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REACTOR,
from Augsburg, Southern Germany, was founded in 1988 by Muck Langmair,
formerly of VETO and Markus Baier, formerly of CHEYENNE. Later the powerful
line-up was completed with "Thorsten Schwalm" and "Robert
Käfferlein" both from MONTEREY and "Jerry Bryant" as lead
singer.
First
sessions and the influences of bands like RIOT, HELLOWEEN and METAL CHURCH
gave a clear answer to the band´s burning question of what kind of music to
create: "Melodic Speed- and Powermetal!"
A few months
later REACTOR played their first gig in the "Clochard",Augsburg
formally known as the"Big Apple", where DEEP PURPLE had played
one of their first concerts in Germany, too. The feedback was amazing.
Even the local newspaper, known as a traditional and conservative
publication praised: "...REACTOR, a power engine! Heavy Metal is
the music of our time and REACTOR is the evidence!"
During the following time, the band released their first
8-track demo, including one of the early recordings of their later hit
"Red Baron flies again". From 1989 until 1990, they played
more than 70 gigs, most of them in Germany. The support in a 48 CRASH
show (former GRAVESTONE) in Ulm brought them terrific reviews and
enthusiastic responses from all over the area. In 1991 the band
decided to record their first full-time CD. "Rather dead than
dishonoured" was released in May and created new possibilities for
REACTOR esp. in Japan and the Far East.
With "Rather dead..."
the band entered the Top 100 Import Charts in Japan and climbed all the way
up to 4th place in May ´92. From
summer to winter 1992, Reactor promoted their album with an huge amount
of gigs, visits to radio stations and several promotion dates all over
Germany. Japanese labels showed encouraging interest, so REACTOR signed
a licence deal with ZERO Corp. for Japan and the Far East in 1993.
"Revelation" was released in May 1993
and the song "MTIs", about the new right wing in Germany was
played for months on Tokyo´s radio stations. At the same time German
magazines started to recognize the band and it´s musical potential.
Short
after the "Horror Infernal Festival" in Dortmund, where REACTOR
played with ACCUSER; MORGOTH, CARCASS a.o., they split with their lead
singer Jerry Bryant and drummer Muck Langmair, because of differing musical
opinions.
With Markus Sturz (ex-TRACE FAIR
member) the band found a drummer who was able to play the old songs but
also brought in new ideas into the band. Finally a new singer joined in,
"S.L.Coe" (a former member of ANGEL DUST, and SCANNER), the
producer of "Revelation".
Energized
by the new band additions, REACTOR recorded new songs for their 3rd album
"Farewell to reality" within 4 weeks. Great feedback in magazines,
on the radios and in live German
concerts was the reward for their effort of this production. "Heavy
Metal powerforce of first quality.[...] People who like PRIEST (Painkiller),
PHANTOM or RIOT will be fascinated from the ´95 REACTOR enterprise."
(Metal Hammer, june 1995)
After their
splitting with S.L.Coe and Thorsten Schwalm in 1996, REACTOR decided to
continue as a trio. On a Germany tour with ARMISTICE in 1997 the band
and the reaction of the fans gave the proof that REACTOR is better than
ever! Robert Käfferlein became lead singer, old songs were infused with
new arrangements and new songs were written.
"A
Short Fairy Tale" was the title of the 4th production, which was
recorded in march and released in april 1998. The songs are more straight
and powerful, but with the indestructible style of classical elements and
melodic Speed & Powermetal.
From may to
july 1999, Reactor recorded a new 4-song promotional CD with the
working titel "The South Strikes Back". It was the first time,
that the band did the whole recording by themself. With their own record
studio, the time and the experiences from 4 other recordings, they tried to
create a great piece of metal for the next millennium! After their release of the promo-CD
"The South Strikes Back" in 1999 (at the music fair, Cologne)
the band started to search for a new guitarist in cause of "The
missing link!" (The double guitar was the essence of Reactor´s
power!) 2nd, the band and himself decided that Robert is such a good
singer, that the disicion for a seperate bass-guitar was clear.
In the end of 1999 Hans
Reichelt joined the band on the 2nd guitar. The fomer member and head of the
Augsburg Metal band "Traic Faire" is an old friend of Reactor and
played already together with Markus Sturz before.
With Daniel Unzner on
bass guitar, the new line-up was completed in february 2000. Daniel came
from the Augsburg Death-Thrash-Metalizers "Profanity".
In the following the band
tried to became a union. They played several gigs, but most of them in the
southern region of Germany. A new 2-track demo, the fansong for the Augsburg
Panthers, the local icehockey club in 2000 and the 4-track unplugged album
"clean tales" in 2001 where steps to the upcoming album.
In November 2002
Reactor started to record the 5th album. They choose a professionell
recording studio in munich (Dreamscape Studios) and found also a
professionell producer with Jan Vacik.
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