celebrating ARALLU's Desert Battles - Descending to the Sands

According to The Metal Archives, March 31 is the release date of the fourth album by Arallu, Middle Eastern Black Metal from Jerusalem, Israel. Over at Bandcamp, you can listen to the album, which they title "Desert Battles 2021." Below is The Metal Archives information for the 2009 version of the album. Then, at Bandcamp is the remastered version from 2021: "long awaited re release of DESERT BATTLES, ARALLU's 4th album from 2009, coming back with new vocals rec, new mix and mastering by Dory Bar and new cover art by Gal 'Pixel', including the 'Legions of Death' rec.(France) EP 'MAGEN JERUSALEM 7' with 3 exclusive tracks from 2009 and the unprinted single 'Desert Genii Storm' Switzerland 2013. Release date June 6th 2018 via Raven Music".

Arallu

Desert Battles - Descending to the Sands

Raven Metal

March 31st, 2009

1. The Doom Beating

2. Desert Battles

3. Possessor of the Code 04:44

4. Old Form of Evil 04:13

5. The Union of Babylon 05:42

6. The Demon's Curse 07:05

7. The Keeper of Jerusalem 06:21

8. Millchama 05:24

9. Al Macbara 01:52

10. Battleground (live) 05:01

"Desert Battles" 2021 (Physical/Digital Album) by Arallu

https://arallu.bandcamp.com/album/desert-battles-2021-physical-digital-album

celebrating IMPENDING DOOM's The Serpent Servant

Check out the title track from this deathcore monster album. This is the second album by the American deathcore band. A reviewer over at The Metal Archives likes this album a lot, and says, in part:

Impending Doom continues with a brutal battering of deathcore/slam violence, and another standout track is “More Than Conquerors”. A monster of a song placed right in the middle of the album. It kicks and screams you in the face with great riffs, brutal breakdowns and all in all it is just really well composed - understandable that it was chosen for a music video! It is followed by a bit of an intermezzo called ”Revival: America” which reminds me a lot of the intro of the album. Short and simple, few riffs, lesser lyrics and it works well. And it is placed just before what might be the most brutal song on the album “In The House Of Mourning” which is another great monster of a song and great to scream along to.

Impending Doom

The Serpent Servant

Facedown Records

March 31st, 2009

1. When Waters Run Deep

2. The Serpent Servant

3. Anything Goes

4. Storming the Gates of Hell

5. Welcome to Forever

6. More than Conquerors

7. Revival: America

8. In the House of Mourning

9. When I Speak

10. City of Refuge

11. Beginnings

Impending Doom - The Serpent Servant

celebrating LED ZEPPELIN's Presence!

Check out this mighty classic track from Presence. This song is a fan favorite from this album!

Led Zeppelin

Presence

Swan Song

31 March 1976 USA

2 April 1976 UK

1. "Achilles Last Stand" 10:26

2. "For Your Life" 6:21

3. "Royal Orleans" 2:58

1. "Nobody's Fault but Mine" 6:27

2. "Candy Store Rock" 4:10

3. "Hots on for Nowhere" 4:42

4. "Tea for One" 9:27

Wikipedia says, "Presence is the seventh studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was released by the band's own label Swan Song Records on 31 March 1976 in the United States and on 2 April 1976 in the United Kingdom. While the record was commercially successful, reaching the top of both the British and American album charts, and achieving a triple-platinum certification in the United States by the RIAA, it received mixed reviews from critics and is the lowest-selling album by the band. Presence has received more positive reviews in the years since its release."

Led Zeppelin - Achilles Last Stand (Remaster)

Happy anniversary DEMON HUNTER album Outlive!

Below are two of the most popular songs from this album, but I like the entire album, and I would recommend it to fans of that mix of heavy and melodic all in one.

Demon Hunter

Outlive

Solid State

March 31, 2017

Wikipedia shows that this is album number 8 from the American metal music band. Wikipieda says, "The album was released by Solid State Records on March 31, 2017. The work was funded through PledgeMusic, with 'Cold Winter Sun' broadcast prior to the showing for all album tracks. In addition to the band's usual metalcore style, Metal Injection reviewer Aaron said that 'as Outlive unfolds, traces of rock, death metal, groove metal, thrash metal and goth can be heard, complemented by melodic undertones that add to the accessibility and memorability of each song.'"

