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From the outset Anger Reign was bound to go against the grain of what was typical in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Anger Reign's set out to disrupt the conformity that had been prevalent in the local music scene . Uncompromising in style, the band's approach has helped fuel the underground original music movement with major contributions throughout the 80's and 90's to the Northeastern Pennsylvania music scene.
First, to understand how the band started: Singer Joe Karavis had previously played with Jeff Bennett's band, a guitarist who had already become known regionally as a terrific player. The early days saw the band - named Bennett at the time - turn heads with tight, powerful original metal music. The band would play regularly in the Harrisburg area, as well as the Northeast part of the state. Bennett won a Battle of The Bands Competition at Sea Sea's in Moosic, Pennsylvania in the late '80's, establishing themselves as a force on the regional scene. They went totally against everything that was normal for the area. Some members of the band were known for late night partying and crazy antics.
Joe was no stranger to Battle of The Bands glory, as his time fronting Scranton based band Bitter Sweet in the mid-'80's found them winning a battle also, claiming the top prize. Bitter Sweet was the first local band in the Scranton area to dare play heavy songs from Metallica, Anthrax, and Megadeth... something unheard of back in the '80's locally. While many bands were doing the trendy thing of big hair, makeup, and spandex pants, Bitter Sweet changed direction, quickly evolving into a brutal thrash band that had fans going nuts, stage diving and moshing - much to the dismay of some club owners who did not want to book the band because of the reputation they had for creating total mayhem everywhere they played. A demo would be recorded, but members went separate ways as Joe decided to pursue doing more original music rather than covers... thus hooking up with Bennett.
Jeff had played years earlier in York, PA with future Anger Reign bass player Vince Verrone in a band called Ragged Edge. Hard times seasoned the musicians, they even had to eat free government cheese to survive, and they'd gain the experience needed to play in a band so focused and intense as Anger Reign. Vince Verrone was the bass player, and a perfect fit for the band Anger Reign.
Dave Kopko was a young and energetic drummer from Scranton, cutting his teeth with his own thrash outfit at the time. He joined up with Bennett and Verrone and began rehearsing new material - and pounding down lots of beers. Joe left his band Wasted Faith, decided to leave and re-join Jeff and the guys to form his new musical vision - Anger Reign.
Previous to the Wasted Faith stint Joe had been in New York City with the band Avalon. Avalon was a very promising band led by Danish guitarist Ken Jacobsen. A demo of Joe's stuff made it's way to Jacobsen through a friend, and Joe got a call to audition, getting the position. Avalon's demo was produced by Flemming Rassmusen of Metallica fame, and was recorded in Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark.
While the material was very good, things were not developing very well, as the band had a difficult time getting a steady bass player to fill the slot, and Joe felt as though he wanted to have more input. A dispute over contract eventually sealed the fate of Karavis' tenure with the band. Disgusted, he quit, and came back to Northeastern Pennsylvania to help put together Wasted Faith, which would eventually lead to him developing the idea of Anger Reign. Avalon would later change the name to Unleashed Power and continue on, and Joe would patch things up with Jacobsen, joining them again years later to record and play live.
The band's first order of business was to record a demo. The raw yet intense 4 song debut got favorable reviews. After many successful gigs in Allentown, New York City, New Jersey, and locally, (playing high profile shows with bands like Dirty Looks and Life Of Agony) Anger Reign had run the gamut of the East Coast underground clubs and the time was right to show their hometown how they had evolved. Anger Reign entered a battle of the bands competition and won the title of "Best Band In Northeastern Pennsylvania" against nearly 30 other bands, and they did it their own way -- playing original, heavy music without compromise.
They would then go on to record the brilliant second demo Technodeath, which was mixed by none other than Ken Jacobsen, and hit the road again showcasing the band's newest material. The scene was just insane, with lots of partying, drinking and late nights. Anger Reign lived the lifestyle of a hard working and hard partying underground band that could keep up with the best of them.
Despite the successful strides they had made, the band experienced major internal problems that first would see the band firing guitarist Bennett due to his alcohol problems and well documented antics. The band replaced Bennett for good with the very capable and talented guitarist Butch Frable, but the group was unable to make any strides with new songs. Essentially, many more personal issues would lead to a break-up 1n 1991. It was at this time Joe moved to New York City to record, and perform with Unleashed Power, re-uniting with Jacobsen. The remaining members pursued other ventures. Vince would go on to form his own band Graphic Violence, eventually getting Frable into the band. Later, Vince and Butch would put together a new band and new direction - forming other bands such as Ink and Hating Me. Dave would eventually help form Slapjaw.
A couple of unsuccessful ventures would follow for the vocalist Joe, as short-lived stints rehearsing with a few cover acts would prove to be total debacles, never getting off the ground, due mainly to musical and personal conflict.
In 1998, realizing that Anger Reign still had a sizable following despite being inactive for nearly six years, Joe Karavis and Dave Kopko decided to put Anger Reign together again. Guitarists Jay Burke and Rocco, as well as bassist Steve Matys completed the new lineup, and Anger Reign was picking up where they left off. Fans from the "old days" were coming out again, and the band was making new fans with it's intense performances. A demo of new material would quickly follow. Northeastern Pennsylvania's force of metal was back in a big way.
A local radio station, The Bear, was sponsoring a contest to open for Motley Crue at the Kirby Center, and Anger Reign sent a demo. They were set up to play at yet another Battle of the bands, winning the first round, then having it's finest moment. The band would go head to head with the very popular local bands Clove, and 40lb. Head. Anger Reign would deliver one of it's finest performances ever, winning the contest and getting the opening slot for Motley Crue... a dream gig being able to play in front of thousands of people.
The Motley Crue show went great, and the band would be riding high again. An opening slot for metal legends Over Kill would follow.
Unfortunately, band members would eventually pursue other projects and Anger Reign became inactive. Disenchanted, and without a stable lineup, Joe would take the next few years off. However, he'd get back into the band scene once more, this time with a new band Beyond Fallen - which would prove to be Joe's most successful band to date.
What does the future hold? Who knows? But one thing is certain - Anger Reign has put it's mark on the region, and the band is considered by many to be pioneers in not only paving the way for the heavy original music scene in Northeastern Pennsylvania, but doing what they could in keeping metal alive and kicking in the region. Several of the past members of Anger Reign can now be found out on the scene leading their own succesful bands.
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