Metal Bulletin Zine

Thursday, November 5, 2026

Xoth

Happy birthday to XOTH's Tyler Sturgill!

November 4, 1988: birthday - Tyler Sturgill

vocals and guitars for Xoth - Seattle alien volcano frozen tundra ancient bacterial disease shred technical progressive extreme metal

come and get it

https://xoth.bandcamp.com/album/exogalactic

Pelican - Chicago long-song instrumental heavy rock post metal doom metal anniversary

November 4, 2003: Pelican - Australasia - Hydra Head Records

"Australasia is the debut studio album by American post-metal band Pelican. It was released November 4, 2003 on Hydra Head Records. Guitarist Trevor de Brauw has noted that because of budget restrictions, the Australasia sessions had to be rushed. The studio was also under construction during recording and had a few impediments. Despite this, critical reception has been largely positive." -Wikipedia

"Pelican is an American post-metal band from Chicago, Illinois. Established in 2001, the band is known for their heavy, atmospheric and almost entirely instrumental style. They have released seven studio albums and six EPs." -Wikipedia

Nightendday

Ramones - a classic of classics anniversary

November 4, 1977: Ramones - Rocket to Russia - Sire Records

"Rocket to Russia is the third studio album by the American punk rock band Ramones, released on November 4, 1977, through Sire Records. It is the band's last album to feature original drummer Tommy Ramone, who left the band in 1978 to focus on production." -Wikipedia

Wikipedia also observes:

Critic Robert Christgau reaffirms that the album's content evolved significantly since previous releases. Writing in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981), he noted that the album had "something for everyone" and called it a "ready-made punk-rock classic". Rolling Stone critic Dave Marsh began his review of the album by stating: "Rocket to Russia is the best American rock & roll of the year and possibly the funniest rock album ever made." Like other critics, Marsh recognized the advanced sound quality, explaining that "the guitars still riff relentlessly, but they are freer within the murky sound, and the songs give them much more to work with."

John Rockwell of The New York Times deemed Rocket to Russia the band's best album "because the humor and the role-playing have become more overt than ever". The Los Angeles Times labeled it "an important breakthrough album", and praised the "inspired lunacy". UPI listed Rocket to Russia as the second best album of 1977, writing that the Ramones were "the undisputed kings of American Punk."

Ramones - "I Wanna Be Well" - Rocket to Russia https://youtu.be/S1NZhLn77sQ?si=Pb2hK5JuiPPhboxT

Manilla Road - cult American heavy metal anniversary

November 4, 2002: Manilla Road - Spiral Castle - Iron Glory Records

"Spiral Castle is the twelfth album by American heavy metal band Manilla Road, released in 2002 by Iron Glory Records." -Wikipedia

"Manilla Road was an American heavy metal band from Wichita, Kansas, founded by Mark 'The Shark' Shelton (vocals, guitar) and Scott 'Scooter' Park (bass). Beginning in 1977, the early years of Manilla Road were spent playing mostly hard rock, psychedelic rock and progressive rock but eventually became noticeably heavier with time, the band's later heavy metal sound becoming more and more apparent with the release of Crystal Logic in 1983." -Wikipedia

Spiral Castle

https://youtu.be/fTVVsWcHLq0?si=WMtW0j3Z8MOPN6Ci

Dark Tranquillity melodic death metal anniversary

November 4, 2016: Dark Tranquillity - Atoma - Century Media Records

"Atoma is the eleventh studio album by Swedish melodic death metal band Dark Tranquillity. It was released on 4 November 2016 through Century Media Records." -Wikipedia

DARK TRANQUILLITY - Atoma (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

Yngwie Malmsteen neoclassical heavy metal anniversary

November 4, 1986: Yngwie Malmsteen - Trilogy - Polydor Records

"Trilogy is the third studio album by guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, released in October 1986 through Polydor Records. The album reached No. 44 on the US Billboard 200 and charted within the top 60 in the Netherlands and Sweden." -Wikipedia

Wikipedia observes:

Steve Huey at AllMusic gave Trilogy four stars out of five, calling it Malmsteen's second best album after his 1984 debut Rising Force. Malmsteen's compositional and lyrical skills were described as being at their peak on Trilogy, while his guitar work was praised as "jaw-droppingly fast and technically demanding". Huey listed "Dark Ages", "You Don't Remember, I'll Never Forget" and "Trilogy Suite Op: 5" as highlights.

