Metal Bulletin Zine

Thursday, October 22, 2026

Happy birthday to RATT drummer Bobby Blotzer!

October 22, 1958: birthday - Bobby Blotzer (drummer for RATT - Robert John Blotzer)

Wikipedia says:

Ratt (stylized as RATT) was an American glam metal band that had significant commercial success in the 1980s, with their albums having been certified as gold, platinum and multi-platinum by the RIAA. The group is perhaps best known for hit singles such as "Round and Round" and "Lay It Down", tracks that ranked on Billboard's top 40 at No. 12 and No. 40, respectively, as well as other songs such as "Wanted Man", "You're in Love" and "Dance".

RATT - Never Use Love

IRON MAIDEN classic heavy metal anniversary

October 22, 1984: Iron Maiden - Aces High (single)

Iron Maiden - Aces High (Official Video)

remembering MOUNTAIN's Leslie West on his birthday

October 22, 1945: birthday - Leslie West [Leslie Abel West (Weinstein); October 22, 1945 – December 23, 2020]

Wikipedia says:

Mountain was an American rock band formed on Long Island, New York, in 1969. Originally consisting of vocalist-guitarist Leslie West, bassist-vocalist Felix Pappalardi, keyboardist Steve Knight, and drummer N. D. Smart (soon replaced by Corky Laing), the group disbanded in 1972, but reunited on several occasions prior to West's death in 2020. They are best known for their 1970 smash hit song "Mississippi Queen", which remains a staple of classic rock radio, as well as the heavily sampled song "Long Red", and their performance at Woodstock Festival in 1969. Mountain is one of many bands commonly credited with influencing the development of heavy metal music during the 1970s.The group's musical style primarily consisted of hard rock, blues rock, and heavy metal.

MOUNTAIN - Mississippi Queen (Live on "The Show" 02-24-1970) - * RARE * remastered audio

UDO heavy metal anniversary

October 22, 2021: U.D.O. - Game Over - AFM Records

"U.D.O. is a German heavy metal band founded in Solingen by eponymous vocalist Udo Dirkschneider following his departure from Accept in 1987." -Wikipedia

UDO - Fear Detector

LED ZEPPELIN - anniversary of an album that changed the world of rock and heavy metal music

LED ZEPPELIN - anniversary of an album that changed the world of rock and heavy metal music October 22, 1969: Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II - Atlantic Records

"Led Zeppelin II was not well-received by contemporary music critics. John Mendelsohn wrote a negative review of the record for Rolling Stone, in which he mocked the group's heavy sound and white blues" -Wikipedia

BUT the American rock fans did not care for all the negativity and jealously towards Led Zeppelin because Wikipedia also says:

The album was released on 22 October 1969 on Atlantic Records, with advance orders of 400,000 copies. The advertising campaign was built around the slogans 'Led Zeppelin – The Only Way to Fly' and 'Led Zeppelin II Now Flying'. In the United States, some commercially duplicated reel-to-reel copies of Led Zeppelin II made by Ampex bore the title Led Zeppelin II – The Only Way to Fly on their spine. Commercially, Led Zeppelin II was the band's first album to hit No. 1 in the US, knocking The Beatles' Abbey Road (1969) twice from the top spot, where it remained for seven weeks. By April 1970 it had registered three million American sales, whilst in Britain it enjoyed a 138-week residence on the LP chart, climbing to the top spot in February 1970. Meanwhile, the album reached the top spot in 5 other national albums charts (including the Canadian, Australian and Spanish albums charts). In November Ritchie Yorke reported in Billboard that while the album had achieved "staggering" sales, as a hard rock record it was considered unsuitable for North American Top 40 radio stations, who were "dreary and detached from the mainstream of contemporary rock music".

The album also yielded Led Zeppelin's biggest hit, "Whole Lotta Love". This song reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1970, after Atlantic went against the group's wishes by releasing a shorter version on 45. The single's B-side, "Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)", also hit the Billboard chart, peaking at No. 65 in April 1970. The album helped establish Led Zeppelin as an international concert attraction, and for the next year, the group continued to tour relentlessly, initially performing in clubs and ballrooms, then in larger auditoriums and eventually stadiums as their popularity grew.

Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II (Remaster) [Official Full Album]

BORKNAGAR - progressive extreme metal anniversary

October 22, 2001: Borknagar - Empiricism - Century Media Records

"Empiricism is the fifth studio album by Norwegian progressive metal band Borknagar. It is their first studio album to feature Vintersorg frontman Andreas Hedlund on vocals and Jan Erik 'Tyr' Tiwaz on bass. It was also the last album to feature Jens F. Ryland on guitar until his return to the band in 2010." -Wikipedia

"Each of the songs flow extremely well, so you never skip a beat. Each of the songs has a little of everything: some sections are more guitar driven, some are more keyboard oriented, and there are always spaces open for Asgeir's drumming to shine, or Vintersorg's great vocal work to take center stage, and, in the case of Four Element Synchronicity's bridge section, even for a bass/piano duet by Lazare and Tyr. It's an excellent album for black metal fans, and progressive metal fans alike. One of my all time favorites." -Progressive mastery - 96% Dark_Mewtwo1, May 2nd, 2006 - The Metal Archives

BORKNAGAR - The Genuine Pulse

ELDERWIND - nature atmospheric black metal anniversary

October 22, 2018: Elderwind - Чем холоднее ночь / The Colder the Night

"The basis of the new journey Elderwind lay 8 wanderings in the contemplation of the captivating horizons of unknown distances that delight the spirit of the traveler, forcing to forget about everything and plunge into the cycle of trials, sorrow, joy and grandeur of the beauty of the landscape.This is an internal dialogue with nature, the search for threads connecting us with its great mysteries." -Wikipedia

Чем холоднее ночь / The colder the night by Elderwind

SEPULTURA groove metal anniversary

October 22, 1996:: Sepultura > Chaos A.D. > 1996, CD, Roadrunner Records (Gold disc, Remastered) [reissue of 1993]

SEPULTURA - Biotech Is Godzilla

FORBIDDEN Bay Area Metal anniversary

October 22, 2010: Forbidden - Omega Wave - Nuclear Blast Records

"Omega Wave is the fifth studio album by American thrash metal band Forbidden, released on October 22, 2010. It was the band's first studio recording in 13 years (since 1997's Green) and the first album to feature two new band members, Steve Smyth on guitar and Mark Hernandez on drums. This is also the final Forbidden studio album to feature vocalist Russ Anderson." -Wikipedia

FORBIDDEN - Forsaken at the Gates

KISS - single anniversary - Let Me Go, Rock 'N Roll

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

October 22, 1974: KISS - Let Me Go, Rock ’n’ Roll — (single from October 22, 1974 album Hotter than Hell)

KISS - Let Me Go, Rock 'N Roll

KISS - Hotter than Hell 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

October 22, 1974: KISS - Hotter than Hell - Casablanca Records

"Hotter than Hell is the second studio album by American hard rock band Kiss, released on October 22, 1974, by Casablanca Records. It was certified gold on June 23, 1977, having shipped 500,000 copies." -Wikipedia

KISS - Hotter Than Hell

METAL CHURCH heavy metal anniversary

October 22, 2013: Metal Church - Generation Nothing - Rat Pak Records

"Generation Nothing is the tenth studio album by American heavy metal band Metal Church. It is their first after their late 2012 reunion, and their fourth and last to feature vocalist Ronny Munroe." -Wikipedia

METAL CHURCH - Bulletproof (Remastered, 2025)

Happy birthday to BLOODGOOD singer Les Carlsen!

October 22, 1948: birthday - Les Carlsen (Claude Leslie Carlsen) (singer for Bloodgood 1984-1994, 2002-2022

Wikipedia shows that BLOODGOOD was formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1983. They were an American Christian metal band spearheaded by local musicians Les Carlsen and Michael Bloodgood. Alongside Barren Cross, Leviticus, and Whitecross, the group emerged by 1988 as one of the top four major Christian metal acts outside of Stryper's mainstream breakthrough. Famous for their theatrical and high-energy stage performances, their visual style and presentation often put them at odds with fundamentalist Christian factions. Looking back on their impact in 1998, critic Brian Quincy Newcomb noted that the band's music and outreach played a crucial role in advancing the evolution of Christian rock.

BLOODGOOD - Crucify

SCARDUST melodic symphonic metal anniversary

October 22, 2020: Scardust - Gone (single) - M-Theory Audio (song number nine on the October 30, 2020 album Strangers)

Scardust is an Israeli progressive and symphonic metal band formed in Ramat Gan in 2013. Known for blending heavy, complex guitar riffs with grand orchestral arrangements, dynamic rhythm sections, and polyphonic choir compositions, the band has established a distinct presence in the international progressive metal scene. Their discography includes their debut EP Shadow (2015), followed by full-length studio albums Sands of Time (2017), the concept album Strangers (2020), and Souls (2025).

