Reverend (band)
American heavy metal band founded by ex-Metal Church vocalist David Wayne.
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Reverend is an American heavy metal band formed in 1989 by ex-Metal Church vocalist David Wayne, who took the band's name from his own moniker. The band underwent multiple lineup changes and regional incarnations, releasing several EPs and studio albums before disbanding in 1994. After Wayne's death in 2005, the band was revived by former guitarist Bill Rhynes in 2019.
Quick Facts
- Background
- group_or_band
- Origin
- Los Angeles, U.S.
- Genre
- Thrash metal / speed metal / power metal
- Years Active
- 1989–1994 / 2000–2002 / 2005–2010 / 2019-present
- Label
- Caroline / Charisma / Independent Records / Neck Damage Records / Divebomb Records / VIC Records
- Spinoff Of
- Metal Church / Heretic
- Current Members
- Bobby Lucas / Bill Rhynes / Allan Johnson
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Wayne moved to Yakima, Washington, and assembled a new Reverend with guitarist Bill Rhynes, bassist Chuck Smith, and drummer Jamie Northop. They recorded the Soul Eater album in 1993, which remained unreleased until 2026. After further lineup changes, Wayne disbanded Reverend in 1994 due to creative differences. He revived the band in Seattle in 2000 with drummer Todd Stotz, guitarist Chris Nelson, and bassist John Stahlman, releasing the EP A Gathering of Demons in 2001. After further personnel changes, the band played its final show with Wayne on December 13, 2002. Wayne attempted a relaunch in 2004 but was derailed by a car crash; his final performance was billed as David Wayne's Metal Church in March 2005.
Reader's Guide
Reverend's significance lies in its connection to Metal Church and its role as a vehicle for David Wayne's post-Metal Church career. The band's music, particularly the albums World Won't Miss You and Play God, represents a continuation of the American heavy metal sound of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Despite multiple lineup changes and regional shifts, Reverend maintained a cult following. The posthumous release of Soul Eater in 2026 and the continued activity of the band after Wayne's death, including a 2019 revival by guitarist Bill Rhynes, have kept the band's legacy alive. The band's unreleased material also influenced Byfist's 2020 album In the End, which included several tracks originally intended for Reverend.
Did You Know?
- The band's name was taken from David Wayne's own moniker, which he acquired as the frontman of Metal Church.
- The 1993 Soul Eater album was recorded but remained unreleased until 2026, when it was officially released by VIC Records.
- Reverend's 2001 EP A Gathering of Demons included a track titled 'Legion', an altered rendition of Metal Church's 'Fake Healer' with different lyrics written by Wayne before he left Metal Church in 1988.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Reverend (band)?
Reverend is a heavy metal group that emerged from Los Angeles in the late 1980s, started by David Wayne after he departed his earlier band Metal Church. Wayne chose the name Reverend because it was already his personal stage moniker.
What are Reverend's most notable albums?
Their core studio output includes World Won't Miss You from 1990 and Play God from 1991. A third record, Soul Eater, was tracked back in 1993 but did not see an official release until 2026.
Why did Reverend disband and what happened to their founder?
The original run of the band lasted from 1989 through 1994, with frequent personnel turnover contributing to the eventual split. Founder David Wayne passed away in 2005, removing the central creative force behind the project.
How did Reverend get revived after being dormant for over a decade?
In 2019, Bill Rhynes, who had played guitar in the group during its earlier years, stepped in to resurrect the band's name and continue performing. That revival marked the start of their current active period.
What style of metal does Reverend play and where do they fit in the scene?
Reverend sits squarely in the heavy and speed metal lane, drawing on the aggressive, riff-driven sound that defined the late-'80s American metal wave. They grew out of the Los Angeles scene and shared a musical lineage with thrash-adjacent acts like Metal Church.
More in American speed metal musical groups 1-22
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