Happy birthday to METAL CHURCH guitarist Craig Wells!

August 5, 1963: Craig Wells

Craig was a guitarist with Metal Church for the band's initial run from 1982 to 1995. He played with them again in 1998, says The Metal Archives.

His most important work with the band was: 1984 Metal Church [Guitars, Songwriting (tracks 1, 2, 4, 6-8)]. 1986 The Dark [Guitars, Songwriting]. 1989 Blessing in Disguise [Guitars, Songwriting (all tracks)]. 1991 The Human Factor Guitars, Songwriting [(tracks 4, 6, 8, 10)]. 1993 Hanging in the Balance [Guitars, Songwriting (track 6)].

Craig is retired from the music business, according to The Metal Archives.

METAL CHURCH - In the Blood

in memory of Dorsal Atlântica bassist Cláudio Lopes

August 5, 2023: Cláudio Lopes RIP 2023 (Dorsal Atlântica)

The Metal Archives shows that Cláudio Lopes (March 31, 1964 - August 5, 2023) was the bassist for the long-running Brazilian metal band Dorsal Atlântica from 1982 until 1996 and then again from 2012 until 2023.

Writing about the 1988 album Dividir & Conquistar, a reviewer says: "The bass guitar is one of the great moments about Dorsal Atlantica. This was slightly louder than the guitars on Antes do Fim; probably because of the lack of EQ. However, it isn't as loud here, but still shows that they wanted it to shine with attention. Mainly it can be heard mingled with the guitars and at some other moments with more of an emphasis. Like they actually had time to mess around with the mixing board. Instead of an imagined guerilla-like, do-it-now/do-it-quick recording session." -Byrgan, The Metal Archives

The band continues active today, and has been a long time: 1981 (as Ness), 1982-2001, and 2012-present. They have some 11 albums in total, including a re-recording of their 1986 debut album.

The bands biography says, translated from the original Portuguese, "Dorsal Atlântica is one of the first Brazilian heavy metal bands and is known for uniting two distinct audiences: metal and hardcore/punk. The trio was founded in 1981 and remains one of the most popular Brazilian bands to this day, even after ending their activities in 2000. Over the course of their career, DORSAL recorded 7 studio albums, the last one in England in 1996 produced by Paul Johnston (Cathedral, Bolt Thrower, Benediction). DORSAL performed alongside several international bands such as Venom, Exciter, Nasty Savage, Testament, Motörhead, Cradle Of Filth, and Anathema. At the 1998 Monsters of Rock festival in São Paulo, DORSAL shared the stage with Manowar, Saxon, Glenn Hughes, Megadeth, Savatage, Slayer, and Dream Theater. Carlos Lopes, the band's founder, gave his testimony about Brazilian metal for the 2007 Canadian documentary Global Metal by Sam Dunn and Scot McFadyen."

DORSAL ATLÂNTICA - PANDEMIA

SOULFLY anniversary

August 5, 2022: Soulfly - Totem

"Totem is the twelfth studio album by American heavy metal band Soulfly. It was released on August 5, 2022, by Nuclear Blast. It is also the first album since 2002 to not feature long running lead guitarist Marc Rizzo who parted ways with the band in 2021. The album's producer Arthur Rizk, John Powers and Chris Ulsh contributed guitar solos." -Wikipedia

The album is a relatively direct-impact mix of groove metal, thrash, and death metal. It scales back some of the tribal-experimentation from earlier albums to focus on heavy riffs, fast tempos, and aggressive rhythms. This album, I would say, is a type of synthesis, a balance of all the things that Max likes in his music: metal, yes, but with some rough edges, and with a bit of sideways energy, too.

SOULFLY - "Scouring The Vile" feat. John Tardy (OFFICIAL TRACK)

SKILLET heavy rock anniversary

August 5, 2016: Skillet – Unleashed

Unleashed is the ninth studio album by long-running American heavy rock band Skillet. Wikipedia reports that, "The album was announced on May 20, 2016, and a lyric video was released for the track 'Feel Invincible' at the same time on the band's YouTube channel. Six days later, the band released a lyric video for the track 'Stars' on their YouTube channel. The album was certified gold by the RIAA on December 4, 2018, selling 500,000 copies."