Demon Hunter - Cold Winter Sun

Demon Hunter - Died In My Sleep

remembering J.S. Bach on his birthday - an inspiration to numerous metal musicians!

Bach is associated with spooky Halloween music. Megadeth, Yngwie Malmsteen, Stratovarius, and so many other metal bands have borrowed, covered, and used Bach for their music, consciously or unknowingly. A bunch of King Diamond albums sounds like Bach’s music with metal. In metal, Bach's influence sometimes is obvious, and sometimes it’s less obvious. There is a whole bunch of YouTube guitarists who cover Bach. There is even an electric guitar orchestra (from Spain, it seems) that has covered Bach.

Johann Sebastian Bach (March 31, 1685 – July 28, 1750) was a German composer famously associated with the Baroque era for perfecting counterpoint, which is the art of weaving different melodies together at the same time. He wrote over 1,000 pieces of music, influencing Western music in innumerable and foundational ways.

An interesting tribute to Bach has been done by Alkaloid, formed by Hannes Grossmann after his time with the progressive technical death metal band Obscura: Alkaloid - Bach Out of Bounds (2026). The album contains three Bach covers, and the other five songs are Alkaloid performances that bring together metal, Bach, and European music in a different way altogether.

Bach: Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565

Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068: II. Air on the G String.

Wolf Hoffmann (ACCEPT) - Air on the G String (Suite No. 3, BWV 1068) J. S. Bach, original instruments

Alkaloid - Bach Out of Bounds (Official Album Stream)

Voidthrone - lunatic dissonant extreme metal from Seattle

Voidthrone is streaming track number 6 titled "I-III. First Blood." Obnoxiously abrasive, like a mad crazy abstract painter gone raving mad in his art studio, joined by musicians recreating those vibes through their instrumentation. I don't whether know to mosh or to call an ambulance. Either way, it's going to be a good time in the pit or at the emergency clinic.

Voidthrone

Dreaming Rat

8 May 2026

ABOUT THE BAND: Seattle (WA) - Dissonant Blackened Death Metal quartet, Voidthrone, returns with Dreaming Rat, their most unhinged and trenchant record yet! Structured as a three-part cosmic death ritual, Dreaming Rat follows a triptych of parallel arcs: a solar system burning through its lifespan, a civilization collapsing under its own complexity, and a parasite replicating itself across language, culture, and flesh. The band trades some of the prior atmospheric murk for a more immediate, frenetic mix—closer, sharper, and meaner. Vocalist Zhenya Frolov delivers his most insane performance yet, retching through death-metal lows, black-metal shrieks, and ritualistic howls as the album spirals toward extinction. The listener is invited to drift calmly and unflinching through the maelstrom, like the dreaming rat on the album’s cover.

Dreaming Rat by Voidthrone

Violent Omen - technical thrash from Ukraine

announcement from the band: "After a 10-year hiatus, Zhytomyr-based technical thrash band Violent Omen returns from obscurity with almost its original lineup and a new single, Path of Illumination, from the upcoming album Locomotive of Chaos, which will be released on CD this spring on the Nocturnus Records label."

Style - Technical Thrash

Location - Zhytomyr(Ukraine)

Label - Nocturnus Records

Single from album - Locomotive of Chaos

Band line-up:

Serg MP - vocals, bass, lyrics, songwriting (Bestial Invasion, Cosmic Jaguar, Tria Prima)Evgeniy Maestro - guitars (Bestial Invasion, Cosmic Jaguar, Tria Prima, ex-Sunrise)

Yuriy Sinitsky - drums (ex-Drudkh, ex-Blood of Kingu, ex-Lucifugum, Лютомисл, Tria Prima, ex-All Dies, ex-Definition Sane)

Recorded at Morrison Studio, Zhytomyr. Mixed and mastering at Nuts4all Studio, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. Produced by Serg MP. Design art by Ruslan Hrytsiuta.

ABOUT THE BAND: "The history of the trash band Violent Omen began in 2009. It was founded by two people, Ser MP and FlooDs. Both had recently left the band Crucifix (where they actually met), where they were unable to realise their ideas. Naturally, neither of them wanted to give up music, and literally a month later, MP Lunatic decided to form Violent Omen. At first, the band played thrash/black metal, but after the release of their debut album, they switched to thrash/technical thrash.

