Band:	Acid Reign
Album:	The Fear
Style:	Thrash metal
Release date:	1989

01. You Never Know (W.T.N.W.S.)
02. Reflection Of Truths
03. Insane Ecstasy
04. Humanoia
05. The Fear
06. Blind Aggression
07. Life In Forms
08. All I See
09. Lost In Solitude

Late to the party.

Acid Reign's were one of the leading lights in the UK thrash scene, who elevated themselves above their peers with their combination of power, humour and groove. Their debut full length The Fear was the right album at the wrong time; had it come out a few years earlier, then I would imagine Acid Reign would be spoken about in more reverent terms. As it is, it is strong evidence to wonder what could have been had they only got their start a few years earlier.

Led by charismatic frontman H, The Fear unleashes a compelling mix of humour and seriousness with both done with style, being able to thumb its nose in jest while not diluting the impact of the more mature themes. From the opening ode to the munchies "You'll Never Know" to the frustrations that is life on the dole line in "Life In Forms", it is rare that a band is able to combine this duality without one side of this combination appearing passe.

This is likely the result of the tight musicianship on show for much of this record and the almost everyman charm of H, with songs like "Humanoia" being able to ebb and flow between groove and thrash whilst resting comfortably alongside tracks like the all-out speed demon "Insane Ecstasy" without either seeming contrite. Thrown into this eclectic mix is the aforementioned "You'll Never Know", the slow burner "All I See" and the sprawling "The Fear", with the result that you have a band who swerve between lanes but always manage to stay in control, switching in and out at will.

This tight musicianship is down to the talents of the individual members, who are able to complement each other well. Kev and Lehan are a solid guitar pairing, balancing the intensity and power inherent in thrash music with the injection of personality and breathing spaces to enhance the listening experience, whether it be the rising and falling in tracks like "Reflections Of Truth" or the switching between groove and power in tracks like "Humanoia". Added to this are Mac and Ramsey on bass and drums, respectively, who hold down the rhythm side very well; while they are often beneath the guitars and following them, they are not content to sit there quietly and be the quiet partner. It may not be as in your face as you might expect, but their subtle touches of personality here and there like on "Blind Aggression" make for songs that have depth beyond their initial impact.

The musicianship however is not matched by an equally strong production unfortunately; while the raw sound of the guitars does have a buzzsaw quality that has a charm of its own, alongside the drums they lack a level of power these riffs need to really push hard and shine. While the album isn't ruined by the production and it is very listenable, it could use that injection of power to bring the music from the back of the headphones to the fore and embolden the sound.

The constantly oscillating "Lost In Solitude", whose shifting rhythmic patterns are hypnotic alongside "Humanoia"'s gear-shifting style, make for the most immediate listens, and ones that stand first amongst equals. With tracks like "Reflections Of Truth" close in quality but edged out by the former two, you know you have a good album on your hands when songsof this quality aren't even the best on offer.

It is a shame that Acid Reign were not around earlier, and The Fear not released during the halcyon days of thrash only a few years before its release. I'm sure it would have gotten a far bigger and better reception than it ultimately did; sometimes timing can be just as important as quality, and Acid Reign are sadly testament to that.