Skillet - "Feel Invincible" [Official Music Video]

SEVENTH AVENUE melodic speed power metal anniversary

August 5, 1996: Seventh Avenue - Tales of Tales - D&S Recording

Seventh Avenue, according to The Metal Archives, was active from 1989 until 2012. They released six albums, in addition to other smaller recordings. This album here is their second one. Expect prototypical German non-keyboard-driven power metal: speed, riffs, shredding, and singing! To a certain extent, it sounds like melodic thrash with real singing.

SEVENTH AVENUE (GER) - Tales Of Tales (1996) Full Album

SAINT heavy metal anniversary

August 5, 2004: Saint - Immortalizer (2024)

This is SAINT's 13th studio album. SAINT has been active since 1979 as Power Faith, and then from 1979 to 1982 as The Gentiles, from 1982 to 1989 as SAINT, and again from 1999 until the present. Their first release is the Warriors of the Son EP from 1984. The Metal Archives shows Salem, Oregon, USA as the base of operations for the long-running American traditional heavy metal band.

Saint - Immortalizer

HOLYNAME - anniversary - devotional ambient atmospheric metalcore

August 5: HolyName - My Way YouTube Audio 2021

August 5 is the anniversary of HolyName’s "My Way" YouTube audio premiere.

Facedown Records premiered the track on YouTube on August 5, 2021, right before its official digital single release on streaming platforms the following day. It was the fourth single released in the rollout toward their self-titled debut album.

HolyName - My Way

STORMBOUND - symphonic metal anniversary

August 5, 2022: Stormbound - December

The Metal Archives shows that Stormbound has eight singles. This here is the band's full-length debut!

DECEMBER by StormbounD 9 tracks, 56 minutes

OBSCURA August anniversary - progressive/technical death metal

August 2006: Obscura - Retribution - Vots Records

Obscura kicked off their career with a raw, brutal, and razor-sharp debut: Retribution. Retribution is straight-to-the-point, aggressive, and riffs-first. Fast, punchy thrashy riffs with smooth, melodic guitar solos; harsh, throaty death metal rasps and deep growls; aggressive blast beats and rapid double-bass drumming often at breakneck speed. The original 2006 version shown on The Metal Archives is 11 songs with a Death cover ("Lack of Comprehension"), while the later 2010 version has four additional songs, for a total of 15 songs: four more covers, namely, "Synthetically Revived" (Suffocation cover), "God of Emptiness" (Morbid Angel cover), "Decade ov Therion" (Behemoth cover), and "Wings" (Vader cover). This is such good beginning for the band! I like this album.

track list: Humankind - Nothing - Unhinged - None Shall Be Spared - Alone - Hymn to a Nocturnal Visitor - Intoxicated - Exit Life - Sentiment - Sweet Silence - Lack of Comprehension (Death cover)

OBSCURA - 'Retribution' (Full Album Stream)

Happy birthday to Max Cavalera!

August 4, 1969: Max Cavalera

Massimiliano Antonio "Max" Cavalera co-founded the heavy metal band Sepultura in 1984 with his brother Igor Cavalera, and was the band's lead singer and rhythm guitarist until his departure in 1997. He currently plays in the heavy metal bands Soulfly, Cavalera Conspiracy, Nailbomb, Killer Be Killed and Go Ahead and Die.

Sepultura - Escape to the Void

Happy birthday to legendary drummer Stefan Kaufmann!

August 4, 1960: Stefan Kaufmann

Stefan Kaufmann is a drummer and guitarist, best known as a member of the heavy metal bands Accept and U.D.O.

Accept - Fast as a Shark

remembering Louis Armstrong on his birthday

August 4, 1901: Louis Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971)

Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971) was a famous American jazz and blues trumpet player and singer. Known by nicknames like "Satchmo" and "Pops," he was one of the most influential figures in jazz history, with a career that lasted over 50 years. Louis won many awards during his life, including a Grammy Award in 1965 for his famous song "Hello, Dolly!" and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award after he died. His music influenced many different styles, earning him a spot in the Jazz, Rock and Roll, and Rhythm & Blues Halls of Fame.