In 2009, the first demos were recorded with former Lucifugum vocalist Faunus, and in 2010, the band's debut album Infernal Express was released. Just as it was released, drummer Yuriy Sinitsky (ex-Drudkh, ex-Blood of Kingu, ex-Lucifugum, Lyutomysl, Tria Prima, ex-All Dies, ex-Definition Sane), with whom the band even presented the album at one of their concerts in Kyiv. After the arrival of such a professional drummer, the band began to sharply change course towards technical thrash, complicating their music. In 2011, they released their second album, Lunatic's Revenge, on which the band revealed themselves to the fullest and proved themselves to be worthy competitors to the American band Vektor. After the album's release, the band played numerous concerts and festivals in Ukraine, as well as several times in neighbouring countries, sharing the stage with Artillery, Dying Fetus, Morgoth, and others. Thanks to this, the band became known as a young and promising group.

In 2013, the band released their third and best and most successful album, entitled L.U.N.A.C.Y., which was released on the American label Razed Soul. Many well-known musicians also participated in this album, such as John Gallagher (Raven), André Grieder (Poltergiest, ex-Destruction), V.O. Pulver (Poltergeist, Carrion, Messiah, Panzer), Don Doty (ex-Dark Angel), Jim Durkin (R.I.P. 2023 (ex-Dark Angel)), and Josh Christian (Toxik). The album receives rave reviews from the press and fans. After opening for Artillery in the spring of 2014, founder and bass guitarist Serg MP controversially leaves the band due to personal differences, immediately forming his new band, Bestial Invasion. The remaining members of Violent Omen took on a new bass guitarist and played a few more concerts, releasing a couple of songs and a demo in a different style for the band, after which the band went inactive a couple of years later without releasing a single new album since 2013.

Ten years later, in the spring of 2024, Serg MP accidentally meets drummer Yuri, whom he had not seen for almost ten years and with whom he had unresolved conflicts, and they settle their misunderstandings and, on friendly terms, create a new death metal band, Tria Prima. After six months of intense rehearsals with the new band, Serg MP and Yuri came up with the idea of reuniting Violent Omen and recording a new album to correct the mistakes of the past and give fans new music. Since Floods no longer wanted to be involved, it was decided to bring in a new professional guitarist, Evgeny Maestro, with whom Serg MP had played for a long time in Bestial Invasion, Cosmic Jaguar, and Tria Prima. Serg MP took over the microphone stand, combining it with bass guitar, thus keeping the band as a trio. The songs and material for Serg MP's solo album, which he was working on with Evgeny Maestro at the time, were taken as the basis for the new album Violent Omen. In 2025, the band recorded seven songs for the new album. In 2025, the band recorded seven songs for a new album entitled Locomotive of Chaos, which will be released in spring 2026 on the Ukrainian label Nocturnus Records.

Violent Omen - Path of Illumination (single)

https://www.facebook.com/violentomen.official.zt

Happy anniversary CÂN BARDD Nature Stays Silent!

The Metal Archives shows that this is the release date for this epic/atmospheric folk/black metal project from Geneva, Switzerland: "Cân Bardd is a Swiss atmospheric black metal project formed in 2016 with the will of crafting music rooted in deep emotions, nature and folklore. Howling mountains, misty forests and shimmering legends come alive through intense, heartfelt music."

Cân Bardd

Nature Stays Silent

Northern Silence Productions

March 30th, 2018

Malo Civelli - (vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, orchestrations)

Dylan Watson - drums

1. Introduction 05:19, 2. My Ancestors 07:09, 3. An Evolving Painting 08:14, 4. Méditation glaciale 11:58, 5. Underwater 08:58, 6. Océan 08:36, 7. Abîme 09:54, 8. A Gift for Nature 10:44. Total time 01:10:52

Nature Stays Silent by Cân Bardd

Happy anniversary DWARROWDELF Of Dying Lights!

Tolkien-themed epic atmospheric metal from the United Kingdom. This project is the work of Thomas Peter O'Dell (Battle Born, Gimli, Son of Glóin, Wraithfyre, ex-Deavhronun, ex-P.I.N.K Lüng, ex-Sojourner).

