Review: Acid Reign

Next up are UK thrash veterans Acid Reign, celebrating an incredible 40 years of delivering some of the most uncompromising metal the UK has ever produced. Remarkably, Daze of the Week is only their fifth studio album, but it proves that experience counts for everything.

This isn't a band living off nostalgia.

This is a band reminding everyone why they were one of the UK's thrash pioneers in the first place.

Opening track The Who Of You creeps into existence with eerie keyboards, unsettling guitars and steadily building drums before unleashing the riff. Fast as Slayer but carrying a groove Pantera would have been proud of, it immediately announces Acid Reign's intentions.

The song accelerates at a terrifying pace, dragging you forward while the venomous vocal delivery somehow retains enough melody to stop it descending into mindless aggression. It is ferocious, but it is also incredibly well-crafted.

The guitar work throughout is simply breathtaking. There are obvious nods towards classic 80's metal, but the songwriting, production and overall approach feel thoroughly modern.

An absolutely devastating opener.

The title track Daze Of The Week stutters awkwardly into life before exploding into another whirlwind of precision riffing. The winding guitar melody becomes almost hypnotic as the song constantly shifts beneath your feet.

Again, the vocals provide the perfect contrast to the technical musicianship. Aggressive enough to satisfy the thrash faithful, yet melodic enough to provide genuine hooks.

The recurring refrain gives the song breathing space before throwing the listener straight back into the chaos. The quiet/loud dynamic is completely inverted here and it works brilliantly.

Just when you think you've worked the song out, Acid Reign throw another curveball.

The solo deserves special mention too.

Simply mind-blowing.

Technically astonishing, emotionally charged and one of the finest guitar performances we've heard this year.

No Truth wastes absolutely no time, launching straight into another furious assault. The vocal performance introduces almost a punk attitude that makes the song feel even more urgent and immediate.

The band constantly shift between breakneck speed, towering grooves and melodic passages without ever sacrificing momentum.

The closing section is particularly intense and lands with enormous impact.

Then comes Conniption King, opening with weaving guitars and almost space-rock textures before an almost grunge-inspired drum groove drags everything into focus.

The contrast between atmosphere and aggression is handled superbly.

The dual vocal arrangement during the chorus adds another dimension entirely, while the sheer groove running underneath everything is impossible to ignore.

This is heavy music that actually swings.

And if, like us, you're a fan of relentless double-kick drumming, this track is absolute heaven.

Alonely delivers what may well be the riff of the entire album.

Think Metallica before they lost their edge and Anthrax at their absolute peak.

The guitar, bass and drums are all exceptional here, but the drumming deserves extraordinary praise. Every fill serves the song perfectly, adding swagger rather than simply speed.

Young drummers should study this performance.

The middle section introduces another enormous groove alongside an inventive solo that constantly surprises without ever becoming self-indulgent.

Acid Reign may get labelled as thrash, but tracks like this demonstrate they are so much more than that.

Every member contributes equally.

Every idea has purpose.

Blind Lies erupts in a frenzy of pounding drums and lightning-fast guitars before once again revealing the band's obvious punk influences. The aggression remains relentless, yet the groove-driven chorus somehow makes the whole thing incredibly accessible.

The breakdown is another highlight, with echoed vocals making way for a bass-led groove that Rex Brown himself would surely appreciate.

Then, almost without warning, the band drift into something resembling classic 80's hard rock before launching back into full-blown thrash.

This song alone contains enough ideas for most bands to build an entire album around.

Remarkable songwriting.

Sorrowsword begins with screaming feedback before launching into what can only really be described as four minutes of punk-infused thrash mayhem.

Is punk metal a thing?

If not, Acid Reign may have just invented it.

Despite the sheer brutality, the soaring vocal melodies somehow lift the song without ever reducing its intensity.

Halfway through, everything pivots into another irresistible groove before chaos once again takes control.

Controlled mayhem at its finest.

Old Young Man crashes in with yet another monstrous riff before bouncing confidently into familiar groove territory. It powers along with infectious energy before disappearing far too quickly.

At barely over three minutes, it is the shortest track on the album, yet somehow leaves you immediately reaching for the repeat button.

The haunting spoken-word middle section recalls early White Zombie, albeit with considerably more bite.

The album closes with Fantastic Passion, which immediately channels the spirit of Kill 'Em All through arguably the fastest riff on the entire record.

This one is pure velocity.

Technical, aggressive and utterly uncompromising, the vocals drive the track relentlessly towards its explosive conclusion while the musicianship remains staggeringly precise.

It is the perfect ending to an astonishing album.

Forty years into their career, Acid Reign sound anything but tired. Daze of the Week is packed with colossal riffs, fearless songwriting, world-class musicianship and enough groove to separate them from the endless sea of thrash bands trying to recreate the past. Rather than relying on nostalgia, they continue pushing forward, blending punk, groove metal, classic heavy metal and thrash into something that feels exciting, contemporary and unmistakably Acid Reign.

Forty years on, the acid hasn't worn off - if anything, it's stronger than ever. This album doesn't just make your day... it absolutely Reigns supreme.

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