Description
2016 Us only release with 4 page booklet featuring photos handpicked by the band, lyrics and liner notes from Classic Rock writer Malcolm Dome
Belgium’s Acid first appeared on the international metal radar screen with the release of their debut album “Acid” in 1982. However, it would be the bands second and arguably most revered album 1983’s “Maniac”, that cemented the band’s reputation as an up-and-coming early thrash metal force. In terms of the timeline and historical scope of thrash/speed metal history, the years 1982-1983 were quite early in the game, with the majority of the bands who would come to define the thrash metal genre (in the mid-80’s) barely even out of the starting gate. Put simply, Acid were ahead of their time. No doubt about it. They also positively kicked ass musically and featured one of the raddest (but sadly, lesser known) female vocalists in metal history. Vocalist Kate De Lombaert in many ways beat Doro from Warlock to the punch, but never achieved the heights of fame that Doro enjoyed. However, as a vocalist, Kate sung like a pissed off but still sexy sounding Doro (before Doro had an album out with Warlock, keep in mind). Kate De Lombaert also had an awesome stage presence, dressed in full leather, with bullet-belt, black panty-hose and a seductive red cape. She was also quite pretty (in my opinion) and many a European metalhead’s dream. But just by the way she fronted Acid you knew she was one tough chick with a true metal heart and the vocal chords to match it. Acid played complete over the top double-bass driven early thrash, with killer tunes and a tons of attitude. Nowadays, Acid may sound very basic to younger listeners, but for ’83 this was extreme stuff. “Maniac” doesn’t have a single bad tune and the album’s production perfectly captures the high energy, power, speed, and crushingly heavy Acid sound. So don’t hesitate, if you love classic hard-drinkin’, double-bass assaulting, skull-crushing riffage from the early 80’s, you’ll love Acid-“Maniac”! They are a band that truly deserves a larger degree of attention when discussing heavy metal (especially early thrash/speed metal) history. They had a female singer (in ’82-’83 there were still only a handful) who had a killer voice, and they were ahead of their time in the speed and double-bass assault departments. And they wrote GOOD songs! If they had been from the UK or US instead of Belgium they’d be full-blown legends…But that’s okay, they can remain a little-known treasure for us metal junkies and historians of all that is heavy. Acid are a cult that once you join you’ll never wanna leave…Max overload indeed.
Track list:
1. Max Overload
2. Maniac
3. Black Car
4. America
5. Lucifera
6. No Time
7. Prince Of Hell And Fire
8. Bottoms Up