Dwarrowdelf

Of Dying Lights

Flowing Downward

March 30th, 2019

1. Arien 08:09, 2. The Withering Woods 07:26, 3. Where Daylight Dies 08:41, 4. The Years of the Trees 03:34, 5. The Line of Thror 06:18, 6. Minas Anor 08:05, 7. Home of the Dead 09:04. Total time 51:17. Track 7 covers "Homeward" by Sojourner and "Land of the Dead" by Summoning.

The following information about the Tolkien themes comes from the internet, and I cannot ascertain whether it is completely accurate because I am not a Tolkien expert: Dwarrowdelf is the Common Speech translation of Khazad-dûm (Moria). While his first album, The Sons of Fëanor, followed a very specific narrative from The Silmarillion, this 2019 album focuses more on the balance of light and darkness across different eras of Middle-earth. The tracklist: "Arien": Is named after the Maia who was chosen by the Valar to guide the vessel of the Sun. "The Withering Woods": Explores the plight of the Ents and the fading of the ancient forests. "The Years of the Trees": Refers to the era before the Sun and Moon existed, when the world was lit by the Two Trees of Valinor (Telperion and Laurelin). "The Line of Thrór": Focuses on the Dwarven royalty—Thrór was the King Under the Mountain (grandfather of Thorin Oakenshield) who was expelled from Erebor by Smaug. "Minas Anor": The original name of Minas Tirith (the "Tower of the Sun"), before it was renamed after the fall of its sister city, Minas Ithil. "Home of the Dead": This is a 9-minute mashup/cover of two legendary Tolkien-metal songs: "Land of the Dead" by Summoning and "Homeward" by Sojourner.

Of Dying Lights by Dwarrowdelf

Happy anniversary LIGHT THE TORCH Revival!

Wikipedia shows March 30th as the release date for this catchy and melodic metalcore album! Wikipedia says, "Revival is the third studio album from the American metal band Light the Torch and also their first studio album since changing their name from Devil You Know."

Light the Torch

Revival

Nuclear Blast

March 30, 2018

Howard Jones – lead vocals; Francesco Artusato – guitars, synthesizers; Ryan Wombacher – bass, backing vocals; Mike Sciulara – drums.

1. "Die Alone" 3:52, 2. "The God I Deserve" 3:18, 3. "Calm Before the Storm" 3:55, 4. "Raise the Dead" 3:43, 5. "The Safety of Disbelief" 3:33, 6. "Virus" 3:37, 7. "The Great Divide" 3:16, 8. "The Bitter End" 3:22, 9. "Lost in the Fire" 4:12, 10. "The Sound of Violence" 2:35, 11. "Pull My Heart Out" 3:35, 12. "Judas Convention" 4:16. Total length: 43:14.

Wikipedia: Max Morin writing for Exclaim! gave the album a 7/10 stating “with all the breakdowns and double-bass aerobics we've come to expect from metalcore's more mainstream side. Howard Jones's voice has lost none of its power or bravado and for a certain type of listener, Revival could be Christmas come early. Dan McHugh of Distorted sound added “Revival doesn’t display as much technical flair as it’s predecessors but it does maintain the potency and penchant for massive choruses which has become a staple of their arsenal. LIGHT THE TORCH have developed a no frills, straight to the point metal album which is hard to fault.

LIGHT THE TORCH - The Safety Of Disbelief (OFFICIAL LYRIC / PERFORMANCE VIDEO)

Happy anniversary PANTERA 1990-2000: A Decade of Domination!

The Metal Archives shows March 30th as the release date for this colection of Pantera anthems!

Pantera

1990-2000: A Decade of Domination

Rhino Records

March 30th, 2010

Vinnie - Dimebag - Rex - Phil

1. Cowboys from Hell 04:07, 2. Psycho Holiday 05:19, 3. Cemetery Gates 07:03, 4. Mouth for War 03:57, 5. Walk 05:15, 6. This Love 06:32, 7. 5 Minutes Alone 05:48, 8. I'm Broken 04:25, 9. Drag the Waters 04:55, 10. Revolution Is My Name 05:15. Total time 52:36

Pantera - Walk (Official Music Video) [4K]

Happy anniversary IGNESCENT single "Into the Night"!

