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Defender, 'They Came Over the High Pass' still timelessly flies high over the snow covered mountains with the dragons over 20 years later.

"With the help of dial up internet and a lot of patience and time, I realized that there was more to active Heavy Metal music with guitar solos than just Pantera..."

Read our Rusted Metal column on the classic 'TCOTHP' by Josh Greer!

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Album of the day alert: Today's record is "Ritual", the debut album from Wales act Goat Major. It's a fuzzy, doom-laden dose of melody and I'm digging it. It is out now on Ripple Music.

The album of the day comes from Detroit's stoner-doom outfit Temple of the Fuzz Witch. "Apotheosis" was released last month on Music and evokes some grinding riffs, screeching vocals, and a dark ethereal jaunt. It's silly lyrics, but I dig the tunes maaaaaan.

The album of the day comes from Finland in the form of a traditional heavy metal act called Metal Riot. Their debut album came out last week, "Birth of Terror", and it is a fantastic blend of thrashy traditional metal with a touch of polished power. Get on it!

Today's album of the day is a 30-track collection celebrating 30 years of MOB RULES (the band). This is a monster collection of remastered songs from the band's history, but also a ton of cover tunes of bands like Amon Amarth, Ghost, Iron Maiden, Dio, and even Irene Cara (!). The album is called "Celebration Day: 30 Years of Mob Rules" and it is available through Steamhammer.

I've been in a thrashy sort of punk mood, so today's album of the day is from a band called Silent Horror. The album, "Silver Screen", was released on Missing Fink Records back in 2020. It is new to me and maybe for you too. Check it out!

Today's album of the day is the brand new one from P.O.D. titled "Veritas". It was released yesterday on Mascot Records and I'm digging the short songs, killer tunes, and the quick punchiness.

The album of the day is the brand new one from Boston traditional metal act Ravage. "Spider on the World" is their fourth album to date. It's available as a digital download and a 12" vinyl. Check it out at https://ravageswwr.bandcamp.com/releases.

Last December the British gothic-death-doom band released the re-recorded version of their "iconic" 1993 album "Icon". Some people love it, some hate it. Personally, it's my album of the day and I absolutely love this version. Mainly, the drums just sound so much better.

This month marks 10 years since Crowbar released their grinding sludge masterpiece "Symmetry in Black". I love everything the band does and this one is really something special.

Like yesterday's album of the day, this one is also a surprising one. The new David Reece (ex-Accept) album "Baptized by Fire" is a banger.

Today's album of the year is a surprising one. I haven't really enjoyed the last couple of Rage albums, but this new record is pretty darn good. It's a double-album with a whopping 21 razor-sharp cuts of thrashy power-metal. Check it out!

Album of the day is the new release from space-rock legends Hawkwind. It’s out now on Cherry Red Records.

Great show last night at House of Blues Orlando with Stryper. Killer set of old and new with some band history from Michael sweet. The band covered “All She Wrote” in tribute to Firehouse vocalist C.J. Snare (RIP). Look for a new Stryper album (new material) coming out this year on Frontiers Music srl.

"IV" is the album of the day from Vancouver, British Columbia rockers Dead Quiet. It's an eclectic mixture of rock and doom laced with stirring, moody keyboards. Entrancing, entertaining, and recommended. - Eric Compton

Album of the day comes by way of indy label Chaos Caravan Records. It is the Rochester, New York doom metal band Astral Moon (one guy named Aidan Amy) with the second album to date, "Into Solar Abyss", which was released last year. It is one strange trip of space rock, doomy passages, spoken word, and science-fiction storytelling. - Eric Compton

Album of the day alert! "Superskull" from PSYCH SOUNDS band BLACK RAINBOWS was my pick for "Stoner Album of 2023" and I'm still crankin' this mother seemingly every week. I love this band! - Eric Compton

"All Kingdoms Fall" is the sophomore album for UK heavy metal band Black Hounds. It was released independently last month and serves up a mid-tempo doom offering with a combination of clean and growling vocal style. I'm digging it. - Eric Compton

Ecclesia is a French band signed to avantgarde, extreme, and experimental label Aural Music. Their newest album, "Ecclesia Militans", was released last month and I'm really loving it. It's my album of the day based on its interesting and addictive combination of doom and power metal. Think Tad Morose meets modern Candlemass. - Eric Compton

The album of the day comes from the country of Luxembourg with thrash metal band Scarlet Anger. Their newest release, "Martyr", came out in January independently. It's a meaty buffet of thrash metal, aggressive vocals, and mid-tempo heavy metal. They remind me of old Squealer, which is another reason I really like them. - Eric Compton

"Savage Dawn" from Spanish heavy speed metal band CURTAIN is the album of the day. It was released by Dying Victims Productions in February and remains in my rotation every week. It's lightening quick, with an emphasis on melody, but remains in control despite it's reckless free spirit. This band keeps getting better and better. - Eric Compton

The album of the day is an oldie but a goodie. Grave Digger's "Heart of Darkness", the German act's fifth album, originally released in 1995 on Gun Records.

Anyone who knows me knows I'm a huge Blue Oyster Cult fan, so obviously the album of the day (and week for that matter) is the newest, and sadly the last album, from these legendary rockers. "Ghost Stories" was released last week on Frontiers Music srl. This is a collection of songs that serves as a bittersweet farewell to the recording days of BOC. Well worth a listen. - Eric Compton

Today's album of the day is Overkill's "Scorched" album, which coincidentally was released exactly one year ago. Arguably, with a discography this robust, some of the band's albums just come and go. However, this record remains as one of my most played albums of 2023 and my pick for last year's "Best of Thrash" award. - Eric Compton

This new BOLT album "Sound & Fury" (courtesy of AFM Records) has been getting mixed reviews online. I'm not sure where the confusion lies. This album absolutely smokes and it is my album of the day. While they may stray from just straight-up bang-your-head whiplash thrash, their substitute is a clever, sensible approach that goes one step beyond. This is very different and very good. - Eric Compton

Today's album of the day is "Awakening", the debut album from Finnish melodic death metal band Swansong. The fact that they take their name from one of the best melodic death albums of all time should say something. - Eric Compton

Records serves up today's album of the day. It's a Los Angels band called City Kings and their first album, 2023's "Steel Rock n 'Roll. The trio serve up a high-energy selection of Motorhead-inspired rock and roll. This one is a blazing banger. - Eric Compton

Album of the day alert! "Black Diamonds" from hard rock legends L.A. GUNS was released a year ago on Frontiers Music srl. With so many albums last April, I had to come back to this record today and I'm sorry I've delayed playing it. After seeing the band live last month, I was blown away by just how loud and heavy they really are. This album echoes that statement profoundly. - Eric Compton

Sometimes albums just come along that are just so unique and different that they just beg to be played repeatedly. The entertainment, beyond being pleased by the music and emotion it conveys, lies in just how different it is from anything else. That's the case for today's album of the day - WOVEN MAN's "Sardonic Waters", which was released last year on Off Yer Rocka Recordings. It's stoner, spacey, and hook-laden to the bone. - Eric Compton