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

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes84Founded2 years ago
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Artwork for 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal

Latest Episodes

Iron Maiden - "Number of the Beast" from the album of the same name

Released March 22, 1982

Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel talks to Queensryche lead singer Todd La Torre about Iron Maiden's "Number of the Beast".

Producer Jay Ruston returns ... more

Metallica - "Creeping Death"

From the album "Ride the Lightning"

Released November 23, 1984

In this episode, Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel is joined by Mike Hamer of the Violent Gentlemen clothing line to discuss Metallica's "Creeping Death... more

YouTube

Queensryche - "Roads to Madness"

RELEASED September 7, 1984 on the album "The Warning"

Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel discusses the final track on Queensryche's full-length debut, The Warning: "Roads to Madness". He talks to producer Zeuss, w... more

YouTube

Jimi Hendrix - "All Along The Watchtover"

First released as a single September 21, 1968 and was later featured on the Electric Ladyland album, released in October 16, 1968.

(Originally recorded by Bob Dyland and released on the "John Wesley Harding... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Adam Wodon
College Hockey News writer and Queensryche fan
College Hockey News
Episode: Queensryche - "Roads To Madness"
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"
Ray Alder
Lead singer of Fates Warning during the Ray era
Fates Warning
Episode: Fates Warning - "A Pleasant Shade of Gray"
Scott Laughlin
Host of NHL Morning Skate, hockey media figure
NHL Network / Series XM
Episode: Kiss - "Love Gun"
Mike Varney
Founder of Shrapnel Records, producer/label executive
Shrapnel Records
Episode: UFO - "Let It Roll"
Mike Faley
Executive at Metal Blade Records, longtime insider
Metal Blade Records
Episode: Aerosmith - "Make It"
Ross Robinson
Producer who worked on Slipknot's debut album
Self/Producer
Episode: Slipknot - "Surfacing"
Zach Johnson
Guitarist from The Ghost Inside and Slipknot enthusiast
The Ghost Inside
Episode: Slipknot - "Surfacing"
Gloria Butler
Music industry veteran, managed Heaven and Hell, host of Gabbing with Girlfriends
Heaven and Hell (manager), Gabbing with Girlfriends podcast
Episode: Back Sabbath "N.I.B."

Host

Brian Slagel
Host of the show and founder of Metal Blade Records; central figure behind the show's historical-metal focus.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 73 ratings
  • 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 Kingdom4 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 States5 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 States5 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
  • Awesome as always Brian, Tom's section was so interesting, always learning something from these episodes!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    D3af_f0r3v3r
    a year ago

Listeners Say

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

Covers behind-the-scenes production and lore with strong guests.
A must for fans who crave production detail and historical context.
Some listeners call out production and ad load, but praise the knowledge and guests.
Guest mix is strong, attracting veterans and newer fans alike.
Shows a clear anchor in Metal Blade's legacy with authoritative context.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Queensryche - "Roads To Madness"
Q: What makes Roads to Madness special in the Queensryche catalog?
The guests highlight its epic length, progressive structure, orchestration, and lyrical depth, marking it as a pivotal track that predated the heavier acts and established a blueprint for future grand closers.
Queensryche - "Roads To Madness"
Q: Where did you first discover Queensryche and Roads to Madness?
Adam recalls discovering the band via college radio and Mindcrime-era tapes, which sparked a lifelong fan relationship and led to a deep dive into their early records, including The Warning and Rage for Order.
Black Sabbath - "Into The Void"
Q: What makes Into The Void stand out in the Master of Reality era?
The track embodies a heavier, more atmospheric approach with a slow build, distinctive unison riffs between Geezer and Tony, and a narrative of escape that feels both philosophical and science fiction in scope, which set a benchmark for heaviness in the early 70s.
Fates Warning - "A Pleasant Shade of Gray"
Q: When Jim first told you about the idea of a one-song album, what were your initial thoughts?
I thought it was a bold, forward-thinking idea that could define the record and the band's sound. It felt risky but exciting, especially given the late-90s metal climate, and I believed it could set a new standard for progressive metal.
Mercyful Fate - "The Oath"
Q: How did Mercyful Fate influence later bands like Metallica and the broader thrash scene?
A generation of players drew from Mercyful Fate's intricate riffing and pace, applying it to longer tracks and more aggressive structures, while maintaining a sense of musical storytelling that later bands amplified into the thrash and speed metal eras.

Audience Metrics

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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?

A deep-dan metal history show that uses a rotating cast of guests to unpack classic tracks that helped define the genre. Each episode pairs insider perspective from producers, engineers, and musicians with historical context from a respected music journalist, plus host-driven storytelling that links studio choices, live performance energy, and the era more broadly. Notable strengths include access to high-caliber production and performance anecdotes, strong ties to label history, and a consistent focus on how specific songs became enduring touchstones for metal. Listeners can expect detailed production notes, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and broader genre context that appeals to die-hard fans and curious newcomers alike.

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Which podcasts are similar to 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal?

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. Garza Podcast
4. History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff
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 84 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. Adam Wodon
2. John Corabi
3. Ray Alder
4. Scott Laughlin
5. Mike Varney
6. Mike Faley
7. Ross Robinson
8. Zach Johnson

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