According to the information on Amazon Music, "Into the Night" was released on March 29, 2019. This stands as the earliest entry by Ignescent on the platform. In my opinion, the song is a catchy, very melodic, and bouncy heavy rock number—not too distant from the general sound of bands like Within Temptation and Evanescence. However, Ignescent incorporates electronica and techno background sounds in a rather integral role, creating an interesting, bouncy, poppy, and danceable overall sound. The band was founded by singer Jennifer Benson. Based in Chicago, they are a contemporary heavy rock/metal act known for bringing energetic performances and polished production to the stage. They frequently feature faith-based lyrics to go along with their melodic sound. On March 20, 2026, they released their second album, titled Eternal.

IGNESCENT: Into The Night (Official Audio)

https://www.facebook.com/ignescentmusic

Happy anniversary BECOMING THE ARCHETYPE Celestial Completion!

According to The Metal Archives, March 29th is the release for the fourth album by Becoming the Archetype (Georgia, USA): 1999-2003 (as Nonexistent Failure), 2003-2004 (as The Remnant), 2004-2013, 2022-present. Check out their progressive death metal below with a song from this album!

Becoming the Archetype

Celestial Completion

Solid State Records

March 29th, 2011

1. The Resonant Frequency of Flesh 02:11, 2. The Magnetic Sky 04:25 3. Internal Illumination 05:10, 4. Path of the Beam 05:00, 5. Music of the Spheres: Requiem Aeternam Part I 01:33, 6. Elemental Wrath: Requiem Aeternam Part II 07:51, 7. Xenosynthesis: Requiem Aeternam Part III 03:16, 8. Invisible Creature 00:41, 9. Cardiac Rebellion 05:17, 10. Reflect/Refract 04:37, 11. Breathing Light 06:32. Total time 46:33.

One review on The Metal Archives gives the album a 92% score, and it says, in part:

Anyway, onto this album, I don't think it's as heavy on the whole as "Dichotomy" was but it sure isn't soft or lackluster either. The technicality of the guitar work is too astonishing to be called a metal core album and they break the metal core tag when they fuse in a piano and trumpets. Tracks 2 , 6, 7, 9, & 11 are all great tracks. Track 8 really didn't need to be a separate track at all even for an interlude or intro to track 9. It was pointless. The lyrics are intelligent and of course are full of religious context but it doesn't take away for those that are not Christian. The album features tempo changes and seamless transitions and even some lengthy tracks to keep the listener's attention. If you've not heard BTA, listen to this album, and then go on to "Dichotomy" and you'll be hooked.

Another review on The Metal Archives gives the album 84%, and it says, in part:

The rest of the album is kind of a free-for-all, but at the same time it has a flow. Each song could easily stand on its own as a single, but somehow they also work together in harmony. Like I said before, it isn't Dichotomy, but it's definitely the second best out of their catalog. Don't believe the bad reviews from metal purists. Listen for yourself and you won't be disappointed.

Becoming The Archetype - The Magnetic Sky (Official Music Video)

Happy anniversary CAVALERA CONSPIRACY Blunt Force Trauma!

Cavalera Conspiracy

Blunt Force Trauma

Roadrunner Records

March 29, 2011

Wikipedia shows that this is the release date for the second album by the Cavalera Conspiracy, from the two former member brothers from Sepultura. The groove thrash metal is all about this album. The songs are short and they get to the point quickly, almost like a reaction to the experimentation that they have done in other eras. This is basic, brutal, loud, aggressive, ugly Cavalera metal!

Max Cavalera (rhythm guitars, vocals, songwriting, lyrics) — Iggor Cavalera (drums, percussion) — Marc Rizzo (lead guitars, backing vocals on track 3) — Johny Chow (bass).

1. "Warlord" (3:05) — 2. "Torture" (1:51) — 3. "Lynch Mob" (2:31) — 4. "Killing Inside" (3:28) — 5. "Thrasher" (2:49) — 6. "I Speak Hate" (3:10) — 7. "Target" (2:36) — 8. "Genghis Khan" (4:23) — 9. "Burn Waco" (2:52) — 10. "Rasputin" (3:22) — 11. "Blunt Force Trauma" (3:58) — 12. "Psychosomatic" (3:07) — 13. "Jihad Joe" (3:28) — 14. "Electric Funeral" (5:39). Total length: 46:19.

Cavalera Conspiracy - Killing Inside

Happy anniversary to the LED ZEPPELIN album Houses of the Holy!

