in memory of Johnny Ramone on his birthday

October 8, 1948: Johnny Ramone (John William Cummings October 8, 1948 – September 15, 2004) "Johnny Ramone, was an American musician who was the guitarist and a founding member of the Ramones, a band that helped pioneer the punk movement. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. Until the band's disbandment in 1996, Johnny, along with the lead vocalist Joey Ramone, were the only two original members who stayed since its inception, and appeared on every one of the band’s albums." -Wikipedia

Well, let's not waste any more time. Here is the band firing on all cylinders!!!

Ramones - Live At The Rainbow - December 31, 1977

Happy birthday to CJ Ramone!

October 8, 1965: C. J. Ramone (Christopher Joseph Ward October 8, 1965) "He is best known for performing from 1989 to 1996 as the bassist, backing vocalist and occasional lead vocalist of the punk rock group the Ramones after replacing original bassist Dee Dee Ramone — a role that lasted until the band's retirement." -Wikipedia

Ramones - Makin Monsters For My Friends

HELLOWEEN - 1980s German heavy metal anniversary - German power metal anniversary - melodic heavy metal anniversary

anniversary

October 8, 1991: Helloween > The Best, the Rest, the Rare > 1991, CD, Noise Records

October 8, 1991: Helloween > The Best, the Rest, the Rare > 1991, 2 12" vinyls, Noise Records

Michael – Kai – Michael – Markus – Ingo

I Want Out – Dr. Stein – Future World – Judas – Walls of Jericho – Ride the Sky – Halloween – Livin' Ain't No Crime – Save Us – Victim of Fate – Savage – Don't Run for Cover – Keeper of the Seven Keys

A great compilation - 90% CrystalMountain, May 12th, 2009 (The Metal Archives): "For what it is, you couldn't really ask for much more. The 2 early eras of the bands are well represented, and all though a couple of amazing songs were left off, and a couple generic songs were thrown in, it's still about as good as a best of CD can get really. And if anything, it's worth having for 'Victim of Fate' and 'Savage' alone."

A good introduction to classic helloween. - 97% hells_unicorn, August 28th, 2006 (The Metal Archives): "In short, if you are a bit hesitant to invest in 3 full studio albums, but you are curious about this band, the band that pretty much pioneered the Power Metal sound of today, this is the place to start."

This Is What a Compilation Album Should Be Like! - 95% PowerProg_Adam, February 27th, 2003: "Just wanting to consolidate your best of Helloween onto one cd, this is a pretty good place to start. Helloween has some great songs that aren't on here, but this album has what I feel and many others feel to be their best. Its definately worth the cash. You'll probably never find Michael Kiske singing some of Kai Hansen's songs on any other albums."

Helloween - "SAVE US" (Official Audio)

--

Happy birthday to Erez Yohanan!

October 8, 1971: Erez Yohanan (drums, percussion, bass, narration [2004-present]) - birthday

The Metal Archives shows Erez's work with the melodic progressive folk metal project AMASEFFER.

Amaseffer - When the Lions Leave Their Den (Exodus Part II) - October 8th, 2026

AMASEFFER - A Flame Unbidden

Amaseffer - melodic progressive folk metal

Bandcamps shows: "Amaseffer is an Israeli progressive/folk metal band formed in Tel Aviv in June 2004. Created by drummer and percussionist Erez Yohanan, the project was envisioned as an epic, three-part musical trilogy detailing the biblical Exodus. Guitarists Yuval Kramer and Hanan Avramovich soon completed the core trio. The group derived its name from the Hebrew phrase Am Ha'Sefer 'People of the Holy Book'".

Amaseffer - When the Lions Leave Their Den (Exodus Part II) - October 8th, 2026

When The Lions Leave Their Den by Amaseffer

AMASEFFER - When The Lions Leave Their Den https://youtu.be/iuprn46OLiM?si=s0tvQs0upuaCogec --

Happy birthday to Cammie Gilbert!

October 8, 1987: Cammie Gilbert (singer for Oceans of Slumber) - birthday

OCEANS OF SLUMBER - Winter (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

Untamed Land - anniversary of atmospheric Spaghetti Western soundtrack old western black metal

October 8, 2021: Untamed Land - Like Creatures Seeking Their Own Forms - Napalm Records

Like Creatures Seeking Their Own Forms by Untamed Land

Suffocation - 1990s New York death metal anniversary

Suffocation - 1990s New York death metal anniversary

October 8, 1991: Suffocation - Effigy of the Forgotten [debut full-length]- R/C Records

Suffocation - Mass Obliteration

in memory of DUNE author Frank Herbert

October 8, 1920: Frank Herbert (Franklin Patrick Herbert Jr. October 8, 1920 – February 11, 1986)

This author inspired the Iron Maiden song "To Tame a Land." Internet sources seem to show that bassist Steve Harris wrote the song and is a direct retelling of the plot and themes of Dune, featuring characters and lore such as Paul Atreides, the Fremen, the desert planet Arrakis, spice, and the sandworms. Iron Maiden originally wanted to title the track "Dune" and open it with a spoken word quotation from the book. When the band's management reached out to Frank Herbert for permission, Herbert denied the request. His agent famously relayed to the band: "Frank Herbert doesn't like rock bands, particularly heavy rock bands, and especially bands like Iron Maiden." Herbert threatened legal action if they used the title or quote, forcing the band to change the name to "To Tame a Land" for their 1983 album Piece of Mind.

