Grim Reaper were originally formed in 1979 in Droitwich. They were discovered after winning a Battle of the Bands featuring over 100 bands. They were eventually signed to Darryl Johnston’s Ebony Records, and had a track featured on the Ebony compilation LP “Heavy Metal Heroes”. The lineup finalised to that of Nick Bowcott, Steve Grimmett, Dave Wanklin and Lee Harris. Their debut album “See You in Hell” was released in 1983 by Ebony and was distributed worldwide through RCA Records in 1984.

The bands lineup for the first album was Steve Grimmett on vocals, Lee Harris on drums, Dave Wanklin on bass and Nick Bowcott on guitar.

Commercial success (1985-1986)

Their 1985 follow-up, “Fear No Evil”, showed improvement on the production front and was the first to feature new drummer Mark Simon. The album enjoyed moderate success in both the United States and Europe giving the band more exposure. In the summer of 1985 the band appeared at the long running Texxas Jam Festival, playing to over 80,000 people. The bill included headliners Deep Purple, Scorpions and Bon Jovi.

Grim Reaper soon became readily identifiable with Bowcott’s guitar work and lead vocalist Steve Grimmett’s powerful screaming vocals.

Legal battles and later years (1987-1988)

The increased exposure and commercial success led to the band recording their 3rd album with legendary producer Max Norman. Legal battles with Ebony Records delayed the release of the album which was to be titled “Rock You to Hell” by almost two years. The album was released directly through RCA Records in 1987.

grim reaper 1987 lineup photo
Lineup 1987 l to r: Mark Simon, Nick Bowcott, Steve Grimmett, Geoff Curtis
The US tour that followed, dubbed “The Hell on Wheels” included an appearance on headbangers Ball which was televised around America. With the changing musical tides towards the heavier thrash sound and ongoing problems with their record label, the band ultimately called it a day in 1988.

Other projects (1988-2006)

Steve Grimmett went on to front UK Thrash band Onslaught for the “In Search of Sanity” album in 1989 which gained chart success in the UK. Their cover of the AC/DC classic “Let there be rock” reached a top 40 chart placing and a UK tour of theatres. In the early 90s Steve formed the melodic rock band Lionsheart, recording 4 studio albums “Lionsheart”, “Pride In Tact”, “Under Fire” and “Abyss” that took the band to Europe and Japan. He has also made several appearances on tribute albums, many of which feature Ian Nash on guitar.

Current (2006-present)

In 2006, Steve Grimmett formed a new version of Grim Reaper, using the lineup that were in his solo band – Pete Newdeck on drums, Ian Nash on guitars and Rich Walker on bass. This lineup recorded Steve’s solo album “Personal Crisis” in 2007

Performing as Steve Grimmett’s Grim Reaper a set of all Grim Reaper songs, they played the Keep It True VI festival in Lauda-Königshoffen on 8 April 2006. The band played the annual MetalBrew festival in London’s Mill Hill on Saturday 18 July 2009. Later they were scheduled to play at the Play it Loud IV in Bologna, Italy, in September 2009. The festival was then cancelled when the promoter forfeited, but the band (urged on by a crowd of hardcore fans who had already bought tickets) managed to play the date along with a number of originally billed acts (as a single-day event instead of a weekend-spanning one).

The band made a very successful appearance at the British Steel festival in Bolognia Italy in November 2010 at the Estragon venue on a bill that included other classic bands of the NWoBHM era – Diamond Head, Girlschool, Demon and Angelwitch. They also played at the Academy Birmingham with the band Jameson Raid.

Greek tour and YouTube video sensation

The current lineup continues to tour the UK and Europe. They did a short tour of Greece and Cyprus in November 2011 and released the Limited Edition CD EP “Live in Europe 2011”. The band gained worldwide attention during the tour when a video of them playing a small gig at Riff’s bar earlier in the year started getting numerous plays on YouTube. This was due to a Greek fan pointing out that Steve looked just like their then finance minister Evangelos Venizelos! The video started to increase in views, resulting in the band getting coverage in national Greek press and front page features in the media magazines. Steve was interviewed many times during the tour. The clip was shown and discussed on national tv. By the end of the tour the video had been viewed more than 250,000 times! It gave Greek fans some light hearted distraction during the tough financial times they were dealing with. The tour took the band across Greece and into Cyprus with well received shows in Athens and Thessaloniki.