March 28th is the release date for the fifth album, according to both the official Led Zeppelin website and Wikipedia. As it often the case with Led Zeppelin, the critics were not happy because the band did not deliver an album similar to the previous one, but the American rock fans did not care and it was another success for the band. The album feels like an adventure, in a good way. Credit to that 1970s American generation of rock fans that was intelligent in recognizing and greatness when they heard it! By the way, on Houses of the Holy neither the band’s name nor the album title appears on the original front or back cover art. How's that for confidence?!

Led Zeppelin

Houses of the Holy

Atlantic Records

March 28, 1973 USA

March 30, 1973 UK

Robert Plant – Jimmy Page – John Paul Jones – John Bonham

The Song Remains the Same. The Rain Song. Over the Hills and Far Away. The Crunge. Dancing Days. D'yer Mak'er. No Quarter. The Ocean.

Led Zeppelin roars out of the gate with a throw-everything-and-the-kitchen-sink-at-them approach. Confident and adventurous, skilled and creative, Led Zeppelin—as Jimmy Page has explained in interviews—was meant to be a guitar tour de force. It was also intended to be free from the limitations and expectations that they should deliver the same album every time. Led Zeppelin does whatever Led Zeppelin feels like doing! The following assessment is from Wikipedia.

The album was a stylistic turning point for the band. The composition and production laid foundations for subsequent releases. According to the band's biographer Dave Lewis, "while the barnstorming effect of the early era was now levelling off, and though devoid of the electricity of Zeppelin I and II, the sheer diversity of the third album, and lacking the classic status of the fourth, Houses of the Holy nevertheless found its rightful niche." The album largely abandoned their previous music's weighty, dark blues rock distortion in favor of a clean, expansive rock sound—as evinced by Page's sharper, brighter guitar tone. It was also likely the most eclectic musically of their albums, in the opinion of Consequence of Sound writer Kristofer Lenz, who observed swing rhythms on "Dancing Days", and experiments with reggae and psychedelic music on "D'yer Mak'er" and "No Quarter", respectively. Pete Prown and HP Newquist have called it "a diverse collection of rockers, ballads, reggae, funk, and fifties-style rock 'n' roll."

Led Zeppelin - Over the Hills and Far Away (Live at Madison Square Garden 1973) [HD]

Led Zeppelin - Over the Hills and Far Away (Official Audio)

remembering IRON ANGEL vocalist Dirk Schröder (1967-2025)

Dirk Schröder (January 22, 1967 - March 28, 2025)

(Rock Hard Magazine [Germany]: On March 31, 2025, Rock Hard published an obituary stating that Dirk Schröder passed away on March 28.)

My favorite era of Iron Angel (Germany) is the two 1980s albums on Steamhammer. With Dirk on vocals, they came out with their 1985 debut album, Hellish Crossfire. The music is a type of fast melodic heavy metal and thrash with, in my opinion, a bit of an Accept-style singing, rough around the edges, not very sugary, but the man actually is singing and hitting high notes in his own way. Again, it is not super melodic singing, but it is not just wild screaming like a thrash band. Then, in 1986, they made a quick return with Winds of War, an album showcasing a cleaner and more melodic sound while keeping the speed elements. They were moving away from pure speed metal and were adding more melody and more melodic singing. I like both albums. Of course, the lyrics are typical 1980s themes: war, battles, malevolent characters and spirits, and songs about metal music.

While the albums sounded good, something was seriously wrong within the band. After that second album, after having worked hard since 1980 to get a record deal and recognition, which they got, they split up and became one of those good 1980s German bands that fans wondered what happened to. It was certainly unfortunate; they worked hard and were making progress, and they had the same lineup for both albums. If they had stayed together, their status today would certainly be more than a cult band.

Dirk began in the early 1980s with a band called Metal Gods in Hamburg, which eventually evolved into Iron Angel. His distinct, aggressive vocal style was first captured on the band's iconic demos, Power Metal Attack and Legions of Evil, which quickly earned them a contract with the SPV/Steamhammer label and solidified their place in metal history. Dirk brought back the name Iron Angel with different musicians (not the 1980s lineup)from 2014 until his passing on March 28, 2025. They did two albums, Hellbound in 2018 and Emerald Eyes in 2020. He was the only original member in the final lineup. That being said, it may be surprising but it is totally true: these last albums are a very serious attempt to make albums that can stand up well compared to the 1980s albums, and I think that they do. It is still speed metal, and in a way, these two albums are closer to Hellish Crossfire, making sure that it is headbanging metal music.

