February might be the shortest month but it definitely has not been in short supply of sick metal releases throughout the years. Back when metal was just getting started, on Friday [February] the 13th 1970 the world welcomed possibly the most important release in metal history - Black Sabbath’s self-titled debut.
More big 1970s releases:
Deep Purple - Burn (February 15, 1974)
The first Deep Purple release featuring David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes!
Van Halen - Van Halen (February 10, 1978)
Van Halen's debut. Enough said.
Judas Priest - Stained Glass (February 10, 1978)
Did you know this is the first album Judas Priest's new (and very well-known now) logo was used?
Big 1980s titles:
Iron Maiden - Killers (February 16, 1981)
The last Maiden album with Paul Di'Anno on vocals but the first with producer Martin Birch who continued working with them on their best works up until the 90s.
Judas Priest - Point of Entry (February 27, 1981)
Judas Priest's more "calm" & "radio-friendly" take after British Steel.
King Diamond - Fatal Portrait (February 17, 1986)
Our first look at King Diamond after Mercyful Fate.
Metal Church - Blessing in Disguise (February 7, 1989)
Metal Church's most interesting & diverse record in terms of sound, featuring the almost 10 minute long "Anthem to the Estranged".
Big 1990s titles:
Paradise Lost - Lost Paradise (February 5, 1990)
Paradise Lost's Peaceville debut - one of the pioneers in the death-doom genre as a whole.
Death - Spiritual Healing (February 16, 1990)
The third offering from Death, moving on from gore & horror lyrically and to more melodic and doomy sound.
Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power (February 25, 1992)
Love it or hate it, Vulgar Display of Power will always forever Pantera's highest selling (and now double platinum) record.
In Flames - The Jester Race (February 20, 1996)
The second & probably best known In Flames record. As Trivium's Matt Heafy once said "the one metal album you should have heard by now".
Morbid Angel - Formulas Fatal to the Flesh (February 24, 1998)
Goodbye Satan in Morbid Angel's lyrics and hello H. P. Lovecraft.
Big 2000s titles:
Exodus - Tempo of the Damned (February 2, 2004)
The Exodus thrash machine's return after Force of Habit (back in '92!) & their first after Paul Baloff's passing.
Deicide - Scars of the Crucifix (February 23, 2004)
The last Deicide record featuring their original old line-up.
Obscura - Cosmogenesis (February 17, 2009)
The record that really put Obscura in the death metal spotlight. A well-deserved "Best Death Metal album of the Year" award by Loudwire.
Fear Factory - Mechanize (February 9, 2010)
Fear Factory's fastest selling & most aggressive album. Sick!
Big 2010s titles:
Anthrax - For All Kings (February 26, 2016)
Anthrax's latest record that took the metal world by storm.
Overkill - The Grinding Wheel (February 10, 2017)
"At the end of the day Overkill is Overkill." said Bobby Blitz. The Overkill formula has been working for 18 (now 20) albums & we are never getting tired of it.
Power Trip - Nightmare Logic (February 24, 2017)
The last last Power Trip studio record featuring Riley Gale before his passing. Truly a modern metal favorite and a universally loved released among Gimme fans since day 1.
Candlemass - The Door to Doom (February 22, 2019)
It's save to say The Door to Doom is Candlemass's best release, topping death metal charts since its release and featured in almost every AOTY list of 2019.
This month we celebrate the birthday of the legendary guitarist Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath who will be 76 on February 19!
Also Sodom’s vocalist Tom Angelripper, born on (the same day!) February 19, turning 61.
And Metallica’s Cliff Burton (RIP) born February 10, 1962 who would have turned 62 this year.