Festival appearances in 2012 included headlining at Sweden’s “Muskelrock” and Germany’s Sword Brothers in 2013.

In Spring 2013 Steve Grimmett’s Grim Reaper began recording their new studio album, their first since 1987 for release later in 2014. A week was spent recording drum tracks, ready for sessions to add guitars, bass and vocals to be recorded in December. Mixing is scheduled for January.

The band headlined at this years British Steel festival in London in June, Rock for Diabetes Festival in Trowbridge UK and co-headlined with Tokyo Blade at Belgium’s Heavy Sound Festival in November .

The band are currently finishing off their 4th studio album to be mixed in January for a release soon after in 2014.

Formed in mid-2006, edited in the same year their first demo entitled Discharge, with it achieving their first contract with Blower Records and publishing in 2007 their first album “Voltax” with which the band began to have recognition nationally and internationally,High Roller Records from Germany releases their debut album on vynil with bonus material and later on invited by Earache Records to be part of the Heavy Metal Killers compilation(2009) alongside bands like Enforcer, In Solitude, Cauldron etc. During this time the band played many concerts in the country alternating with national and international bands like Destruction, Onslaught, Paul di Anno, Sadus,Agent Steel,Hirax,Rata Blanca. After lineup changes they released their second album in 2010 “Fugitive State of Mind” which defined more the style of the band and opened a wider door in becoming known worldwide,later on they also win the opportunity to play at Wacken Open Air 2011, immediately afterwards the band is called to play festivals as Vive Latino in Mexico City and Ragnarokkr Metal Apocalypse in Chicago, US. In late July 2012 they also gain the opportunity to open 4 Metallica concerts in a row at the Sports Palace in Mexico City. Currently Voltax is promoting their third album released in May 2013 Hiding Into Flames, more power,more guitars,and a sweet touch of psyquedelic bits here and there

Pennsylvania’s Argus stormed onto the underground metal scene with their twin guitar-driven, doom-tinged, working class metal sound.  Releasing a self-recorded demo in early 2007 on John Brenner’s (Revelation/Against Nature) DIY label, Bland Hand Records, the band was roundly welcomed by the metal community at home as well as abroad and established its foundation amongst friends/fans within the scene.  With this initial momentum, the band created a buzz that was only solidified by their punishing live performances.

Their self-titled debut album was released in May of 2009, receiving much critical praise.  Following, was the 2011 release of the epic album Boldly Stride The Doomed, which also marks a switch to the record label, Cruz Del Sur.  The band has continued to gain notoriety, traveling abroad and around the U.S.  The release of their third full-length album, Beyond The Martyrs, is staged for release in Late Summer/Early Fall 2013.

Crowhaven was formed in 1983 in Danville, Kentucky!
Through several line-up changes, in their 30 year existence, the songwriter core of Crowhaven still remains to be, Bucky Bryant and Gary Duncil!
Crowhaven recorded one album!
Crowhaven: Emotional Adjustment, was recorded at, Real to Reel Studios, in
Louisville, Kentucky, in 1986, with Jeff Carpenter and Crowhaven producing! Crowhaven
was signed to the independent, Hit-A-Note, record label! Only 300 copies of Crowhaven: Emotional Adjustment, were pressed, in the vinyl record format! And only 100 pre-recorded cassette tapes of Crowhaven: Emotional Adjustment, were ever produced, and are known to exist worldwide! Recently, a sealed copy, of, Crowhaven:
Emotional Adjustment, sold at an e-bay auction, in excess of seven-hundred dollars!
The current Crowhaven line-up, of, Gary Duncil – Special Guest Vocalist, Lead & Rhythm Guitar, Bass Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Piano & Keyboards, Bucky Bryant – Harmony Vocals, Rhythm & Lead Guitar, Mandolin, Sitar, Resonator Slide Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Banjo, Dobro, Harmonica, James Murphy – Drums & Percussion, Sean Record – Bass Guitar, Jon Tshudi – Lead & Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Harmony Vocals, Brennan Oaks – Special Guest Musician, Bass Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, are recording, a new, Crowhaven album!
Entitled, Crowhaven: Omens, Oracles, and Opinions, it is scheduled, to be released, in March/April of 2014! The release date, has been pushed-back, due to the re-issuing, of Crowhaven: Emotional Adjustment, on Skol Records!
All new, original compositions, it will feature, as special guest, all the living, previous members of Crowhaven!
A fitting tribute, to our fallen brother, Brad Oaks, R.I.P.