Iron Angel - The Metallian

Happy anniversary to the epoch-making LED ZEPPELIN debut Led Zeppelin!

Late March is the UK release date for the foundational Led Zeppelin debut. Coming after the success of the early British Invasion bands, Led Zeppelin set the standard for heavy rock. In particular, American audiences were very welcoming to Led Zeppelin and would soon propel them to stardom in the U.S. and then internationally.

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin

Atlantic Records

January 12, 1969 (USA)

March 28, 1969 UK (according to Godledblog)

March 31, 1969 UK (according to Wikipedia)

Robert Plant – Jimmy Page – John Paul Jones – John Bonham –

Good Times Bad Times. Babe I'm Gonna Leave You. You Shook Me. Dazed And Confused. Your Time Is Gonna Come. Black Mountain Side. Communication Breakdown. I Can't Quit You Baby. How Many More Times.

Led Zeppelin vs. Rolling Stone (1969)

Rolling Stone magazine is notorious for having gotten it all so wrong. John Mendelsohn gave the album a very negative review:

"‘Led Zeppelin’: Blues Combo Dead on Arrival. Jimmy Page is, admittedly, an extraordinarily proficient blues guitarist and explorer of his instrument’s electronic capabilities. Unfortunately, he is also a very limited producer and a writer of weak, unimaginative songs. The most representative cut is “How Many More Times.” Here, a jazzy introduction gives way to a driving, guitar-dominated background for Robert Plant’s strained and unconvincing shouting. Zeppelin has produced an album sadly reminiscent of the Jeff Beck Group’s Truth. To fill the void created by the demise of Cream, they will have to find some material worthy of their collective attention."

American rock fans strongly disagreed with Rolling Stone. They voted with their money and their feet. The album was a massive success, and fans quickly began to fill the venues. The rest is history.

Led Zeppelin - Good Times Bad Times (Official Audio)

remembering RIOT guitarist Louie Kouvaris (1954-2020)

Louis Antonios Kouvaris (April 20, 1954 - March 28, 2020) (according to The Metal Archives)

The Metal Archives shows that Lou Kouvaris worked with Riot from 1975–1978. It says he played guitar on the 1977 "Warrior / Tokyo Rose" single, on the 1977 album Rock City (as "L.A. Kouvaris"), and on the 1978 "Rock City / Gypsy Queen" single. He also appears on the 2018 compilation Archives Volume One: 1976-1981, playing guitar on tracks CD-8, CD-10, and CD-15 as "Lou A. Kouvaris."

The Metal Archives lists several other projects he worked with, including: Diamond, Faded Blue, Harlequin, Prism, Riot Act, Satelite, Smoke, Special Forces, Sweetalk, and The Hots. However, the Metal Archives does not include pages for most of these artists; the only one listed with a full profile is Riot.

Riot is an American heavy metal band originally from New York, USA. They were active from 1975–1984, 1986–2012, and from 2013 to the present. They now go by the name Riot V following the death of the band's founder, guitarist, and sole constant member, Mark Reale, on January 25, 2012. After Mark died from complications of Crohn's disease, the surviving members—longtime bassist Don Van Stavern and guitarist Mike Flyntz—continued the musical legacy. The "V" in their name signifies that this is the fifth era of the band.

Riot - Warrior (from the 1977 album Rock City)

Happy anniversary to the KING'S X album Out of the Silent Planet!

According to Wikipedia, March 28th is the release date for this album. I like the melodic classic/heavy rock of King's X, and for a long time, I mistakenly thought that this was their debut album. Wikipedia says that they were called Sneak Preview before and even released an album under that name!Regardless of my error, I think this is a wonderful debut. To me, this is a pretty cool sound: it's prog, it's melodic, and it's classic rock. It has a nice conglomeration of sounds (like those vocal melodies and that specific guitar sound) that makes it the sound of King's X. Wikipedia has some interesting tidbits of history about the album, and it says:

