U.K. thrash metal veterans Acid Reign will release their new album, Daze Of The Week, on May 15 via Back On Black. The record marks the band’s first studio effort since 2019’s The Age Of Entitlement, and comes with a newly assembled lineup built around vocalist and sole remaining original member Howard “H” Smith. The music video for the second single, “Sorrowsworn,” is out now.
Smith said: “In all my 41 years in this band — yes, 41! — I have never been more excited by the prospect of anything than releasing Daze Of The Week on the unsuspecting thrash metal public. It’s been two years in the making and at times I thought it might never even see the light of day. Every note of every performance in every song has been lovingly captured by our sixth member, producer Jayce Lewis, and we couldn’t be happier with the results.” He added: “This one is for every single thrasher around the world who thought that albums like this couldn’t be made anymore. They can, we have, you’re welcome.”
On navigating significant lineup changes in the years since The Age Of Entitlement, Smith said: “There were times, specifically when Marc [Jackson] and Cooky left at the same time, I really did wonder if it was time to call it quits. That was quickly followed by, ‘No way. No way am I letting circumstance dictate when this band’s career ends. We will decide.’ Being in a legacy band is a privilege. If a 15-year-old me was told we’d still be putting albums out all these years later it would have blown his tiny mind!”
Daze Of The Week introduces what Smith calls Acid Reign 3.0: lead guitarist Matt Smith, rhythm guitarist Darren McGillivray (whose own band Wrath Of Man had supported Acid Reign before he joined), and drummer Johnny Grimley, a touring veteran previously with Shrapnel who had briefly stepped away from drumming for health reasons. Pete Dee remains on bass alongside H. Producer Jayce Lewis flew in from New York and described the band as sounding “reborn.”
On his new bandmates, Smith was effusive: “Matt has been here for four years already. I can honestly say he is the best guitarist I have ever worked with. No offense intended to any I’ve played with in the past, but he is in a different league, as well as being a beautiful human being.”
Formed in 1985 in Harrogate, Yorkshire, Acid Reign are considered part of the “Big Four” of British thrash alongside Onslaught, Sabbat, and Xentrix. The original band released two full-length albums — The Fear (1989) and Obnoxious (1990) — following their 1988 mini-album debut Moshkinstein, and split in 1991 after a final show at the London Marquee. They returned from a 24-year absence and headlined the Sophie Stage at Bloodstock 2016 in a record-breaking appearance before releasing The Age Of Entitlement in 2019.
