Acid Reign

Acid Reign

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1985 in Harrogate, Yorkshire, England
Founder	Howard "H" Smith, Mark Ramsey Wharton, Ian Gangwer, Gary "Gaz" Jennings
Defunct	1991 (initially)
Fate	Reformed in 2015
Headquarters	Harrogate , England
Area served	United Kingdom, Europe
Key people	Howard "H" Smith (lead vocals)
Products	Studio albums: The Fear (1989), Obnoxious (1990), The Age of Entitlement (2019)
Number of employees	3 (current members as of 2022–present)

Acid Reign is a thrash metal group hailing from Harrogate, Yorkshire, England. Initially active between 1985 and 1991, the band reemerged in 2015 with Howard "H" Smith as the only founding member remaining. Alongside fellow British thrash acts Onslaught, Sabbat, and Xentrix, Acid Reign is regarded as part of the "big four" within the UK thrash metal scene. Their catalog features three studio albums: The Fear (1989), Obnoxious (1990), and The Age of Entitlement (2019).

Early years (1985–1991)

The band was established by drummer and keyboardist Mark Ramsey Wharton, bassist Ian Gangwer (originally known as Peter Warriner), vocalist Howard "H" Smith, and guitarist Gary "Gaz" Jennings, who later became a member of Cathedral.

In 1987, Acid Reign released their demo titled Moshkinstein, which secured them a deal with Under One Flag, a subsidiary of Music for Nations specializing in British thrash metal, the following year. That same year saw the release of the Moshkinstein EP. Subsequently, Jennings departed and was succeeded by Adam Lehan, another future Cathedral guitarist. The band toured extensively, supporting groups such as Flotsam and Jetsam and Death Angel, while fostering connections with label peers including Nuclear Assault and Exodus. They took part in tours for Nuclear Assault’s Survive and Exodus’s Fabulous Disaster across both the UK and Europe.

Their first full-length album, The Fear, arrived in 1989. To promote it, Acid Reign embarked on another European tour alongside Nuclear Assault, with support from Dark Angel and Candlemass. During this period, Ian "Mac" MacDonald replaced Gangwer on bass. The band’s sophomore effort, Obnoxious (1990), was met with largely negative critical reception.

Hiatus period (1991–2014)

After parting ways with Music for Nations, Acid Reign dissolved in 1991, concluding their initial run with a final performance at London's Marquee Club.

In January 2014, frontman Howard "H" Smith launched "Talking Bollocks," a unique podcast blending comedy with heavy metal content, hosted on the British metal platform All About the Rock. Later that year, on November 30th, Smith announced intentions to assemble a new lineup. He described this initiative as a reboot rather than a reunion, expressing positive sentiments toward the band's legacy. While original members were unable to participate fully, discussions about fresh directions were underway, with further announcements to be made in due course.

Reboot (2015–present)

Acid Reign announced their official return on 5 May 2015 via Facebook, with Howard "H" Smith being the only founding member involved. He emphasized that the revamped lineup embraced the band's heritage and was enthusiastic about reviving Acid Reign's signature sound. Two months following this announcement, they released "Plan of the Damned," marking their first new track in a quarter of a century, available on streaming services.

On 27 September 2019, the band unveiled The Age of Entitlement, their first complete studio album in 29 years. Produced and engineered by Jayce Lewis at Northstone Studios and distributed by Dissonance Productions, the record garnered praise from critics and fans around the globe.

In May 2021, Acid Reign shared the sad news of original bassist Ian Gangwer’s passing. Subsequently, on 25 March 2022, guitarist Paul Chanter left the group. Later, in December 2024, drummer Marc Jackson and guitarist Dean "Cooky" Cook also exited the band.

At present, Acid Reign is working on new compositions intended for their forthcoming fourth studio album.

Current members

• Howard "H" Smith – lead vocals (1985–1991, 2014–present)
• Pete Dee – bass guitar (2015–present)
• Matt Smith – guitar (2022–present)

Former members

• Mark Ramsey Wharton – drums, keyboards (1985–1991)
• Garry Jennings – guitar (1985–1988)
• Ian Gangwer – bass (1985–1989; deceased 2021)
• Kevin "Kev" Papworth – guitar (1987–1991)
• Adam Lehan – guitar (1989–1990)
• Ian "Mac" MacDonald – bass (1989–1991)
• Paul Chanter – guitar (2015–2022)
• Dean "Cooky" Cook – guitar (2015–2024)
• Marc Jackson – drums (2014–2024)

Timeline

Studio albums

• The Fear (1989) (UK Indie Chart No. 10)
• Obnoxious (1990)
• The Age of Entitlement (2019)

Other releases

• The Worst of Acid Reign (compilation, 1991)
• The Apple Core Archives (box set, 2014)

EPs

• Moshkinstein (1988)
• Humanoia (1989)

Singles

• "Hanging on the Telephone" (1989)
• "Plan of the Damned" (2015)
• "The Man Who Became Himself" (2017)
• "The New Low" (2019)
• "Blood Makes Noise" (2019)