According to Wikipedia: Armstrong's best known songs include "What a Wonderful World", "La Vie en rose", "Hello, Dolly!", "On the Sunny Side of the Street", "Dream a Little Dream of Me", "When You're Smiling", and "When the Saints Go Marching In". He collaborated with Ella Fitzgerald, producing three records together: Ella and Louis (1956), Ella and Louis Again (1957), and Porgy and Bess (1959). He also appeared in films such as A Rhapsody in Black and Blue (1932), Cabin in the Sky (1943), High Society (1956), Paris Blues (1961), A Man Called Adam (1966), and Hello, Dolly! (1969).

With his instantly recognizable, rich, gravelly voice, Armstrong was also an influential singer and skillful improviser. He was also skilled at scat singing. By the end of Armstrong's life, his influence had spread to popular music.

Louis Armstrong - What A Wonderful World (At The BBC)

Ministry & Co-Conspirators - What A Wonderful World

Joey Ramone - What A Wonderful World

BILL BEADLE'S SACRILEGE (UK) August Anniversary

August 2, 2019: Bill Beadle's Sacrilege - The Court of the Insane - Pure Underground Records

BILL BEADLE'S SACRILEGE (UK)

Style: NWOBHM / Heavy Metal

Years Active: 1982–1987, 2012–2024, 2024–2026

Formed in the early 1980s during the peak of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Bill Beadle's Sacrilege's creative force is singer and guitarist Bill Beadle.The group got their start in the underground scene with early tapes like their 1983 Gates of Hell demo. Although the original lineup split in 1987, according to The Metal Archives, the band came back and put out full-length albums. They built up quite a nice discography, including records like Sacrilege (2001), The Unknown Soldier (2011), The Wraith (2012), Sacrosanct (2013), six6six (2015), and The Court of the Insane (2019). If you like classic-style British metal with heavy, driving riffs and some dark themes, you might enjoy this catchy, rocking music.

Bill Beadle's Sacrilege - Lies

METAL CHURCH anniversary

August 4, 2004: Metal Church - The Weight of the World, CD, Союз Russia edition

The Metal Archives shows July 26, 2004 as the original Steamhammer release, but said website shows this version as the Russia edition of the same album.

Kurdt Vanderhoof - Jay Reynolds - Kirk Arrington (R.I.P. 2023) - Steve Unger - Ronny Munroe

This is studio album number seven by the long-running American heavy metal band Metal Church. Wikipedia observes that "This album marks the beginning of Metal Church's third major line-up, with the addition of Ronny Munroe (vocals), Jay Reynolds (guitar), and Steve Unger (bass). This album is also the last to feature Kirk Arrington on drums. It is hailed by critics and fans alike as Metal Church's comeback album. The prevalent themes of this album include crime, war, rejection, and madness."

What I like about The Weight of the World is the balance of heavy, thrashy energy and memorable songwriting. The album is has some strong, melodic guitar riffs and driving hooks that grab your attention and have staying power. It's an awesome, rocking heavy metal record.

Metal Church - Bomb To Drop (Remastered, 2025)

===

Expiatoria is heavy metal from Italy!

July 18, 2026: Expiatoria - A History in Three Acts

"ExpiatoriA are a heavy metal band from Genoa, Italy, active since 1987. Renowned for their well-crafted and scenically- effective gigs where theater meets music, their latest release, A History In Three Acts, celebrates nearly 40 years of dark, epic heavy metal. FFO Mercyful Fate, King Diamond, Crypt Sermon." -Bandcamp

1. Underground Forever 04:47

2. An Angel Came to Me 03:42

3. The Librarian 04:48

4. Seven Chairs and a Portrait 06:40

5. The Incredible Worm Man 08:02

total time 27:59

A History In Three Acts by ExpiatoriA

NECROPHAGIST technical death metal anniversary

August 3, 2004: Necrophagist: Epitaph - Relapse Records

NECROPHAGIST was formed in in Germany in 1992 by 17-year-old Muhammed Suiçmez. Necrophagist is considered influential and important in technical death metal. There are albums: Onset of Putrefaction (1999) and Epitaph (2004).

"Overall this is an essential technical death metal release. Everything good about the genre can be found here. While it sucks that the band didn’t do anything else after this they left behind a legacy that still lives on today. Do I consider this one of the best technical/progressive death metal albums of all time? Absolutely. If you’re looking for a well-written, extreme, and melodic tech death album. This is for you." -Traumawillalwayslinger, The Metal Archives

Agreed. It's excellent.

