Acid Reign
Encyclopedia
Early career
Acid Reign were formed by Mark Ramsey Wharton (drums and keyboards), Ian Gangwer (bass), Howard "H" Smith (vocals), and future CathedralCathedral (band)
Cathedral are a doom metal band from Coventry, England. The group forged a link between early doom metal and a 1990s extreme metal aesthetic, making doom slower and heavier. Their debut album, Forest of Equilibrium, is considered a classic of the genre. They later on changed their doom style,...
member Gary "Gaz" Jennings (guitar). Second guitarist Kevin Papworth joined in 1987.
Rise to near fame and split (1987-1991)
In 1987, the band released the Moshkinstein demo. On the strength of this recording, they were picked up by British thrash metal label Under One Flag (a subsidiary of Music For NationsMusic For Nations
Music For Nations was a British independent record label focusing mainly on rock and metal. They were a subsidiary of the larger label distributor Zomba Records who in turn is owned by BMG....
) in 1988 who released the Moshkinstein EP
Moshkinstein (EP)
Moshkinstein is an EP by British thrash metal group Acid Reign. It was released in 1988, as the group's first release after their signing with record label Under One Flag.-Track listing:# Goddess - 3:27# Suspended Sentence - 6:43...
. Following this release, Jennings was replaced by another future Cathedral member, Adam Lehan
Adam Lehan
Adam Lehan is known for being the guitarist of the doom metal–stoner metal band Cathedral . He played guitar, acoustic guitar and 12 string acoustic guitar, and wrote many songs for the albums Forest of Equilibrium, Soul Sacrifice, Statik Majik and The Ethereal Mirror...
(formerly of Lord Crucifier), and the band gained support slots opening for such acts as Flotsam and Jetsam
Flotsam and jetsam
In maritime law, flotsam, jetsam, lagan and derelict describe specific kinds of wreck.The words have specific nautical meanings, with legal consequences in the law of admiralty and marine salvage....
and Death Angel
Death Angel
Death Angel is a Filipino-American thrash metal band from Concord, California, initially active from 1982 to 1991 and again since 2001. Death Angel has released six studio albums, two demo tapes, one box set and two live albums....
. Acid Reign struck up a friendship with label mates Nuclear Assault
Nuclear Assault
Nuclear Assault is an American thrash metal/crossover thrash band formed in 1984.-History:After the release of Anthrax's debut album Fistful of Metal, bass player Danny Lilker, a founding member of the group, was fired by the band...
and Exodus
Exodus (band)
Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1980 in Richmond, California. Spanning a career of over 30 years, Exodus has gone through numerous lineup changes, two extended hiatuses, and the deaths of two former band members. Guitarist Gary Holt remains the only constant member of the band,...
, and toured the UK and Europe as support to the " Survive Tour" and "Fabulous Disaster Tour".
The band released their debut album, The Fear
The Fear (album)
The Fear was the first full length release from British thrash metal band Acid Reign, released after an extensive UK tour opening for Nuclear Assault in 1989.-Track listing:# You Never Know - 0:25# Reflection of Truths - 5:39...
, in 1989. In support of the album, Acid Reign toured with Nuclear Assault again in 1989 across Europe with Dark Angel
Dark Angel (band)
Dark Angel was an American thrash metal band from Los Angeles, California. Their over-the-top style earned them the nickname "the L.A...
and Candlemass, with bassist Ian "Mac" MacDonald replacing Gangwer. Their second album, Obnoxious, arrived in 1990 to mixed reviews.
The band broke up in 1991 after parting ways with Music For Nations. They played their final show at the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Marquee Club
Marquee Club
The Marquee was a music club first located at 165 Oxford Street, London, England when it opened in 1958 with a range of jazz and skiffle acts.It was also the location of the first ever live performance by The Rolling Stones on 12 July 1962....
.
Lyrically, the group tackled a multitude of issues, ranging from criticism of censorship in "Creative Restraint" and the anti-nuclear testing message of "Joke Chain" to the B-movie science fiction of "Phantasm" and downright silliness, as on the CD bonus track for their album Obnoxious, "This Is Serious".
Post-split (1991-present)
After they disbanded, Kev moved on to join Lawnmower DethLawnmower Deth
Lawnmower Deth are an English thrash metal band who parodied the genre and recorded three-and-a-half albums. Initially active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, they reformed in 2008.-Main career :...
. Wharton has played with Cathedral and Cronos
Cronos (band)
Cronos were a United Kingdom-based heavy metal band formed in 1988 by Venom front man Conrad "Cronos" Lant.-History:Conrad "Cronos" Lant's eponymous band formed after disappointing sales of Venom's Calm Before the Storm album led him to quit Venom...
. Smith can be seen on the comedy circuit as "Keith Platt - Professional Yorkshireman".
Acid Reign released re-mastered re-issues of their albums/EP's on Monday 17 January 2011 on Lost & Found Records on both CD and digital download. All albums have been remastered by legendary producer Bill Metoyer at Skull Seven studios. Bill's resume includes such acts as Slayer, DRI, and Flotsam and Jetsam.
In September/October 2010, H has been working with Italian thrash metal band Satanika. Satanika have written music for a follow up to Acid Reign's "Motherly Love" and H has provided the lyrics and vocals to this song. The song is entitled "A Mother's Love" and will be on Satanika's next release.
Albums
- The FearThe Fear (album)The Fear was the first full length release from British thrash metal band Acid Reign, released after an extensive UK tour opening for Nuclear Assault in 1989.-Track listing:# You Never Know - 0:25# Reflection of Truths - 5:39...
(album, 1989) (UK IndieUK Indie ChartThe UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
#10) - Obnoxious (album, 1990)
- The Worst of Acid Reign (compilation, 1991)
Singles and EP's
- Moshkinstein (demo, 1987)
- MoshkinsteinMoshkinstein (EP)Moshkinstein is an EP by British thrash metal group Acid Reign. It was released in 1988, as the group's first release after their signing with record label Under One Flag.-Track listing:# Goddess - 3:27# Suspended Sentence - 6:43...
(EP, 1988) - Humanoia EP (EP)
- Hanging on the Telephone (single)
Band members
- Howard "H" Smith – vocals (1985–1991)
- Mark Ramsey Wharton – drums, keyboards (1985–1991)
- Kevin "Kev" Papworth – guitar (1987–1991)
- Adam LehanAdam LehanAdam Lehan is known for being the guitarist of the doom metal–stoner metal band Cathedral . He played guitar, acoustic guitar and 12 string acoustic guitar, and wrote many songs for the albums Forest of Equilibrium, Soul Sacrifice, Statik Majik and The Ethereal Mirror...
– guitar (1988–1991) - Ian "Mac" MacDonald – bass (1988–1991)
- Gary Jennings – guitar (1985–1988)
- Ian Gangwer – bass (1985–1988)