"In the beginning..."
Spike Audia (bass), Rome Steeler (drums), Karm Kleaver (guitar)
KRAKEN felt it was time to record their first demo tape at the cost of Spike's 1973 Gibson Les Paul Sunburst and VT amp, and Karm’s burgundy Gibson SG. They recorded the tracks Kraken, Kill The King, and Executioner. They sent the demo around to the record suites, but no bites. In 1981, with the help of Anvil and Chris Tsangarides, KRAKEN snuck into Phase One recording studio and recorded the two tracks that were to be used for KRAKEN's Profile Package. The band almost sealed a deal with Warner, but a week later, Warner decided to go in a different direction and signed a rock band with a pop edge.
Frustrated and disillusioned with the suites, KRAKEN decided to record their first LP in early 1982 with a $5000 government grant and another $5000 of recording time from Phase One. KRAKEN had another ally to make this LP a reality―Lips of Anvil, himself, who could see their vision and wanted to help with the dream. It was a big boost for the boys. Lips had experience and helped capture KRAKEN’s best performance on tape. It took three weeks to record a rough mix, but then the band ran out of time and money. So the studio held on to the masters and, many years later, they were destroyed. Fortunately, the band kept an original tape in a safe place and later mixed it onto CD.
From 1984 to 1986, KRAKEN kept rocking in Ontario and Quebec, playing bigger and better venues, and writing and recording more songs. Fans were screaming for their material on vinyl, but KRAKEN could not secure a record deal. They eventually decided to go their separate ways… for a while.
In 1992, there were rumors that a fan in Europe had made a bootleg vinyl album of the KRAKEN demo. It started to appear at metal festivals and on websites. Band members were even hearing about it from hardcore metal fans worldwide via letters and emails. The boys couldn't believe that the demo tape had created such a buzz and it sparked a discussion of a comeback.
One day in 2006, Karm called Spike to talk about the old days and how cool it would be to bring back KRAKEN. Unfortunately, Rome had other commitments and couldn’t join in. Karm and Spike were excited and called an old drummer friend, Remy Cincinnato, and a friend who Karm had worked with on various projects, Scott X, for vocals. The new KRAKEN lineup was now complete and ready to record new tracks. Since then, KRAKEN has been actively writing, practising, and recording. It’s been 30 years since their un-released debut album, but now the KRAKEN has arisen and will be active for years to come.
Fly, Dragon, fly!
Karm Kleaver discovered an electric guitar tossed in the garbage on his way to school. Excited, he grabbed it and went straight to his friend Rome Steeler's house. Karm wired the guitar into the family record player to use it as an amplifier. Rome had borrowed a set of drums from a friend, so they started to jam. Hours later, they realized they had skipped a whole day of school. They practised every night at Rome's house after school, rocking and playing copy tunes… and then they started writing songs. As their creativity began to flourish, they found themselves looking for other local musicians to help fulfill their hunger to create music.
On the other side of town, from the age of 13, Spike Audia was gigging live shows, weddings, weekend dances, outdoor festivals, even organizing and promoting his live band shows on weekends. He played with local musicians in various bands and played many different styles—Disco, Jazz, Classical, and Rock. After studying Classical Bass at the University of Miami music program via correspondence and then attending the Humber College music program for a year, Spike felt it was time to move forward and look for a solid band. He went on the road with TRUTH, a local show band, for a year and half to gain live experience before his calling with Karm and Rome.
KRAKEN formed in the spring of 1980 in Toronto, with Karm Kleaver, Rome Steeler, and Spike Audia. The band was practising every night and becoming tighter, but they were getting nowhere in their search for a good vocalist. Unknowingly to Karm and Rome, Spike could sing but he hesitated to mention it. With all the things a singer has to deal with, Spike wasn't interested. Eventually frustrated at not being able to find a singer, Spike decided to sing a handful of copy tunes to try it out. And the rest is history.
Throughout the early 80s, KRAKEN was just one of a handful of original metal bands trying to make a name for themselves by touring all over Ontario and Quebec, headlining at bars, theaters, arenas, and festivals, and opening for bands like MOUNTAIN, ANVIL, TEENAGE HEAD, GODDO, and CONEY HATCH. The hours were long for the boys, doing 4 sets a night, 7 days a week, practising and writing songs between shows. That's all KRAKEN did—practise and play shows every day for 6 years straight, honing their talents. It made KRAKEN a must-see act. They had power and conviction. Live or on disc, KRAKEN was becoming a household name in the metal underground scene. The band had fans and fancies everywhere wanting interviews and merchandise or just letting KRAKEN know that they rocked their world.
Mark II: Spike Audia (bass), Scott X (vocals), Remy Cincinnato (drums), Karm Kleaver (guitar)