"You Don't Remember, I'll Never Forget"

X Japan hard rock heavy metal anniversary

X Japan hard rock heavy metal anniversary November 4, 1996: X Japan - Dahlia - East West Japan

"Dahlia is the fifth studio album by Japanese rock band X Japan, released on November 4, 1996, by Atlantic Records. It is the band's last album before breaking up the following year, and the last to feature new work by guitarist hide, due to his death two years later. The album is composed largely of ballads, with only a few tracks retaining the band's heavier musical traits seen on previous releases." -Wikipedia

X Japan Rusty Nail from "The Last Live" HD

Civil War - Swedish heavy metal power metal anniversary

November 4, 2016: Civil War - The Last Full Measure - Napalm Records

"The Last Full Measure is the third studio album by Swedish power metal band Civil War, released in 2016." -Wikipedia

"Civil War is a Swedish power metal band from Falun, formed in 2012 by several former members of Sabaton. The band adopted the same lyrical themes of war and historical battles that were characteristic of Sabaton. However, unlike Sabaton, many of Civil War's songs focus on American history and conflicts, whereas Sabaton's songs are primarily about European history and conflicts." -Wikipedia

CIVIL WAR - Tombstone (Official Video) | Napalm Records

November 4, 1997: Living Sacrifice — Reborn - Solid State Records

"Reborn is the fourth album by the Christian metal band Living Sacrifice. The album was released in 1997, and later re-released and remastered in 2004. In 2020, the band announce a vinyl re-release of Reborn, which sold out quickly." -Wikipedia

Living Sacrifice - "Reject"

Danish hard rock heavy metal anniversary

November 4, 2016: Pretty Maids - Kingmaker - Frontiers Records

"Kingmaker is the fifteenth studio album by Danish hard rock/heavy metal Pretty Maids. The album was released in Japan on 21 October 2016, and in the rest of the world on 4 November 2016 by Frontiers Records. It is the first album of all new material since Motherland (2013)." -Wikipedia

Pretty Maids "Kingmaker" (Official Music Video)

HammerFall heavy metal anniversary

November 4, 2016: HammerFall - Built to Last - Napalm Records

"Built to Last is the tenth studio album by Swedish power metal band HammerFall, released on 4 November 2016. It is the first album to feature David Wallin on drums." -Wikipedia

Hammerfall - Hammer High (Official Video) | Napalm Records

P.O.D. alternative heavy rock anniversary

November 4, 2003: P.O.D. - Payable on Death - Atlantic Records

"Payable on Death is the fifth studio album by Christian nu metal band P.O.D. ... Payable on Death was released on November 4, 2003, through Atlantic and marks a notable de-emphasizing of the band's distinctive rap metal style. While a commercial disappointment compared to Satellite, it still managed to sell over 1,300,000 copies worldwide." -Wikipedia

P.O.D. - Will You (Official Music Video)

Animals As Leaders instrumental prog metal anniversary

November 4, 2011: Animals as Leaders - Weightless - Prosthetic Records

"Weightless is the second studio album by American instrumental progressive metal band Animals as Leaders. It was released on November 4, 2011 in Europe, November 7, 2011 in the UK, and November 8, 2011 in the US by Prosthetic Records. The album charted at No. 92 on Billboard’s Top 200 Chart, as well as No. 7 on Billboard’s Hard Rock Albums Chart, No. 16 on their Top Independent Album Chart and No. 50 on the Top Current Digital Album Chart." -Wikipedia

Animals As Leaders - Weightless (Track Eleven - Weightless)

Wednesday, November 4, 2026

Orphaned Land - 1990s oriental metal El Norra Alila reissue anniversary

November 4, 2016: Orphaned Land > El Norra Alila > 2016, CD, Century Media Records (Digipak, Reissue, Remastered)[reissue of 1996]