Scardust - Gone (Official Music Video)

Strangers album by Scardust

ANTESTOR black metal album anniversary

October 22, 2004: Antestor - The Forsaken (2004), CD, Endtime Productions (Tour edition) (Prerelease, only distributed at NordicFest October 22, 2004.)

"Antestor is a Norwegian Christian extreme metal band formed in 1990 in Jessheim. Credited for starting the northern European Christian black metal scene, Antestor is the only Christian band to have an album released on Cacophonous Records, which has released records by Dimmu Borgir, Sigh, and Cradle of Filth. The band's only release on Cacophonous, The Return of the Black Death, influenced Christian black metal. It has sold over 10,000 copies. In the late 1990s, they dubbed their style 'sorrow metal' because the early Norwegian black metal scene was affiliated with Satanism. According to HM magazine, the progressive elements on the debut album, Martyrium, were ahead of their time in the Norwegian extreme metal scene." -Wikipedia

The Forsaken by ANTESTOR

ANTESTOR black metal EP anniversary

October 22, 2004: Antestor - Det tapte liv (EP) - Endtime Productions

Det Tapte Liv by ANTESTOR

Happy birthday to SEVENDUST bassist Vinnie Hornsby!

Happy birthday to SEVENDUST bassist Vinnie Hornsby! October 22: birthday - Vinnie Hornsby (bassist for Sevendust)

"Sevendust is an American rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1994 by bassist Vinnie Hornsby, drummer Morgan Rose, and guitarist John Connolly. After their first demo, lead vocalist Lajon Witherspoon and guitarist Clint Lowery joined the group. Following a few name changes, the members settled on Sevendust and released their self-titled debut album in 1997, which sold only 311 copies in its first week but ultimately achieved gold certification. Since their formation, Sevendust have attained success with three consecutive RIAA gold-certified albums, a Grammy nomination, and have sold millions of records worldwide. The group has released a total of 15 studio albums." -Wikipedia

SEVENDUST - Shine

Demon Hunter metalcore anniversary

October 22, 2002: Demon Hunter – Demon Hunter - Solid State Records

"Demon Hunter is the debut studio album by American Christian metal band Demon Hunter. It was released on Solid State Records on October 22, 2002." -Wikipedia

"Demon Hunter is an American Christian metal band from Seattle, Washington that brothers Don Clark and Ryan Clark formed in 2000. Ryan is the band's only remaining original member, as Don left in 2009. As of the 2010s, the band has sold over 600,000 albums." -Wikipedia

Demon Hunter "Infected" (Official Music Video)

remembering the great Hungarian composer Franz Liszt on his birthday

remembering the great Hungarian composer Franz Liszt on his birthday October 22, 1811: Franz Liszt (22 October 1811 – 31 July 1886)

"Franz Liszt (22 October 1811 – 31 July 1886) was a Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor and teacher of the Romantic period. With a diverse body of work spanning more than six decades, he is considered to be one of the most prolific and influential composers of his era, and his piano works continue to be widely performed and recorded ... Liszt achieved success as a concert pianist from an early age and received lessons from the esteemed musicians Carl Czerny and Antonio Salieri. He gained further renown for his performances during tours of Europe in the 1830s and 1840s, developing a reputation for technical brilliance as well as physical attractiveness. In a phenomenon dubbed 'Lisztomania', he rose to a degree of stardom and popularity among the public not experienced by the virtuosos who had preceded him." -Wikipedia

Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2

Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Wish Liszt (Toy Shop Madness) (Official Audio)

EAGLE THE WHITE remembers Christian Frankish Warrior Charles "The Hammer" Martel - The Christian Franks led by Charles Martel defeat The Muslim invasion and save Western Europe from Islamic rule

This date in history - October 22, 741 AD: R.I.P. Charles Martel

"The Battle of Tours ... was fought on 10 October 732, and was an important battle during the [Islamic] Umayyad invasion of Gaul [France]. It resulted in victory for the Frankish and Aquitanian forces, led by Charles Martel, over the invading Umayyad forces, led by Abd al-Rahman al-Ghafiqi, governor of al-Andalus. Many historians, including Edward Gibbon, have credited the Christian victory as an important factor in curtailing the spread of Islam in Western Europe." -Wikipedia

