'80s Metal History (August 23rd)

August 23, 1985: "Soldiers Under Command", the first full-length studio album from Stryper, was shipped to US record stores (October '85 as an import in the UK). Demand was high as the band's label received advance orders for 100,000+ copies and it became the first Christian metal album to achieve gold status.

Stryper "Soldiers Under Command" release information source: [US] FMQB radio trade publication - August 30, 1985; Billboard Magazine - September 14, 1985; Stryper singer Michael Sweet social media post - May 15, 2024; [UK] Kerrang! review - October 17, 1985.

August 23, 1985: After his debut won Guitar Player's award for "Best Rock Album" and was nominated for a Grammy for "Best Rock Instrumental', Yngwie Malmsteen released his second studio album "Marching Out" in the UK (August 19th in North America) with Jeff Scott Soto on vocals. Images: Cover 1 Europe; Cover 2 USA.

Yngwie Malmsteen "Marching Out" release date source: [UK] Kerrang! - August 22, 1985; Kerrang! ad - September 5, 1985; [US] FMQB radio trade publication - August 16, 1985.

Late August 1989: Ahead of the release of their new album "Dr. Feelgood", Mötley Crüe released the title track as the first single, which went on to become the band's first American Top Ten hit, reaching No. 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Release information source: The Hard Report ad - August 18, 1989.

August 1993: Scorpions released "Alien Nation" as the lead single from their forthcoming album "Face The Heat". One of their heaviest songs with almost apocalyptic lyrics went on to be a Top 10 US rock hit. Release information source: Music & Media Magazine ad - August 21, 1993.

After concluding the "Dancing Undercover" Tour in the US in late July, RATT were gearing up to perform in Germany for the first time as part of the "Monsters Of Rock" Festival. This ad appeared in Metal Hammer Magazine on August 23, 1987.

Ahead of the release of their new album "Innocence Is No Excuse", Saxon released "Back On The Streets" as the lead single in the UK. This ad appeared in Kerrang! Magazine on August 22, 1985.

August 23, 1994: Tesla released their fourth studio album "Bust A Nut" in North America featuring the single "Mama's Fool". With guitarist Tommy Skeoch entering rehab for substance abuse, the band went on a six-year hiatus and didn't record another LP until 2004. Release date source: CMJ New Music Report - August 22, 1994.

Late August 1989: Seattle metal band Fifth Angel released their second studio album "Time Will Tell", featuring singles "Midnight Love" and the title track, less gothic sounding than their debut, but still projecting power and majesty. Release information source: [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication - September 1, 1989; [UK] Kerrang! review - September 9, 1989.

August 23, 1975: Black Sabbath's sixth studio album "Sabotage", featuring "Symptom Of The Universe", debuted on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart (September 27, 1975 in the UK), the LP title a reflection of the band's ongoing legal woes with their former manager.

Remembering Trouble co-founder and singer Eric Wagner, who died August 23, 2021 at age 62. R.I.P.

August 1988: The intellectual headbanger needs a magazine too and "Product of a Normal American Home" Alice Cooper was featured.

In the midst of a musical movement where anything hard rock was called "Metal", K-Tel released "Metal Masters" in 1987 with tracks from Scorpions, Judas Priest, Bon Jovi, Deep Purple and more. Still trying to figure it all out back then.