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Artwork for 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal

100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal

Brian Slagel
Heavy Metal
Metal Blade Records
Music Production
Iron Maiden
Thrash Metal
Black Sabbath
Martin Popoff
New Wave Of British Heavy Metal
Anthrax
Slayer
Punk Rock
Judas Priest
Alice Cooper
Death Metal
Kiss
Armored Saint
Bill Metoyer
Cannibal Corpse
Metallica
King's X

100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal is the ultimate journey into the heart of heavy music, hosted by Metal Blade Records’ founder, Brian Slagel. Each week, Brian dives into one of his personally curated tracks from his list of the heaviest songs in metal and hard rock, exploring the music that shaped a genre. With special guest musicians—some who wrote and recorded these iconic songs and others who ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes90Founded2 years ago
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Artwork for 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal

Latest Episodes

Iron Maiden - "Powerlsave" from the album of the same name

Released in Europe September 3, 1984 and in the US September 14, 1984

Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel talks to Gabriela Gun of Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Ghost about "Powerslave", th... more

Gojira - "The Heaviest Matter of the Universe"

From the album "From Mars to Sirius"

RELEASED September 27, 2005

Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel is joined by Steve Carey from the band Senses Fail to discuss Gojira's "Heaviest Matter of the Uni... more

YouTube

Metallica - "Orion" released March 3,1986 from the album "Master of Puppets"

Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel talks to filmmaker Sam Dunn about Metallica's epic instrumental, "Orion". They also discuss Slayer, Iron Maiden and some of the films h... more

YouTube

AC/DC - "Hells Bells"

From the album "Back In Black"

Released Halloween 1980

Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel welcomes back to the show Adam Rank from NFL Network and The Jim Rome Show to discuss the first track on AC/DC's "Back in Black" albu... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Brian Posehn
Actor and comedian, discussed as a guest host and interviewee
Actor/Comedian
Episode: Black Sabbath - "Symptom of the Universe"
Chris Kael
Five Finger Death Punch bassist and public figure
Five Finger Death Punch
Episode: Slayer - "South of Heaven"
Todd La Torre
Lead singer of Queensryche, guest on Iron Maiden discussion
Queensryche
Episode: Iron Maiden - "Number of the Beast"
Mike Hamer
Owner/Founder of Violent Gentlemen clothing
Violent Gentlemen
Episode: Metallica - "Creeping Death"
Adam Wodon
College Hockey News writer and Queensryche fan
College Hockey News
Episode: Queensryche - "Roads To Madness"
Ryan Williams
A&R at Metal Blade Records, musician and producer
Metal Blade Records
Episode: Jimi Hendrix - "All Along The Watchtower"
Stoney Curtis
Blues guitarist and Hendrix enthusiast
Solo artist, Count's Vamped, etc.
Episode: Jimi Hendrix - "All Along The Watchtower"
John Corabi
Singer formerly of Union, Motley Crue, Ratt; guest on the episode
The Dead Daisies / All-Star Band
Episode: Black Sabbath - "Into The Void"
Bill Metoyer
Producer/engineer and Sabbath enthusiast
Musical producer/engineer
Episode: Black Sabbath - "Into The Void"

Hosts

Brian Slagel
Host of the show; founder of Metal Blade Records
Martin Popoff
Music journalist and critic providing historical context

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 79 ratings
  • good podcast, just skip….

    that 20 seconds of the opening that has Lizzy Borden …is absolutely unlistenable…. if i’m not in a position to fast forward thru it…. i have to take off my headphones. But the content of the podcast is great…. i’m a bit confused of the choices of the songs.. for the top 100 songs of heavy metal….

    just pick a song you like….

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    FoxxyBikerChic
    United Statesa month ago
  • Excellent

    Absolutely love this pod cast! I’m a 54 year old UK metal head and really enjoy going behind the scenes of these classics…excellent stuff.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JCLSWAN12
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Only for die-hards

    Slagel is a decent host, and his intimate knowledge of metal is worthwhile. He gets great guests who drop intriguing details from metal’s past and present. But the editing of this podcast is HORRENDOUS. People talk over each other in a way that’s clearly just a bad copy-paste, the trims are jarringly unnatural, the volume is mouselike (exceedingly inappropriate for tinnitus-plagued metalheads).

