Rekuiem
| Rekuiem | |
|---|---|
 Chitral Somapala with Rekuiem live in UK (2009) | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Requiem |
| Genres | Doom metal, heavy metal |
| Years active | 1980–1984; 2002–present |
| Labels | Majestic Rock |
| Associated acts | Witchfinder General, Diamond Head, Jameson Raid, Angel Witch, Iron Maiden, Budgie, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne |
| Website | www.rekuiem.net |
| Members |
Chitral Somapala Steve Slater Gordon Denny Neil Taylor Paul Rodgers |
| Past members |
Yatta Yates Karl Wilcox Mike Reid Tim Harris Paul Perry |
Rekuiem, formerly spelt 'Requiem', was founded in the beginning of the new wave of British heavy metal movement in the UK by Steve Slater (guitar), Gordon Denny (bass), Mike Reid (vocal), Karl Wilcox (drums). The band were pioneers of this new genre of rock amongst others such as Witchfinder General, Diamond Head, Jameson Raid, Angel Witch and Iron Maiden. Rekuiem pursued their own style of metal which later became known as doom metal. They were influenced by Black Sabbath and wanted to create something that was even heavier.
Early career
After many rehearsals the band began to play local gigs in the Midlands at venues such as Cannock Forum and the Lafayette Club in Wolverhampton. The band soon built up a local fan base. This period also produced some early demos recorded at M.R.S. Studios in Walsall.
In 1980 the band recorded at Foel Studios the now rare double A-sided single "Angel of Sin" / "Sacrifical Wanderer", mixed by Dave Anderson (Hawkwind). Two years after the founding, front man Mike Reid left the band due to musical differences, and his replacement was Steve Mills. Three further studio demos and gigs in the UK followed, both as headline act and as support act to Budgie on their European tour.
After that the band worked on the release of their debut album 'Immanent', but this was never released. Despite the adversity, Rekuiem continued to gig around the UK. But in 1984 bass player Gordon left the band to form Rough Justice. He was replaced by Tim Harris. The band tried to reshape again, new songs were written, and a new image and concept discussed, but eventually at the General Wolfe in Coventry, Rekuiem came to an end.
Steve Mills and Tim Harris went on to work with Dave Brock of Hawkwind fame. Steve Slater and Karl Wilcox briefly joined forces to join Broken English and studio recordings were made entitled Makin' Out and Two Time Love. Wilcox then went on to join the progressive rock band Chase, before joining Diamond Head, with whom he has recorded several albums. Slater formed Predator who toured the UK extensively.
Reunion
In 2002 a new worldwide interest in metal, specifically the underground NWOBHM movement, brought Rekuiem back to the music scene. Enquiries from all over the world about past recordings and about the chance of a reunion brought some of the band members together again. Due to the founding of a couple of other bands in the past years under the same name, the band members decided to change the spelling in Rekuiem.
For a time period of three years, the band wrote and recorded the promised album that was never delivered twenty years ago. Three original members, Steve Slater (guit), Karl Wilcox (drums) and Gordon Denny (bass) joined forces with Paul Parry (vocals), formerly with Tredegar, and Neil Taylor (keyboards), who has worked before with Cloven Hoof, Demon and the Ozzy Osbourne tribute Ozzmosis.
The band released an EP for the rock press. This EP featured five demo tracks for the anticipated album, "Steelbreeze", "Angel of Sin", "Nightmare", "The Black Death" and "Outro". All of these are different versions to those that appeared on the finished album, and two of these songs do not appear on the album at all, making this a highly collectable piece. The taster EP was entitled "The Black Death".
The album Time Will Tell was released in April 2006 at Majestic Rock label. It featured ten original tracks (eleven on the Japanese edition) and one cover version of "Paranoid". The album was produced by Slater and Wilcox and was mixed by Mark Stuart (Magnum). The album also featured the newly recorded versions of "Angel of Sin" and "Sacrifical Wanderer".
In November 2007, Parry was replaced by the Sri Lankan born Chitral Somapala. He had recorded and toured with Firewind in the past and is currently working also with his own band Civilization One, and the German progressive metal band Red Circuit.
Currently the band is working on the release of their second album, 'Raise the Dead'.
Discography
Singles
- "Angel of Sin" / "Sacrifical Wanderer" (1980)
Albums
- Time Will Tell (2006)