U.K.
thrash metal veterans ACID REIGN have announced a new album, "Daze Of The Week", set to release on May 15 via Back On Black.
This marks the band's first release since their 2019 album "The Age Of Entitlement".
The official music video for the second single from the album, a song called "Sorrowsworn", can be seen below.
ACID REIGN vocalist and sole remaining original member Howard "H" Smith commented: "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." 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." Formed in 1985, ACID REIGN is one of the "Big Four" of U.K.
thrash metal, along with ONSLAUGHT, SABBAT and XENTRIX.
In 1991, ACID REIGN left an ailing U.K.
thrash scene with a final show at the London Marquee.
They toured with the likes of NUCLEAR ASSAULT, DARK ANGEL, EXODUS, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, DEATH ANGEL and CANDLEMASS.
During this time, they put out two full-length albums, namely "The Fear" and "Obnoxious", following on from their mini album debut in 1988, "Moshkinstein".
A final compilation, "The Worst Of Acid Reign", was released and their brief but highly productive career came to an end.
Since returning from a 24-year absence, the band has been busy.
On the back of two new songs, "Plan Of The Damned" (2015) and "The Man Who Became Himself" (2017), they hit the road both at home and throughout Europe for numerous tours and festival appearances, including the now-legendary record-breaking headline slot of the Sophie Stage at Bloodstock 2016.
During this time, they have earned themselves a fearsome live reputation famous for its high energy, mass stage diving and violent pits.
There has been a lot of change in the ACID REIGN camp since the release of "The Age Of Entitlement".
Paul Chanter (guitar), Marc Jackson (drums) and Cooky (guitar) are all gone, and now we have ACID REIGN 3.0, the re-reboot.
In their stead are lead guitarist Matt Smith, Johnny Grimley, former touring partner and ex-SHRAPNEL drummer, and last but by no means least on rhythm guitar Darren McGillivray, a huge ACID REIGN fan who had supported the band many times with his own group WRATH OF MAN.
Along with H on vocals and bass player Pete Dee, this is the lineup that brings us "Daze Of The Week", ACID REIGN's fourth full-length album.
Once again longtime producer/collaborator Jayce Lewis was engaged, flying in from New York to make sure the band got what they were after and, in his own words, "a chance to work with a band that sounded reborn".
And reborn they are, as H confirms: "There were times, specifically when Marc 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," he continued.
"If a 15-year-old me was told we'd still be putting albums out all these later it would have blown his tiny mind! Matt and Pete were desperate to get a new album written as was I and so we got down to it." The tracklisting for "Daze Of The Week" is: 01.
The Who Of You 02.
Daze Of The Weak 03.
No Truth 04.
Conniption King 05.
Alonely 06.
Blind Lies 07.
Sorrowsworn 08.
Old Young Man 09.
Fantastic Passion 10.
Centre Of Everything