ACID REIGN will release their first new album ‘Daze Of The Week’ on May15, 2026. Their first since their universally praised ‘The Age Of Entitlement’ in 2019.
They’ve just dropped the first single “Fantastic Passion” which you can listen to here:
Vocalist and 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. It’s been 2 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. 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.”
Charlie Griffiths (ex Haken) who plays duelling solos with Matt on Fantastic Passion says of the album:
“It’s wonderful! Wall to wall awesome riffs, great song writing and beautifully angry lyrics and vocals”
Catch ACID REIGN on tour
May 2026
28th BELFAST – Voodoo
29th DUBLIN – Lost Lane
June 2026
4th MANCHESTER – Bread Shed
5th LONDON – Underworld
6th SOUTHAMPTON – Suburbia
18th NEWCASTLE – Think Tank
19th GLASGOW – Audio
20th PRESTON – The Ferret
25th LEEDS – Boom
26th CARDIFF – Fuel Rock Club
27th DERBY – The Vic Inn
July 2026
26th WORTHING – Hammerdown Festival
30th ATHENS – Gagarin (with Sacred Reich)
More info on ACID REIGN
There has been a lot of change in the AR camp since the release of their universally praised comeback album The Age Of Entitlement in 2019. From the line up that recorded it Marc (drums) Paul & Cooky (Guitars) have been and gone and now we have Acid Reign 3.0, the re-reboot.
In their stead are lead guitarist Matt Smith a graduate of Berkley music college, Johnny Grimley former touring partner and ex Shrapnel drummer, last but by no means least on rhythm guitar Darren Mcgillivray a huge AR fan and supported the band many times with his own band Wrath Of Man.
Along with H on vocals and bass player Pete this is the line-up that brings us “Daze Of The Week” the bands fourth full album. Once again long-time 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 & 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 bands career ends, we will decide. Being in a legacy band (which is a label he is happy and proud to accept) is a privilege, 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.
“Matt has been here for 4 years already! I can honestly say he is the best guitarist I have ever worked with, no offence 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. Johnny messaged us one day asking if we were still looking for a drummer, he’d never crossed my mind as I knew he quit drumming a few years ago for health reasons. However his situation had changed and that was the best news we’d had in ages as Pete and I had always rated him as a drummer and a bloke. As for Darren where do I start?! I became friends with Darren via his lovey wife Victoria who proposed to him on the front row of an AR show I even MC’d their wedding! He’s a top bloke and solid as steel rhythm guitarist. He contacted me when we were still looking for a drummer offering his services and then had to wait an age for his audition until we found Johnny. Even then on the day Matt was taken ill and we had to do it as a four piece, unflappable as ever he breezed through like I always thought he would. Honestly, we cannot wait to get out and play the new stuff, old stuff, any stuff we just want to play!”. 2025 Re-rebooted. 2026 revitalised, the year Acid Reign came back. Again.
