Originally issued in November 1983, Grim Reaper's debut, See You in Hell, was far more polished than their first single and initially seemed fated for historical oblivion, since European fans steeped in heavy metal history found little merit in the band's energetic but rather ordinary metal style. But by the time Grim Reaper finally landed a record deal with independent Ebony records a year later (on the strength of a three-song demo made with studio time won in a battle of the bands competition), Bowcott had scrapped the entire band once again and was now flanked by vocalist Steve Grimmett, bassist Dave Wanklin, and drummer Mark Simon. Despite its brooding power chords and rough-hewn sonics (or perhaps because of them), the song stood out from the album's other New Wave of British Heavy Metal hopefuls and landed the group increased touring commitments up and down the U.K. Guitarist Nick Bowcott founded Grim Reaper in Droitwich, England circa 1979, working with a number of different lineups before teaming up with singer Paul DeMercado, bassist Phil Matthew, and drummer Angel Jacques in time to record his song "The Reaper" for 1981's very influential Heavy Metal Heroes compilation. That iteration of the group, once again operating under the Grim Reaper name, eventually found its way into the studio and recorded 2016's Walking in the Shadows, which was the band's first new release in nearly three decades. In 2006 Grimmet resurrected the name and began performing as Steve Grimmett's Grim Reaper. The group issued three studio albums, including their well-received 1983 debut See You in Hell before calling it quits in 1988. Led by the inspired guitar work of Nick Bowcott and the powerful lungs of Steve Grimmett, Grim Reaper's tough, raw, but melodically charged music embodied British heavy metal's most popular devices throughout the mid-'80s.
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