"Orphaned Land is an Israeli heavy metal band formed in 1991. They combine Mizrahi and Maghrebi Jewish, Arabic, Turkish, and other Middle Eastern and North African musical elements, with metal (with particular influence from Yemenite Jewish and, in their early years, Moroccan Jewish music), as well as from Sephardic music, and other sounds from the Mediterranean Region. They have also included 'metalized' versions of various piyyutim in all of their albums since El Norra Alila. The band are considered pioneers of oriental metal." -Wikipedia

Flawless Belief (remastered)

Orphaned Land - 1990s oriental metal reissue anniversary

November 4, 2016: Orphaned Land - Sahara (2016), CD, Century Media Records (Digipak, Reissue, Remastered) [reissue of 1994]

November 4, 2016: Orphaned Land > Sahara > 2016, CD, Century Media Records (Digipak, Reissue, Remastered) [reissue of 1994]

Seasons Unite (remastered)

Nox Velum - Seattle heavy metal doom anniversary

November 4, 2016: Nox Velum - Exile EP

The Metal Archives shows that this band was active 2014-2019.

Happy birthday to symphonic celtic metal singer Leah!

November 4, 1984: birthday - Leah (Leah McHenry)

"Leah McHenry, mononymously known as Leah (born November 4, 1984), is a Canadian heavy metal musician who records both as a solo artist and, since around 2015, as a member of Dragonlord. Sometimes called the 'Enya of heavy metal', she performs a mixture of symphonic and Celtic metal with folk and world music. As a solo artist, she has released five full-length albums Of Earth & Angels in 2012, Kings & Queens in 2015, The Quest in 2018, Ancient Winter in 2019, and The Glory and the Fallen in 2024; two EPs, Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence in 2012 and Otherworld in 2013; and twenty singles, both as part of album releases and as stand-alone recordings." -Wikipedia

LEAH - Before This War is Over - Official Music Video

in memory of URIAH HEEP's Ken Hensley

November 4, 2020: RIP Ken Hensley (Kenneth William David Hensley 24 August 1945 – 4 November 2020)

Wikipedia says: Kenneth William David Hensley (24 August 1945 – 4 November 2020) was an English musician, singer, songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Uriah Heep during the 1970s. He wrote or co-wrote the majority of Uriah Heep's songs during this period, including the singles "Lady in Black" (on which he sang lead vocals), "Easy Livin'" and "Stealin'", as well as "Look at Yourself" and "Free Me".

Tuesday, November 3, 2026

RAMONES - "53rd & 3rd" - RAMONES trailblazing rock and roll discography

This is song number 11 from the Ramones' debut studio album released on April 23, 1976 by Sire Records. One, two, three, four! Let's go. By the way, this is another Ramones song that Metallica has covered.

Ramones - "53rd & 3rd"

SAXON - "Wheels of Steel" - SAXON heavy metal discography

According to The Metal Archives, April 3, 1980 is the release date for the second album Wheels of Steel by the British heavy metal band Saxon.

This is song number 4, and it is the iconic title track!

Saxon - Wheels of Steel

MEGADETH music video compilation anniversary

November 4, 1992: Megadeth - Exposure of a Dream (VHS video compilation) - Picture Music International

Symphony of Destruction - Foreclosure of a Dream - Skin O' My Teeth - High Speed Dirt - Go to Hell - Symphony of Destruction (Edited Gristle Remix)

Megadeth - Foreclosure Of A Dream (Official Music Video)

Scorpions classic rock hard rock heavy metal anniversary

November 3, 2011: Scorpions - Comeblack - Sony Music

"Tracks 1-7, 14 are re-recordings of existing Scorpions songs. The remaining songs are cover versions." -The Metal Archives: Rhythm of Love; No One like You; The Zoo; Rock You like a Hurricane; Blackout; Wind of Change; Still Loving You; Tainted Love (Gloria Jones cover); Children of the Revolution (T. Rex cover); Across the Universe (The Beatles cover); Tin Soldier (Small Faces cover); All Day and All of the Night (The Kinks cover); Ruby Tuesday (The Rolling Stones cover); Still Loving You - Je t'aime encore.

Scorpions - All Day And All of the Night (The Kinks cover)