'80s Metal History (November 1st)

November 1, 1994: Megadeth released their sixth studio album "Youthanasia" in North America (October 24th in the UK) with a sound similar to their previous and most commercially successful LP "Countdown To Extinction", but a little angrier with songs like "Train Of Consequences".

Megadeth "Youthanasia" release date source: [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication ad - October 21, 1994; [UK] Kerrang! ad - October 22, 1994.

Venom released their second studio album "Black Metal" the first week of November 1982 in the UK (April 1985 in North America), the lyrics and imagery a major influence on the early Norwegian black metal scene. The chainsaw teeth all broke when recording the title track.

Venom "Black Metal" release information source: [UK] Kerrang! ad - November 4, 1982; [US] Billboard Magazine 'New Releases' - April 27, 1985.

King Diamond released EP "The Dark Sides" in late October/early November 1988, featuring seasonal numbers "Halloween" and "No Presents For Christmas". King's makeup on the cover prompted a lawsuit by KISS' Gene Simmons. Release information source: [US] The Hard Report radio trade publication 'Most Added' - November 4, 1988; [UK] Kerrang! ad - November 12, 1988.

Recorded live at the Marquee Club in London on July 4, 1980, and available initially in Japan only, Iron Maiden's second EP "Live!! +one" finally made its way to the UK before the end of the year. The "+one" being a studio recording of the "Women In Uniform" cover.

Happy Birthday to Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen (November 1, 1963). "Thunder God" joined the band on his 15th birthday.

November 1, 1988: The "Damaged Justice" Tour was in Paris for Halloween and Metallica with special guest Queensrÿche had returned to Germany for three shows beginning in Frankfurt. Two weeks earlier, Metallica and Queensrÿche played Helsinki, where Queensrÿche frontman Geoff Tate revealed in a 2025 interview that fans threw bottles at his band... "Oh, yeah. I think I have a scar here [on my face] from that," he said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). "[Queensrÿche guitarist Michael Wilton] did a really interesting thing [at that show]. I applaud him for his courage, really. But it was a giant bottle of vodka that came flying up on stage, and it hit the neck of his guitar as he was playing it and it shattered all the strings. So the guitar just made this horrible sound. And so he was kind of standing there for a second, and he just grabbed another guitar and he finished the solo that he was playing. [Laughs] That was amazing. He missed like — I don’t know — five or six notes, but he got back on it and played the whole solo through. And because he did that, the audience just went, ‘YES!’ It was pretty amazing that he did that."

November 1, 1988: Helloween launched the UK leg of the "Pumpkin's Fly Free" Tour at London's Hammersmith Odeon. The Edinburgh and Manchester shows were recorded for "Helloween Live In The U.K." issued in 1989.

November 1974: Scorpions released their second studio album "Fly To The Rainbow" in Europe (January '76 in North America) their first with guitarist Uli Jon Roth and bassist Francis Buchholz.

Whitesnake's first live album "Live...In The Heart Of The City" was in UK record shops the first weekend of November 1980 (December '80 in North America). The double live LP was recorded at shows in 1978 and 1980 at London's Hammersmith Odeon. Release information source: [UK] New Musical Express ad - November 1, 1980; [US] Billboard Magazine ad - December 27, 1980.

Formed in 1983 in Los Angeles by lead guitarist Kenny Powell, power/speed metal band Omen released their debut album "Battle Cry" a year later on Metal Blade, featuring tracks "Death Rider" and "The Axeman". Release information source: Heavy Heroes fanzine (Portland, Oregon) ad - Fall 1984.

November 1, 2011: Megadeth released their 13th studio album "Th1rt3en" featuring singles "Public Enemy No. 1" and "Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)". Release date source: Blabbermouth.net - September 7, 2011.

November 1, 1990: "Techno-Metal quintet Queensrÿche" launched the UK leg of the "Building Empires" Tour in Edinburgh, Scotland, that concluded two weeks later with two shows at London's Hammersmith Odeon. -Kerrang!

It's no longer Rocktober, but if '80s Metal is still playing 24/7, then it still kicks ass. Flip that calendar to November and keep bangin' that head! 🤘