Axemaster was formed in 1985 by lead guitarist Joe Sims and Drummer Brian Henderson. The project and music has stood the test of time and remains strong after over 25 years. With the band’s original lineup (also including vocalist/bassist Christopher Michael) they recorded their first 4 releases: “Slave to the Blade” (demo EP cassette), “Blessing in the Skies” (full length album), “The Vision” (shaped pictured disc single), and “Crusades” (shaped picture disc single), the last 3 being released by Azra International Records. They were also featured on Azra Record’s compilation shaped picture record “Metalgon” and in the comedy/horror movie “Killer Nerd”. Several lineup changes followed as the band recorded their next 2 releases: “Death Before Dishonor” (full length cassette, European-only release) and “5 Demons (Imperative is their Demise)” (self-released EP cassette). Joe Sims was the only original member to remain and play on every release. After this the band altered their musical direction and changed the name to The Awakening. That group did 1 CD before breaking up in 1995. Four years later, Unisound Records {Greece} re-issued selected songs from 4 of the band’s releases (as well as 3 songs by The Awakening) on a 15 track CD titled “Axemaster & The Awakening, 1985-1995”. In 2002 Unisound re-released “Death Before Dishonor” (as well as some unreleased material) on CD. The success of these discs proved that Axemaster’s music was still in demand years after their breakup. In 2006 the band’s original lineup re-united and in 2007 re-released “Blessing in the Skies” on disc through Burning Star Records {Greece}. It includes the album in its entirety as well as 3 bonus tracks and a video for the song “Slave to the Blade”. The reunion was short-lived however, as Christopher Michael did not remain with the band and Axemaster was dissolved not long afterward. In 2010, Joe Sims and Brian Henderson decided to re-start the Axemaster project and produce a new full length CD. They wrote all the music for the album then added vocalist Geoff McGraw and bassist Jim Curtis to complete the band’s lineup. The new disc is currently in the works and is turning out to be BY FAR the band’s favorite Axemaster release to date. The new songs have a thrashy edge along with a dark, doom metal feel; somewhat similar to the style of the band’s last 2 releases of new material, but with greatly improved songwriting and better musicianship. Additionally, the band was recently given the opportunity to appear on a promotional compilation CD which is being used to publicize the re-launch of the German magazine “That’s Metal”. So they temporarily put off working on the album in order to record a song especially for the compilation. Released in April 2013, the CD should be valuable in spreading Axemaster’s name in advance of their new album being finished and released. With the worldwide exposure & success that they’ve already achieved, the band is eager to complete the new album and put their show on the road to take the metal world by storm!!!!

WITCHES MARK the self-professed “Bringers Of Heavy Metal Death” were formed in the fall of 2005 in Austin, Texas. The band initially introduced themselves to the metal underground with a demo recording of their song “A Grim Apparition” shortly followed by an appearance on the Unbroken Metal Records compilation “Tribute To Angel Witch” with their rendition of “Something Wrong”.

Shortly after signing with Heaven and Hell Records WITCHES MARK released their debut EP “A Grim Apparition” garnering favorable reviews from both metal fans and critics alike.

The bands debut full-length LP “Witching Metal Ritual” is set to be released July 15th, 2013 through Heaven and Hell Records. Blending elements of thrash, speed, doom, black and death while anchoring their overall sound firmly within the framework of traditional heavy metal; WITCHES MARK wear their deep appreciation, understanding and pride of the metal genre proudly on their collective sleeves.

Salt Lake Steel