The story around the sampler THE REAPER COMES has begun generally because of my own dissatisfaction, to see so many bands in my neighbourhood which are just great but didn’t have any chance to present themselves to a bigger audience. There I came to the decision: something must happen. Ok, a couple of beers were been in the pie as well. Shortly the idea was born to establish an underground sampler to support especially the bands around the Lake Of Constance. A really important part already at the beginning was to be trans-sectoral. I didn’t want to create a pure Death Metal or a pure Power Metal sampler. There should be music for everyone and no-one should be bored. Variety was the slogan.

But it was easier said than done because there were not been enough bands in the neighbourhood which were been interested in this idea. Besides the already confirmed bands I started to look for other bands, no matter where they came from. Thus the first part of THE REAPER COMES turned out in a German – Swiss project, whereas the area around the Lake Of Constance was good represented though. The name of the sampler came over the time when I was looking for a cover. My choice was a picture by Ken McKracken titled The Reaper Comes. So it was obvious to use the title too. The layout was done by Marc “Schmievil” Schmidt the founder of Nocturnal Hall. And he has done a really good job!

After the first part and while selling the sampler I immediately started the preparations for part two. Because of the title I was very limited to find a new picture for the cover. But finally I hit Christoph Szostak and his artwork Saltatio Mortis. Perfect! So the first task was done. Now I just had to find high-class bands again and - if possible - even to top the first sampler. Another thing was to get more space for the bands and their presentation. The bands should get the possibilities to create their own booklet site by themselves. After all bands were been on board we needed a new layout again. Here Christian Scherer – shouter in the Death Metal band Tremors – was the linchpin. It took two evenings to create the design. And finally 5 minutes before the Bang Your Head Festival 2001 started out - the sampler came back from the manufacture. So I already could spread out the first few copies THE REAPER COMES II – Saltatio Mortem.

With the work on the samplers it also arose the idea in my mind to establish a mailorder. So people who like the one or the other band from the sampler could directly purchase the albums of these bands. No sooner thought than done. Unfortunately I could not order all demo CD’s from participating bands. But the mailorder is not limited on the sampler bands, so you can also buy CD’s from other great underground bands, shirts and other merchandise.

I don’t know yet what the third part will bring. But I hope that we will have a great cover again. It will be exclusively done by the American artist JAE. And of course you will find a lot of great bands again you never have heard anything about before. The geographical borders will be more expanded again, then also non-German-speaking bands will participate this time.

To be continued …

Hoschi aka Markus Wedig aka The Reaper