NECROPHAGIST - Epitaph

remembering SAMSON singer Nicky Moore

Nicholas Charles Moore (June 21, 1947 - August 3, 2022)

The Metal Archives shows that Nicky sang with New Wave of British Heavy Metal band Samson from 1981 to 1984, and again from 2000 to 2002. Said website also his other work: From Behind, Hackensack, Mammoth (Gbr), Nicky Moore & Blues Corporation, Tiger and Uli Jon Roth. The website shows that Nicky sang on two Samson albums: 1982 Before the Storm and 1984 Don't Get Mad, Get Even.

SAMSON - Stealing Away (from the 1982 album Before the Storm)

Happy birthday to singer Elisa C. Martín!

Born on August 3, 1972, Elisa Candelas Martín is a heavy metal singer known for her work with Hamka, Dreamaker and Dark Moor. In total, The Metal Archives shows her work this way: ex-Dark Moor, Elisa C. Martin, Hamka, ex-Dreamaker, ex-Fairyland, ex-Ebony Ark, ex-Sabatan, ex-Five Cross, ex-Necròpolis, ex-Stoned by Truckers.

She got her start in metal at just 12 years old, singing for early Spanish underground acts like Necrópolis, Five Cross, and Sabatan. Her big breakthrough came in the late 1990s when she joined Dark Moor. With her powerful vocals leading the charge, the band released landmark symphonic power metal albums like Shadowland (1999), The Hall of the Olden Dreams (2000), and The Gates of Oblivion (2002). In 2003, she teamed up with French power metal band Fairyland to record their praised debut album, Of Wars in Osyrhia. Shortly after leaving Dark Moor, she co-formed Dreamaker alongside former bandmates, releasing Human Device (2004) and Enclosed (2005). Later on, she joined the power metal group Hamka, releasing two full-length records with them. In 2018, she published her autobiography, My Life: From Delinquency to Heavy Metal, sharing her personal story and journey through the metal scene.

Speaking for myself, I think Elisa's voice is a very recognizable, and I enjoy the tone, the feel, sound of her singing. Awesome singer.

Dreamaker - I Live My Own Life

Tolkien metal anniversary DWARROWDELF

Dwarrowdelf: Undómiel (single) - August 3, 2020 - Northern Silence Productions

Dwarrowdelf is a one-man metal project from the UK, started by multi-instrumentalist Tom O'Dell. Named after the legendary dwarven city from The Lord of the Rings, the project began as a tribute to Tolkien's fantasy world. The music is an ambitious structure built upon metal guitar melodies and keyboards—sometimes fast, sometimes mid-tempo. It features plenty of black metal sounds alongside hints of heavy metal and death metal, but it’s always blended smoothly, rather than feeling like a chaotic potpourri of genres. The listener will easily detect melancholic tones throughout, evoking the grand atmosphere of Tolkien's fantasy worlds. Fans of melodic and epic black metal should find plenty to enjoy here.

The single below fits right into the epic, atmospheric, and melodic black metal style. It features both extreme shrieks and clean singing. On its own, the song is a convincing single for fans of the genre—it is well-crafted, memorable, and very catchy!

Undómiel

https://www.facebook.com/DwarrowdelfUK

DEF LEPPARD anniversary

Hysteria is Def Leppard's grand masterpiece, and one for the ages.

Def Leppard: Hysteria - August 3, 1987

The band and their production team headed by producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange (AC/DC's Back in Black) achieved their grand goal of creating a work in which every song, each and every song, sounds like a hit and could be used as a single for radio and television. Def Leppard's Hysteria is the rock equivalent of Michael Jackson's Thriller: every song stands out all by itself and could be used as a single release and music video.

After the massive success of 1983's Pyromania, the band spent over three grueling years making this record. The creation of Hysteria was hit with constant delays, most notably the horrific car accident on New Year's Eve in 1984 that cost drummer Rick Allen his left arm. Showing incredible resilience, the band stood by Allen as he relearned how to play with a custom electronic drum kit. Clocking in at 62 minutes and 32 seconds, Hysteria remains the longest studio album in Def Leppard's catalog and a true testament to overcoming the odds.