Out of the Silent Planet is the second studio album by the American rock band King's X (and the first to be released under that name), released in 1988. The title of the album comes from that of a book by C. S. Lewis, an author favored by band members Ty Tabor and Jerry Gaskill. "Out of the Silent Planet" is also the title of the first track from the follow-up album Gretchen Goes to Nebraska. The cover art features the skyline of Houston with the southern outline of the state of Texas. The album received widespread acclaim from music contemporaries. Pantera bassist Rex Brown commented of his and Dimebag Darrell's impressions, noting "Dime called me and said, 'Dude, have you heard this? Have you checked out King's X?'" He says. "We went on a long road trip, and we must have listened to that first record I don't know how many times, and we couldn't stop! This was the sound that Dime and I were always looking for." The Houston Chronicle noted that "the playing is ferocious, unencumbered with studio trickery, and the emerging vision elevates this music into its own sphere... If it 'has' to [be] considered heavy metal, it is the most original metal since Van Halen burst on the scene 10 years ago."

King's X

Out of the Silent Planet

Megaforce

March 28, 1988

Doug Pinnick – bass, lead vocals

Ty Tabor – guitars, backing vocals

Jerry Gaskill – drums, backing vocals

1. "In the New Age" 5:23, 2. "Goldilox" 4:41, 3. "Power of Love" 4:57, 4. "Wonder" 4:13, 5. "Sometimes" 3:40, 6. "King" 3:01, 7. "What Is This?" 3:48, 8. "Far, Far Away" 4:14, 9. "Shot of Love" 3:15, 10. "Visions" 5:11.

King's X - King

https://www.facebook.com/KingsXofficial

in memory of MANOWAR guitarist Ross the Boss (1954-2026)

Ross H. Friedman (January 3, 1954 - March 26, 2026)

I know the music of Ross the Boss (New York, USA) through Manowar and the band Ross the Boss. The Metal Archives shows that Ross the Boss was in Manowar from 1980 to 1988, but also in various other bands and projects: Brain Surgeons, Manitoba's Wild Kingdom, Ross the Boss, Death Dealer (California), Heyday, Manitoba, Shakin' Street, The Dictators, and Total Crudd. For fans of heavy metal, Ross "The Boss" Friedman is perhaps best known for his work with Manowar, but his career is a lot more storied than just his time in that band. He played many styles, including punk rock and heavy metal. He started his career in 1973 with a punk band called The Dictators. Later on, he worked with a hard rock band called Shakin' Street. While on tour with them in 1980, he met Joey DeMaio, and they started Manowar. Ross played on the first six albums, including classics like Battle Hymns and Kings of Metal. After Manowar, he went back to playing rock and punk. He played in several groups like Manitoba's Wild Kingdom, The Brain Surgeons, and reunions with The Dictators. In 2006, he started his own metal band called Ross the Boss. He also joined the band Death Dealer (California) in 2012. He released a new album with Death Dealer called Reign of Steel in early 2026. Sadly, he was diagnosed with ALS in February 2026 and passed away on March 26, 2026.

Manowar - Kings of Metal (1988 album Kings of Metal)

Ross the Boss - I Got the Right (2008 album New Metal Leader)

Happy anniversary to SLYTHERIN's album Has Only Just Begun!

Slytherin is Harry Potter-themed atmospheric, melodic midtempo extreme metal. The Metal Archives calls them atmospheric black metal, but on this album the music is midtempo melodic doom metal, with both extreme and melodic singing. Personally, I feel like the music on this album is closer to gothic doom than anything else, and not black metal, speaking simply about genres. The album is ten songs in a bit over 38 minutes of music. On Bandcamp it says the project is: "Sirius - vocal, keyboards and drum programing, and Paul - guitar and bass." I certainly recommend it to fans of doom and gothic doom, and if doom fans are also Harry Potter fans, then, man oh man oh man, is this the album for them! The perfect meeting of the worlds is here.

Slytherin

Has Only Just Begun

More Hate Productions

March 27th, 2025 (CD version)

July 13th, 2024 (digital version)

I hope this summary is correct: In the Harry Potter universe created by J.K. Rowling, Slytherin is one of the four Houses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and was founded by Salazar Slytherin, one of the four founders of the school. The House values ambition, cunning, leadership, and resourcefulness. Its students are often described as being achievement-oriented and with a strong sense of self-preservation. Animal: The Serpent (snake). Colors: Green and Silver. Element: Water.

Has Only Just Begun by Slytherin