, will stay with me forever.

The boys put everything into it, with more pyro than any band I have ever seen at the festival before, and over the course of 40 minutes, they made me beam with joy. To see friends’ hard work come to fruition is priceless, and standing on the stage overlooking a sea of people with their horns up as I took the band photo at the end of the show was incredible.

I have followed the band around the UK in 2025, from London to Glasgow, Bridgewater to Swansea, and finally, Bloodstock Winter Gathering and back to the Patriot. It has been a brilliant journey, and it looks like 2026 has much more to come.

Nearly 100 Shows: The Live Music Marathon

MetalTalk has once again provided me with many opportunities to attend gigs and shows, taking photos and writing reviews. I am eternally grateful to the team, with Editor Steve a constant source of support and friendship, and Ian Sutherland organising the accreditation with a calm assurance.

Stonedead is always fun to shoot. My weekend at Steelhouse Festival was as great as always, with some fantastic bands and superb company.

Opeth were amazing in February, a tour on which I saw three shows, whilst in recent times, Testament, Lacuna Coil and Clutch all brought their A game.

There was one more show that I need to flag, and that was the final run of shows by Orange Goblin. Their performance at Electric Bristol was immense. How we will miss these guys.

Honouring the Fallen: A Year of Loss

Talking of missing people, 2025 saw us experience loss in a personal way at MetalTalk. I only met Steve Göldby once, at Stonedead in 2024, and had a few text exchanges with him, but his passing has left its mark on the whole team.

The passing of Ozzy made the headlines, and for me, it was the response of people who may have had little or no interest in his music that made it so emotional. Even in Abertillery, where Kennys Vinyl Vault has commissioned a stunning piece of wall art to remember the double O, people are generally in agreement.

The tragic passing of Brian Fitzpatrick, a key member of Damnation Festival as well as producer of the fantastic Two Promoters One Pod podcast, hit hard.

There was not a dry eye in the BEC arena when his photo was projected onto the main stage screen during Paul Lynch by Overhead, The Albatross at Damnation or when the same band made a dedication to him at Arctangent. Two festivals that we at MetalTalk should really be more focused on in 2026. 

2025 Album Highlights

I have slowed down on album reviews in 2025, but that does not mean there have not been some stellar releases. My favourites include March Of The Gods by King Kraken, We Lost The Sea’s A Single Flower, Dissonance Theory by Coroner, Ascension by Paradise Lost, Midnight At The Valencia by Cardinal Black and World Maker by Psychonaut.

At the start of the year, Sleepless Empire by Lacuna Coil was on heavy rotation, and that has not changed, whilst smaller local bands Greyfox Conspiracy, Puzzletree and Rites To Ruin all released excellent records.

Looking Ahead to 2026

Looking ahead to 2026 is a bit daunting. Plenty of new music, including Welsh Heroes Florence Black, whose third album could propel them higher. I have festivals galore, including trips with Mrs H to Dunk Fest in Belgium and back up the mountain to Steelhouse, as well as a return to Arctangent and Damnation.

My work with The Patriot looks exciting, and Cross Borders Music Group have many shows in the pipeline, including a stacked line-up at Chepstow Castle in August where Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons will headline alongside Chris Holmes, Kraken and Tygers of Pan Tang.

I am already looking forward to seeing Blackbraid and their brand of Black Metal in Bristol’s Fleece, Mogwai in Brighton, as well as Deftones in Cardiff and trips abroad to see Cardinal Black and Kreator (separate bills!!). Variety, as ever, is the spice of my life, and 2026 promises much.

Thanks to the MetalTalk Family

Closing thanks to the team at MetalTalk. It is a great place to be, even if my contact with the team is virtual and remote. We continue to get great feedback, which is a testimony to the hard work behind the scenes.

Just read Steve’s recent trials about the website, and you will see what I mean. Have a great Christmas and a rocking 2026.

The post Paul Hutchings / From King Kraken To Stonedead: A 2025 Metal Year Full Of Highs first appeared on MetalTalk - Heavy Metal News, Reviews and Interviews.