Side one

1. "Women" 5:42

2. "Rocket" 6:37

3. "Animal" 4:04

4. "Love Bites" 5:46

5. "Pour Some Sugar on Me" 4:27

6. "Armageddon It" 5:24

Side two

1. "Gods of War" 6:37

2. "Don't Shoot Shotgun" 4:26

3. "Run Riot" 4:39

4. "Hysteria" 5:54

5. "Excitable" 4:19

6. "Love and Affection" 4:37

Total length: 62:32

Gods Of War (Remastered 2017)

STRYPER anniversary

Stryper: Live in Japan - Video - August 2, 1985 - Enigma Records - VHS

1. Makes Me Wanna Sing 06:09

2. Loud n’ Clear 03:33

3. From Wrong to Right 04:27

4. You Know What to Do 05:13

5. Surrender 05:39

6. Together Forever 03:44

7. First Love 06:16

8. Loving You 04:32

9. Soldiers Under Command 05:50

10. Co’mon Rock - Battle Hymn of the Republic 07:55

total time 53:18

Stryper is an American metal band. The group's lineup consists of Michael Sweet (lead vocals, guitar), Oz Fox (guitar, backing vocals), Perry Richardson (bass, backing vocals), and Robert Sweet (drums).

Formed in 1981 as Roxx Regime, the band changed their musical message to reflect their Christian beliefs and became Stryper in 1983. They went on to become the first heavy metal band with overtly Christian lyrics to gain mainstream acceptance. Signing with independent label Enigma Records, they released their debut extended play, The Yellow and Black Attack, in 1984. In the mid-1980s, Stryper enjoyed their most successful period beginning with the release of To Hell with the Devil, which was certified platinum by the RIAA. Stryper went on to release two more gold-certified albums before disbanding in 1993.

In 2003, Stryper came out of retirement for a reunion tour and subsequently signed a multi-album contract with Big3 Records in 2005. In 2013, they signed a multi-album deal with Frontiers Records and have since released Second Coming in 2013, which includes 14 re-recorded songs from their first three albums, No More Hell to Pay in 2013, Fallen in 2015, God Damn Evil in 2018, Even the Devil Believes in 2020, The Final Battle in 2022, When We Were Kings and To Hell with the Amps, their first acoustic album, in 2024, and The Greatest Gift of All in 2025.

Over the course of their career, Stryper has placed 13 albums in the top 10 of Billboard's Top Christian Albums chart, with five releases peaking at number two and one release — Even the Devil Believes — reaching number one. The band was described by the Los Angeles Times as the best-selling rock band in Orange County from 1984 to 1990, with five albums during that period selling near or above 500,000 copies. -Wikipedia

Stryper - Live In Japan 1985 [Full Concert]

black metal Ascending King anniversary

"Lignum Vitae" is a single by extreme metal project Ascending King from Texas, USA. The Metal Archives shows that the song was released on August 2, 2019. The website shows that this project released music from 2016 to 2020, and there is no more listed. The website also shows that the members are:

Ruah - all instruments, Vocals

(Elgibbor, Frozen Burial, Unblack Metal Fist, ex-Dryline, Frostbreath, Mosquito Eater, Noisechrist, ex-Symphony of Heaven)

Asaph - drums (2021-present)

(Symphony of Heaven, Timōrātus (live), ex-Koronatizor, ex-The Abrasive Realization, The Thlipsis, Fyrebrand (live), ex-Bermuda's Burden, ex-Resign from Humanity, ex-Mystic Winter, ex-Risen, ex-The Shadows Devour, ex-Uriah)

Lignum Vitae

remembering MOLLY HATCHET guitarist Steve Holland (1954-2020)

remembering MOLLY HATCHET guitarist Steve Holland (1954-2020)

Steve Holland died on August 2, 2020.

Steve, who formed Molly Hatchet with fellow guitarist Dave Hlubek in 1971, was the last surviving member of the group's early lineup as it appeared on their 1978 self-titled debut. Hlubek, singer Danny Joe Brown, guitarist Duane Roland, bassist Banner Thomas and drummer Bruce Crump had died before him.

