Audio restoration and mastering by Patrick W. Engel at TEMPLE OF DISHARMONY in March 2019. Right on time for Acid's first reunion performance at Keep It True Festival 2020 in Germany, High Roller represses "Maniac" together with its pre- and successors. The four tracks from the 1984 EP "Black Car" serve as bonus for both the CD and LP versions.
Just a few months following their debut full-length "Acid" in 1983, the Belgian outfit, also bearing the name Acid, unleashed an album that expertly fused the raw energy of their debut with the finesse of a seasoned band at the peak of their abilities. "Maniac" unquestionably stands as Acid's magnum opus and an integral piece of early extreme metal history. It boasts true classics like the swaggering opener 'Max Overload,' the devilish romp 'Black Car,' and the rhythmically intricate closer 'Bottoms Up.' Not to forget 'Lucifera,' the band's unofficial anthem.
Hailing from Bruges and fronted by the charismatic Kate de Lombaert, accompanied by the relentless drumming of Anvill, Acid melded the spirit of punk and rock 'n' roll with a precision that foreshadowed the thrash metal genre as we know it today. This earned them a revered status in the global underground metal scene. The album epitomizes the saying "all killer, no filler," often outshining even heavyweights like Black Sabbath, Motörhead, and Venom, all of whom Acid shared stages with. Their live performances left an indelible mark, and this album continues to do so.
