Grim Reaper burned briefly but brightly in the NWOBHM days and enjoyed some commercial success in America rather than here in the UK. Formed by very talented guitarist Nick Bowcott, Grim Reaper could also boast a fine singer in Steve Grimmett. However a short career was marked by just a two album output – but fine albums they were.
An initial one track offering – The Reaper – appeared on the notable Metal For Heroes compilation stood out from most of the other stuff and the band toured and toured playing small venues up and down the UK.
Next was a recording deal with the independent label Ebony and the release of the debut offering entitled See You In Hell in 1984. This was picked up and given worldwide distribution by the powerful RCA label.
Touring followed which included a performance at the Texxas Jam to a massive audience. A second album was then recorded and released – Fear No Evil – which had more than respectable sales mainly in America and mainland Europe.
Respectable sales indeed with See You In Hell selling in the region of 250,000 copies and breaking in to the top 100 album charts in the US. Sadly for Grim Reaper, the follow-up album did not match the sales of their debut album. RCA’s support dwindled and without that the band had little hope of a breakthrough and became yet another notch in the “could have and should have had more success” column which is filled with many of their NWOBHM-era contemporaries.
The metaphorical towel was not thrown in and grim reaper slugged on with an all or nothing third album in 1986 Rock You To Hell. It was far from badly received and did, all too briefly, appear in the lower reaches of the US top 100 albums chart. And that was that for Grim Reaper.
However such is the resurgent interest in all the good stuff from the New Wave of British heavy Metal days you can get your ears around Grim Reaper and see, well hear, how good they were. Great artwork too!
CLICK HERE TO DISCOVER GRIM REAPER ON AMAZON
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