October 31

O

n the strength of their debut demo Voyage To Infinity, October 31 got a deal with Stan Koson's Chicago based indie label 'Rest In Peace Records' ('RIP'), who shortly later, launched them onto the world market with the debut album The Fire Awaits You (1997). The band's influences were planted firmly in the 1980s underground, or "cult" movements without a single nod to modern trends. Their fantasy lyrics and classic heavy metal sound were well received by fans. Band founder King Fowley (also the founder of Deceased) released a limited edition mini-CD entitled Visions of the End (1999) on his own label, 'Old Metal', shortly after to celebrate the arrival of a second guitarist. It sold quickly and was later re-released by 'R.I.P.' with Voyage To Infinity added as a bonus track. (Jag Panzer's Harder Than Steel and Warlord's Child Of The Damned were also added when it was re-issued a third time after changing labels later in the new century).

The next logical step was to tour; so they did. King Fowley played both drums and vocals, so a stand-in vocalist was hired during the tour to make his workload limited to the one job. Their premier tour covered America's east coast, including the Powermad festival in Maryland. The Meet Thy Maker release would follow in 1999, still on 'R.I.P.'. The recording was quickly done by industry standards. Critics bashed it, like the predecessors, for being under produced and accused Fowley of being an adequate vocalist at best. Even though it was hastily done, it lacked little in style or "Metalness". The band was also featured on tribute CD's for both Iron Maiden and Ozzy Osbourne. King Fowley would retire his drum kit to play only vocals. 'Thrash Corner' would release their live effort Stagefright in 2003. The European division of 'Metal Blade Records' then approached them for future releases, culminating in the release of No Survivors (2006) with the membership of King Fowley (vocals), "Hellstorm" Williams (Lead guitar), Jim Hunter (bass), Jason Tedder (guitar), and Dave Castillo (drums).