"Charles gained a victory against an [Islamic] Umayyad invasion of Aquitaine at the Battle of Tours, and Charles is credited as an important factor in curtailing the spread of Islam in Western Europe. Alongside his military endeavours, Charles has been traditionally credited with an influential role in the development of the Frankish system of feudalism." -Wikipedia

EAGLE THE WHITE - CHARLES MARTEL

[2019 single; included on March 15, 2024 album Divine Comedy]

Charles Martel by Eagle The White

ICED EARTH heavy metal EP anniversary

ICED EARTH heavy metal anniversary

October 21, 2003: Iced Earth – The Reckoning - Steamhammer Records

"'The Reckoning' is a single by American heavy metal band Iced Earth. The single was released in October 2003, but originally the band had planned to release the album The Glorious Burden (from which the tracks on 'The Reckoning' are taken from) in October 2003, but after the band was forced to move the album's release date due to singer Matt Barlow's departure from the band, record company released 'The Reckoning' in order to fill in the gap. 'The Reckoning' was also the first Iced Earth release from to feature lead vocalist Tim 'Ripper' Owens." -Wikipedia

Iced Earth - "The Reckoning" (Official Music Video 4K)

ICED EARTH heavy metal covers anniversary

ICED EARTH heavy metal anniversary

October 21, 2002: Iced Earth – Tribute to the Gods - Century Media Records

"Tribute to the Gods is a covers album by heavy metal band Iced Earth. It is notable as the last Iced Earth album featuring Larry Tarnowski on lead guitar, and the last featuring singer Matt Barlow on vocals until his 2007 return. It was also their last album with Century Media until they returned to the label in 2010. This record was first released in 2001 in the box set Dark Genesis, but was re-released as a standalone disc in 2002. It was then re-released as part of the set Enter the Realm of the Gods along with the band's 1989 demo Enter the Realm in 2008 with new cover." -Wikipedia

Creatures of the Night (cover version)

STRYPER keeping it yellow and black heavy metal anniversary

October 21, 2022: Stryper - The Final Battle - Frontiers Records

"The Final Battle is the nineteenth release and fourteenth studio album by Christian metal band Stryper, produced by frontman Michael Sweet and released on October 21, 2022." -Wikipedia

Stryper - "Transgressor" - Official Music Video

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

SODOM - German thrash death anniversary

October 21, 1992: Sodom: Tapping the Vein > 1992, CD, Metal Mania (Japan)

[The earliest release date listed on The Metal Archives is August 1, 1992 on Steamhammer Records.]

"Tapping the Vein is the fifth studio album by German thrash metal band Sodom, released in August 1992 through Steamhammer/SPV. The album was recorded with producer Harris Johns at Dierks Studios in Cologne, Germany. The release marks the studio debut of guitarist Andy Brings and is the last album to feature original member Chris Witchhunter on drums. The album represents a return to a heavy and fast-paced musical direction, and features notable death metal characteristics." -Wikipedia

Sodom - Body Parts (2024 Remaster) (Official Audio)

in memory of IRON MAIDEN singer Paul Di'Anno

"Paul Andrews (17 May 1958 – 21 October 2024), better known by his stage name Paul Di'Anno, was an English heavy metal singer. He was the lead vocalist for Iron Maiden from 1978 to 1981. In his post-Maiden career, Di'Anno issued numerous albums over the years, as both a solo artist and as a member of bands such as Gogmagog, Di'Anno's Battlezone, Killers, Rockfellas, and Warhorse. Together with fellow Iron Maiden member Dennis Stratton, he joined Praying Mantis for the recording of their 1990 live album Live at Last." -Wikipedia

Welcome to the Battlezone

remembering IRON MAIDEN inspiration Samuel Taylor Coleridge -author of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner- on his birthday

October 21, 1772: Samuel Taylor Coleridge (21 October 1772 – 25 July 1834)

"Samuel Taylor Coleridge (21 October 1772 – 25 July 1834) was an English poet, literary critic, philosopher, and theologian who was a founder of the Romantic Movement in England and a member of the Lake Poets with his friend William Wordsworth. He also shared volumes and collaborated with Charles Lamb, Robert Southey, and Charles Lloyd." -Wikipedia

"Coleridge wrote the poems The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and 'Kubla Khan', as well as the major prose work Biographia Literaria. His critical works were highly influential, especially in relation to William Shakespeare, and he helped introduce German idealist philosophy to England." -Wikipedia