    It’s worth a listen, but it desperately needs better production — a major topic of the podcast itsel... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Nicholas, Tell Him
    United States6 months ago
  • Well Done!

    Love the show. Not sure why the song snippets are of a lowfi quality though?? Also, no more of that Siriusxm Jose Magniwhatever guy. Please. Guy loves to talk about himself.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Castermt
    United States6 months ago
  • Great but…

    I absolutely love this podcast, but the amount of ads is absurd. Most of the time you’re close to 7-8 minutes in before there’s any content that isn’t an ad, the intro song, or the copy and pasted intro. Then, more ads (at least 2 minutes) between each segment. It’s crazy.

    Like I said, I love it, but, c’mon, a 50 minute episode shouldn’t be 30-35% ads and less than 30 minutes of new, original content.

    It could be great, but for now it’s frustratingly good.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Tsauce124
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some praise the host's deep industry connections and curated guest roster.
Listeners appreciate the depth of production and historical context.
A few criticisms note production and pacing inconsistencies in a minority of episodes.
Guests bring insider anecdotes and clear expertise.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Slayer - "South of Heaven"
Q: What makes South of Heaven stand out in Slayer's catalog?
The track shifts from pure speed to a slower, heavier, more atmospheric approach while retaining their signature heaviness and melodic dissonance, creating a defining moment in Slayer's evolution.
Black Sabbath - "Symptom of the Universe"
Q: What makes Symptom of the Universe stand out as a heavy riff in early metal?
The riff is described as monstrously heavy and influential, with a two-part structure that combines immediate impact in the opening sections with a contrasting, more experimental second half, which many listeners interpret as proto-thrash.
AC/DC - "Hells Bells"
Q: What story around the recording of the bell stands out to you?
The group explains the bell commissioning, attempting London recording, the two-ton goal, and ultimately recording a one-ton bell with multiple mics and pitching it down for the right tonal quality.
AC/DC - "Hells Bells"
Q: What makes Hells Bells such a defining track for you, especially given the Bon Scott to Brian Johnson transition?
Adam Rank emphasizes the song's opening ritual, the arc of the album, and the way the track anchors the record as a landmark moment in metal history, with the bell intro as a memorable trigger for fans new and old.
AC/DC - "Hells Bells"
Q: Where did you come in on ACDC? Were you a fan of the Bon Scott era? Did you come in a little bit later?
Adam Rank explains he joined as a long-time fan who came in after Bon Scott, praising the band's anthem quality and the enduring appeal of Brian Johnson era and songs like Hells Bells.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Frequently Asked Questions About 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal

What is 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Listeners get an in-depth exploration of metal's most influential tracks, guided by the founder of a legendary label, a veteran music journalist, and a top producer. Each episode centers on a defining song's creation, performance history, and production choices, weaving technical detail with cultural context and behind-the-scenes anecdotes. The show often features a wide range of guests—musicians, producers, label executives, and historians—creating a dense, lore-rich conversation that appeals to long-time fans and newcomers who crave storytelling about craft, era, and impact. Notable strengths include a strong production-focused lens, historical rigor, and frequent crossovers with broader pop culture moments and industry lore, plus a well-... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal:

1. The Eddie Trunk Podcast
2. Dean Delray's LET THERE BE TALK
3. The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan
4. Garza Podcast
5. Talk Is Jericho

How many episodes of 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal are there?

100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal launched 2 years ago and published 90 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal?

Recent guests on 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal include:

1. Brian Posehn
2. Chris Kael
3. Todd La Torre
4. Mike Hamer
5. Adam Wodon
6. Ryan Williams
7. Stoney Curtis
8. John Corabi

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