Steve played on the band's first studio albums. He left in 1984.

Steve was born in Dothan, Ala., according to a biography by the Alabama Music Office, and he started playing the guitar at the age of eight. When Dave and Steve first founded Molly Hatchet, they went through several lineup changes before settling on the classic crew of Brown, Roland, Thomas and Crump. Steve helped form Gator Country in 2005, and that band released one album, a live set fittingly titled Gator Country Live, in 2008. The band seems to have stopped around 2010.

On the topic of Molly Hatchet's sound fellow guitarist Dave Hlubek, according to Wikipedia, felt differently than what they categorized as: "When they finally signed their recording contract with Epic Records, they received help and advice from Lynyrd Skynyrd vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, who was originally supposed to produce their first album but was killed in a plane crash in 1977. While most people tagged Molly Hatchet as 'Southern rock', Hlubek admits it was only because of their location. He considered Molly Hatchet, along with Blackfoot, to actually be heavy metal bands from the South. In fact, he also said that, although hard to talk about, it was the demise of Lynyrd Skynyrd, who were on top of the world at that time, that opened the door for Molly Hatchet."

Molly Hatchet - Dreams I'll Never See | Live at Capitol Theatre (1978)

Happy birthday to singer Brian Allen!

The Metal Archives shows that Brian was born on August 2, 1972. This screaming banshee's work is listed as followed: Metal Church, Dark Arena, Trauma, BloodStone, Dark Sky Choir, Father Mary, Last Empire, Two Headed Beast and Vicious Rumors.

Hear Brian's work on the 2026 album Dead to Rights by Metal Church!

Dead to Rights

Happy birthday to drummer Mark Cross!

Mark Cross, says The Metal Archives, was born on August 2, 1965 in London, England. He has played drums on a whole bunch of albums that I like! The Metal Archives shows his work with the following bands: Helloween, God's Army, Joe Stump's Tower of Babel, Rezident Ex, The Supremacy, Metal Machine, Tainted Nation, At Vance, Firewind, Metalium, Nightfall, Outloud, Spitfire, Tank, Frank Blackfire, Scorpions, Vivaldi Metal Project, Exorcism, Tower of Babel, Winters Bane, Electric Eye, and Magna Carta.

Firewind - Maniac (Michael Sembello cover) (from the 2008 album The Premonition, which The Metal Archives shows with Mark on drums)

SKILLET anniversary

August 2, 2019 is the release date for Victorious, the tenth studio full-length from American heavy rock band Skillet. The band first unveiled the project on May 7, 2019, alongside a lyric video for the lead track "Legendary" on their YouTube channel. They followed up with the promotional single "You Ain't Ready" on July 26, shortly before "Legendary" achieved massive crossover appeal by becoming the official theme song for WWE's revamped Monday Night Raw later that year.

Formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1996, Skillet is an American heavy rock band of husband-and-wife duo John Cooper (lead vocals, bass) and Korey Cooper (rhythm guitar, keys, backing vocals), alongside drummer/vocalist Jen Ledger and lead guitarist Seth Morrison. Over their career, the twelve-album discography has earned two Grammy nominations for Collide and Comatose. The RIAA has awarded Double Platinum status to Awake, Platinum to Comatose, and Gold certifications to both Rise and Unleashed. Their single catalog is equally formidable: mega-hits "Monster," "Hero," "Awake and Alive," and "Feel Invincible" achieved multi-Platinum status, supported by Platinum hits like "Whispers in the Dark," "Comatose," and "The Resistance," alongside five additional Gold-certified tracks including "Rebirthing" and "Legendary."

Skillet - Legendary (Official Video)

NARNIA anniversary

Narnia: From Darkness to Light - August 2, 2019

The melodic heavy metal band NARNIA was formed in Jönköping, Sweden, in 1996 by guitarist Carl Johan Grimmark and vocalist Christian Liljegren. While drawing inspiration from C.S. Lewis’s high-fantasy universe The Chronicles of Narnia, the group’s legacy extends far beyond conceptual storytelling. Following an influential initial run that concluded in 2010, the band officially reunited in 2014. Narnia was part of the 1990s resurgence of melodic, traditional metal, and power metal. Narnia's guitar work builds upon the neoclassical and shred legacies of heavy metal. In addition, the music transitions from lightning-fast shredding to structured, memorable songwriting, making the guitar solos speak with melody, not just skill. Their arrangements have moved toward a more complex, progressive metal framework, pushing past simple power metal formulas while still remaining a melodic, memorable band.