"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (originally The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere), written by English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1797–98 and published in 1798 in the first edition of Lyrical Ballads, is a poem that recounts the experiences of a sailor who has returned from a long sea voyage." -Wikipedia

"'Rime of the Ancient Mariner' is a song by the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, from their fifth studio album, Powerslave (1984). Written by the band's bass player Steve Harris, the song is based on Coleridge's poem with many direct quotes from the text. The song is almost fourteen minutes long and like the poem, it contains several distinct sections with differing moods. It has remained a fan favorite." -Wikipedia

Rime of the Ancient Mariner (2015 Remaster)

NAPALM DEATH grindcore anniversary

Napalm Death > Order of the Leech > 2002, CD, Spitfire Records

"Order of the Leech is the tenth studio album by the British grindcore band Napalm Death, released in 2002 through Spitfire. Although credited in the line-up, Jesse Pintado never performed. The second guitar is actually Mitch Harris overdubbing, hence marking this album's lineup as today's lineup. 'The Great Capitulator' is 2:49. At the end of the song, a long silence follows from 2:50 to 9:56. At 9:57, a soundbite comes fading in of a fan speaking of his attitude to metal music, mentioning bands like Krabathor or Immortal. His speech is then translated in Czech. It is the last album in a trilogy to feature these kinds of soundbites, with the others being Leaders Not Followers EP and Enemy of the Music Business." -Wikipedia

NAPALM DEATH - Lowest Common Denominator

PROTECTOR - German thrash death anniversary

October 21, 1988: Protector - Golem - Atom H Records

"Germanophobe"

The mankind always look for scapegoats

And we germans fit very good for that

Well our history is full of blood

But look at the history of other countries

No blood? No war? No killings? I don't see that!

Aggression, violence, invasions everewhere!

Corpses, ruins, killing - the world bleeds

Opression? A leader? Warplans? In our land?

Freedom? Justice? Equality is what counts!

Please learn now, or believe what you want!

Disgusting smiles, defame - oh, so nice

If you don't know better? Please, shut up!

I am so damned sick of it! Wouldn't you be too?

You call us nazis - and Führer's slaves

But we're no nazis - We're no fascists

We're germans - We're humans like you!

Let's free the earth from dictators

History the signpost of the future

Genocide, murder, rasism - stop it!!!

Terror, injustice, fear must leave our planet

Let us build a new, better world

Nobody shall ever suffer again!

Never again!!!

PROTECTOR - Germanophobe

Happy birthday to DELIVERANCE guitarist vocalist Jimmy P. Brown!

James Peter Brown II - October 21, 1969 - birthday

"Deliverance is an American Christian metal band. A progenitor of Christian thrash metal, they shifted towards progressive metal and alternative rock. The band was founded by Jimmy P. Brown II in 1985, who has been the only constant member through numerous lineup changes ... Jimmy P. Brown II formed Deliverance in 1985 in Los Angeles. They debuted in 1989 with Deliverance, followed up by Weapons of Our Warfare in 1990, What a Joke in 1991, and Stay of Execution in 1992. These releases featured traditional thrash and speed metal. The band was a Christian thrash metal pioneer. The debut album earned them the label of Metallica clones, sometimes meant as praise. Weapons of Our Warfare is considered the band's peak. The music video for the title song earned regular airplay on MTV Headbangers Ball, and in 1999, Metallica's Lars Ulrich listed the video on his Top 10 metal videos." -Wikipedia

DELIVERANCE - Weapons of Our Warfare

Happy birthday to SEVENDUST groove keeper guitarist John Connolly!

"John Connolly (born October 21, 1968) is an American musician best known as one of two guitarists in rock band Sevendust. Connolly is known for his fire-designed custom-made Les Paul guitar designed by Epiphone, but has since switched to Dean Guitars ... In 1988, John Connolly, accompanied by vocalist Greg Anderson, guitarist Mike Grimmett and bassist Kyle Sanders started a band called Piece Dogs in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1992, Piece Dogs released an LP titled Exes for Eyes through Energy Rekords. Connolly was the band's original drummer. The band genre was power and thrash metal. Piece Dogs disbanded several months after releasing the album ... In 1994, Connolly joined the rock band Sevendust as a guitarist, and has since been with the band through all of their studio releases. He also provides backing vocals." -Wikipedia