IRON MAIDEN - To Tame a Land

Mary's Blood heavy metal anniversary

October 7, 2015: Mary's Blood - Bloody Palace - Victor Records

Divine Martyr - melodic symphonic metal

October 1, 2026: Divine Martyr - Fidem [full-length]

Fidem by Divine Martyr

Divine Martyr - Open Your Eyes

Dystopica heavy metal

Dystopica - The Worst In Me (EP)- Pavement Entertainment - 2 October 2026

Dystopica - The Worst In Me

Evanescence - hard rock, gothic rock, symphonic metal, gothic metal, nu metal anniversary

October 7, 2011: Evanescence - Evanescence [third album] - Wind-up Records

Evanescence - What You Want

Sevendust - hard rock, nu metal, alternative metal anniversary

October 7, 2003: Sevendust - Seasons [fourth album]- TVT Records

Sevendust - Enemy

STORMWOLF remembers this day in European history: Holy League Victory against Turkish Islamic Caliphate Ottoman Empire

STORMWOLF remembers this day in European history: Holy League Victory against Turkish Islamic Caliphate Ottoman Empire

October 7, 1571: Battle of Lepanto (off the western coast of mainland Greece)

"The Battle of Lepanto was a naval engagement that took place on 7 October 1571 when a fleet of the Holy League, a coalition of Catholic states arranged by Pope Pius V and led by the navies of the Spanish Empire and the Republic of Venice, inflicted a major defeat on the fleet of the Ottoman Empire in the Gulf of Patras ... The victory of the Holy League is of great importance in the history of Europe and of the Ottoman Empire, with the Ottoman fleet almost completely destroyed ... It was also of great symbolic importance in a period when Europe was torn by its own wars of religion following the Protestant Reformation. Pope Pius V instituted the feast of Our Lady of Victory, and Philip II of Spain used the victory to strengthen his position as the "Most Catholic King" and defender of Christendom against Muslim incursion." -Wikipedia

Wikipedia observes that, according to the historian Paul K. Davis: "More than a military victory, Lepanto was a moral one. For decades, the Ottoman Turks had terrified Europe, and the victories of Suleiman the Magnificent caused Christian Europe serious concern. The defeat at Lepanto further exemplified the rapid deterioration of Ottoman might under Selim II, and Christians rejoiced at this setback for the Ottomans. The mystique of Ottoman power was tarnished significantly by this battle, and Christian Europe was heartened."

This same historian writes, ""This Turkish defeat stopped Ottomans' expansion into the Mediterranean, thus maintaining Western dominance, and confidence grew in the West that Turks, previously unstoppable, could be beaten."

Stormwolf - Lepanto, 7th October 1571

(from 2014 album Voyager)

October 7 - statement from ARALLU black metal band

The black metal band 𝕬𝖗𝖆𝖑𝖑𝖚 has posted the following statement:

OCTOBER 7

A day we will never forget.

We remember the 1,400 innocent people brutally murdered on October 7, 2023.

We remember the families torn apart.

The lives stolen.

The communities shattered.

And those who were taken from their homes and never returned.

Their names, their faces, their stories, will remain with us.

We remember.

We mourn.

We will never forget.

🕯️ October 7 Never Again.

https://arallu.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/ARALLU666

HELLOWEEN 1990s melodic metal anniversary

October 5, 1998: Helloween > Hey Lord! > 1998, CD, Raw Power

(later on it was song number 4 in the 1998 album Better than Raw)

"Better Than Raw is the eighth studio album by German power metal band Helloween, released in 1998. The album spawned the singles 'I Can' and 'Hey Lord!'". -Wikipedia

HELLOWEEN - Hey Lord! (Official Music Video)

SEPULTURA 1990s groove heaviness anniversary

October 5, 1993: Sepultura - Territory (single) - Roadrunner Records

"'Territory' is a song by Brazilian heavy metal band Sepultura, released as the second of the three singles from the band's fifth studio album, Chaos A.D., released in 1993. Like most of the band's singles, the song is one of the band's best-known songs, and is a concert staple to this day." -Wikipedia

Territory (2017 Remaster)

MORTIFICATION death metal CD reissue anniversary

September 2007: Mortification > Mortification > 2007, CD, Soundmass (Digipak) (reissue of 1991)

Wikipedia shows:

