Acid Rain

“Acid Rain was born from the ashes, the love, the passion and the unceasing (perhaps due to the fact that we come from a rural territory) thirst for pure and impulsive epic heavy metal.”

These are the words employed by guitarist and mainman Antonis Koimiotis when asked in an interview with “Beyond the Veil” zine about the meaning behind the name ACID RAIN. Bold words indeed, and quite fitting for the vision and spirit expressed by these Thessalian Metal warriors.

ACID RAIN (not to be confused with the same-titled mid-1990s Greek Punk band) was formed back in Volos (Thessaly) in 1998 as a continuation of the member’s previous outfit SOULBLADE. Early on, the band setting included Antonis Koimiotis (vocals), Kosta Galanako (guitars), Stamatis Andrikakis (guitars), Dimitris Vlahonatsios (bass) and Giorgos Maninis (drums). However, after no more than three years, having released the morosely titled “Fucking Day” demo and a live recording, the band called it quits for the first time – apparently frustrated with the current state of affairs in the local scene. This wasn’t the last the words from the band though, as ACID RAIN returned a few years later with a new lineup and new songs.

In the ranks of the resurrected ACID RAIN we find in addition to original member Antonis Koimiotis (vocals) the addition of Spyros Apostolou (guitars), Giannis Geropoulos (guitars) and Giorgos Fysaris (keyboards). While not permanent members at this point, Dimitris Vlahonatsios (bass) and Stavros Albanis (drums) also helped in the recordings of “War in the Sky” and “Revenge” demo CDrs.

Since we haven’t been able to locate the earliest ACID RAIN releases, we cannot confirm if there was a change in style, but judging by statements made by Koimiotis in the previously mentioned interview the band’s re-entry into the scene was considered by the band themselves as a fresh start. They even went as far as refusing to play their old material. This refusal shouldn’t be mourned though, as the late-era songs stand strong on their own merits – bearing semblance to both 1970s BLACK SABBATH and 1980s Epic Metal à la MANILLA ROAD.

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