Acid Reign are an English thrash metal band, originally active from 1985 to 1991. The band rebooted in 2015 with just H remaining from the original line up.
History
Early career (1985–1987)
Acid Reign were formed by drummer and keyboardist Mark Ramsey Wharton, bassist Ian Gangwer, singer Howard "H" Smith, and future Cathedral member, guitarist Gary "Gaz" Jennings.
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 in 1988 who released the Moshkinstein EP. Following this release, Jennings was replaced by another future Cathedral member, Adam Lehan, and the band gained support slots opening for such acts as Flotsam and Jetsam and Death Angel. Acid Reign struck up a friendship with label mates Nuclear Assault and Exodus, and toured the UK and Europe as support to the Survive and Fabulous Disaster tours. The band released their debut album, The Fear, in 1989. In support of the album, Acid Reign toured with Nuclear Assault again in 1989 across Europe with Dark Angel and Candlemass, with bassist Ian "Mac" MacDonald replacing Gangwer. Their second album, Obnoxious, arrived in 1990 to generally poor reviews. The band broke up in 1991 after parting ways with Music For Nations. They played their final show at the LondonMarquee Club.
Post-split (1991–2014)
In January 2014, H started the world's only comedy/Heavy Metal podcast called "Talking Bollocks" for the UK metal webzine All About The Rock. On 30 November 2014, Acid Reign frontman H told UK Heavy Metal website All About The Rock "I tried to put the old line up back together but Adam and Ramsey were unable to do it for differing reasons. That news came this time last year and it looked like that was that as Kev isn’t able to commit to anything as he’s constantly on the road, although he has an open invitation to join us when he’s not, that’s a given. Then, in the summer, I started toying with the idea of a new line up and it came together quite quickly. We’re taking it slowly, learning the old stuff and playing with new ideas too. It’s not a reformation it’s a reboot. Even if it was the old line up it would be different, it’s been 24 years! The main thing is that the goodwill toward Acid Reign has never been stronger, everywhere I go people are saying we should come back and eventually I actually fucking listened! We’ll make an “official” announcement when we’re ready and have plans but for now it is just have a merry Xmas and an Obnoxious New Year."
Reboot (2015–present)
On 29 September 2019 the band released their first full-length studio album in 29 years, The Age of Entitlement, via Dissonance Productions to worldwide critical and fan acclaim.
