OCTOBER 31 to release special covers album of “Metal Massacre” compilation songs & reveal first tracks

The eight volumes of Metal Massacre released by Metal Blade Records in the 1980s were massively instrumental in chronicling (and furthering) the burgeoning heavy metal movement, particularly in the United States. Here, the earliest songs of Slayer and Ratt, for example, stood side by side each other as a declaration of intent: that HEAVY METAL was here, and it was here to stay. Those who grew up in the ’80s and heard these compilations have fond memories of them, as each song was almost always exclusive and almost always exciting – a new stone to unturn, a new head to bang.


For the members of October 31, these compilations are so cherished and enduring that they’ve recorded a covers album comprising songs all exclusively on these comps, appropriately titled Metal Massacre. For over 20 years now, October 31 are no strangers to the heavy metal fight, so it’s a no-brainer that the US quintet would reverentially cover the revered likes of Omen, Hallow’s Eve, Sacred Blade, and America’s Tyrant alongside the more obscure likes Aloha, War Cry, Final Warning, and Canada’s Death Dealer among others. From early, more melodically inclined traditional metal to heads-down proto-thrash and speed metal, October 31 cover all bases on Metal Massacre, rendering the record a veritable time-machine back to the early-to-mid ’80s. However, with erstwhile Deceased frontman (and scene legend) King Fowley on the mic, the band brims with the confidence and elan to make these songs their own – or, at least, songs that could easily be among their original repertoire – serving as a fully satisfying stopgap album before their next full-length for Hells Headbangers. All you metal merchants, step forth and prepare for October 31’s Metal Massacre!

Hells Headbangers will release this special Metal Massacre on November 25th. In the meantime, hear October 31’s covers of Aloha’s “Heavy Metal Virgin” and Hallow’s Eve’s “Metal Merchants” exclusively here at Hells Headbangers’ Bandcamp, where the album can also be preordered. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

october31_metal

Tracklisting for October 31’s Metal Massacre
1. Cross My Way (Death Dealer)
2. Forbidden Evil (War Cry)
3. Torture Me (Omen)
4. The Awakening (Titanic)
5. Dead Of The Night (Demon Flight)
6. Heavy Metal Virgin (Aloha)
7. The Alien (Sacred Blade)
8. Metal Merchants (Hallow’s Eve)
9. The Warrior (Final Warning)
10. The Battle Of Armageddon (Tyrant)

www.facebook.com/October31Metal

Home: Parczew (Poland). Interests / Hobbies: music, musical journalism, oriental studies, anthropology, psychology, medicine, sociology. Favourite music genres: first of all the all genres of Metal, Hardcore and Progressive Rock as well as Gothic, Ambient, Classical Music, Ethnic Music, Sacred Music, Choral Music, Soundtracks, New Age Music, Folk Music i sometimes Jazz, Electro, Experimental or Alternative Music... He co-founded magazine & webzine Born To Die'zine as Gnom.
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