NARNIA - A CRACK IN THE SKY (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO) 2019

Vinnie Vincent anniversary

According to Lastfm, Vinnie Vincent Invasion's self-titled debut album was released on August 2, 1986.

If you are interested in a party-fun but skilled and over-the-top 80s guitar album, this is a monument to 1980s guitar virtuosity and heavy metal extravagance. After KISS, guitarist Vinnie Vincent pushed the boundaries of shred, crafting an album fusing American heavy metal hooks with hyper-guitar. With bassist Dana Strum and drummer Bobby Rock, along with Robert Fleischman’s soaring, multi-octave flamethrower singing, the record is the embodiment of guitar madness in 80s heavy metal. The album blends commercial sensibilities with lightning-fast guitar wizardry: a shred-metal era masterclass in guitar speed and uninhibited musical ambition.

I'll give you just one example of how outrageous the guitar excess on this album is: at the end of the album there are some three minutes of a noisy guitar feedback alarm blaring big time! Nothing but chaotic guitar noise, squeals, and alarm effects blare on solo just for the pure fun of it because, well, it's Vinnie Vincent doing Vinnie Vincent things.

It is said that on the vinyl record (which I do not own), Vinnie Vincent took the absurdity one step further: The screeching feedback was pressed into a locked groove at the end of Side B, meaning the alarm effect literally played indefinitely until you physically got up and lifted the needle off the record. I wonder if this is true. Can I get a witness?!

Wikipedia reports that the record earned widespread critical acclaim, securing the 8th spot on Kerrang!’s top hard rock albums of 1986 before later earning a place at #100 on their 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time. Rock journalist Chuck Klosterman lauded the release naming it the second-greatest heavy metal album of the 1980s—behind only Guns N' Roses' Appetite for Destruction. Additionally, Rolling Stone ranked it 39th on their 2015 list of the 50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time.

Boyz Are Gonna Rock (Remastered 2003)

remembering author Herman Melville on his birthday - inspiration for whale-themed metal

"Herman Melville (August 1, 1819 – September 28, 1891) was an American writer of the American Renaissance period. Among his best-known works are Moby-Dick (1851), Typee (1846), a romanticized account of his experiences in Polynesia, and Billy Budd, Sailor, a posthumously published novella. At the time of his death, Melville was not well known to the public, but 1919, the centennial of his birth, was the starting point of a Melville revival. Moby-Dick would eventually be considered one of the Great American Novels." -Wikipedia

MASTODON - "Iron Tusk" (Official HD Music Video)

Ahab - Below the Sun

excerpt from CHAPTER 1. Loomings.

"No, when I go to sea, I go as a simple sailor, right before the mast, plumb down into the forecastle, aloft there to the royal mast-head. True, they rather order me about some, and make me jump from spar to spar, like a grasshopper in a May meadow. And at first, this sort of thing is unpleasant enough. It touches one’s sense of honor, particularly if you come of an old established family in the land, the Van Rensselaers, or Randolphs, or Hardicanutes. And more than all, if just previous to putting your hand into the tar-pot, you have been lording it as a country schoolmaster, making the tallest boys stand in awe of you. The transition is a keen one, I assure you, from a schoolmaster to a sailor, and requires a strong decoction of Seneca and the Stoics to enable you to grin and bear it. But even this wears off in time.

What of it, if some old hunks of a sea-captain orders me to get a broom and sweep down the decks? What does that indignity amount to, weighed, I mean, in the scales of the New Testament? Do you think the archangel Gabriel thinks anything the less of me, because I promptly and respectfully obey that old hunks in that particular instance? Who ain’t a slave? Tell me that. Well, then, however the old sea-captains may order me about—however they may thump and punch me about, I have the satisfaction of knowing that it is all right; that everybody else is one way or other served in much the same way—either in a physical or metaphysical point of view, that is; and so the universal thump is passed round, and all hands should rub each other’s shoulder-blades, and be content."