Mortification is the debut studio album by Australian Christian death metal band Mortification. It was released on 12 October 1991. This album leans more towards death metal than the band's demo album Break the Curse, but retains thrash metal elements. Five songs from the demo album were re-recorded for Mortification. In 2002, The Billboard Guide to Contemporary Christian Music described the album's sound as "punk-meets-metal grind-core". Journey of Reconciliation

Queensrÿche - Seattle heavy metal anniversary

September 1983: Queensrÿche - Queensrÿche - EMI Records edition

shown as: Queensrÿche > Demo > 1983, 12" vinyl, EMI

Queensryche - Nightrider

Napalm Death grindcore anniversary

September 25, 2000: Napalm Death - Enemy of the Music Business - Dream Catcher

Kreator thrash anniversary

September 25, 2001: Kreator - Violent Revolution - Steamhammer

KREATOR - Violent Revolution (OFFICIAL)

King's X anniversary

September 25, 2001: King's X - Manic Moonlight - Metal Blade Records

METALITE - out on Friday- Starchild (Official Music Video)

Here we go! This album comes out on Friday. The melodic sci-fi power metal is back with bouncy tunes. Metalite is back.

—-

“Swedish modern power metal force Metalite returns with their most ambitious and cinematic chapter yet: Discovery, scheduled to arrive on September 25, 2026, via Perception - Powered by Reigning Phoenix Music. Since forming in 2015, METALITE has continuously pushed the boundaries of melodic metal, forging a signature sound where futuristic soundscapes collide with soaring vocals, electrifying melodies, cinematic synths, and high-octane riffs. With Discovery, the band once again proves why they are regarded as pioneers of modern sci-fi-inspired power metal.”

METALITE - Starchild (Official Music Video)

NOCTULE - out on Friday - melodic black metal

“Serena Cherry (formally of Svalbard) announces her second Noctule album Extinguish Thy Flame. It's a melodeath / black metal solo album, and it's all about one of the greatest (and toughest) video games of all time: Elden Ring.

- All music written and performed by Serena Cherry - First single: 'Lord of Blood' is about Mogh from Elden Ring - a horned demigod who embraces a blood-soaked cult.

- Each song is about a different boss in Elden Ring

- Serena credits the game Elden Ring as the game that saved her life (and has written several editorials on the matter

- Took 2 years to make this album

- She is self-releasing the album

- A unique-sounding album that blends melodeath with black metal”

NOCTULE - Lord of Blood

MEGADETH state-of-the-art thrash metal anniversary

September 23, 2011: Megadeth - Never Dead (single) - Roadrunner Records

MEGADETH state-of-the-art thrash metal anniversary

September 23, 1990: Megadeth - Holy Wars... the Punishment Due (single)- Capitol Records

new today from TESTIMONY OF APOCALYPSE

new on YouTube from Testimony of Apocalypse and Roxx Records

"Testimony of Apocalypse brings brutal, high-energy metal with thrash, groove, and death elements in a progressive sound. Formed in 2021, their debut album, None Escape the Judgement (2022), featured Sacrament’s Michael Torone. The follow-up, The Offering (2023), showcased 10 guest vocalists. Now with Derek Corzine as frontman, their third album, Agony in the Garden." -Bandcamp

TESTIMONY OF APOCALYPSE - SETTLE YOUR ETERNAL DESTINATION

ARALLU Middle Eastern Black Metal anniversary

September 22, 2017: Arallu - Six - Transcending Obscurity Records

Excerpt from The Metal Archives by "felix headbanger," February 22nd, 2018: "This album offers the listeners a very stunning infusion of occult black metal music with the ancient Sumerian and Middle Eastern sound. The riffs found in here will satisfy the listeners with its frenzy of melodic tremolo picked riffs that is intertwined with some eerie folk instrumentation. These elements in the guitar department, thrown in with a few folk instruments such as a saz and a darbuka, reveals how the band had successfully stripped metal down to its core and added a personal touch of their own special flair ... Arallu had created a menacing and atmospheric beast in this style of metal with their release of this varmint offering."

"Six" (Physical/Digital Album) 2017 by Arallu

KISS - Psycho Circus anniversary

You wanted the best, and you got the best! The hottest band in the world... KISS!

KISS heavy metal anniversary - hard rock anniversary - classic rock anniversary

September 22, 1998: KISS - Psycho Circus - Mercury Records

Wikipedia shows:

Psycho Circus is the eighteenth studio album by American rock band Kiss, released on 22 September 1998 by Mercury Records as the band's final album on the label. It is also their first and only album to involve all four original members since 1979's Dynasty. While touted as a band effort, the album was recorded using largely session players and Kiss associates. Peter Criss only played drums on the Ace Frehley-penned track, "Into the Void", and guitarist Frehley only played on two regular album tracks, the one he wrote plus "You Wanted the Best". He also played on a bonus track called "In Your Face", penned by Simmons. All four band members, however, sang lead vocals on the album.

Kiss - Psycho Circus