Rephonic
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes81Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music HistoryMusicMusic Commentary

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal

Latest Episodes

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

Black Sabbath - "Into The Void"

Release Date July 21, 1971

Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel talks about the importance of the Black Sabbath song "Into The Void" with singer John Corabi (who has worked with Motley Crue, Ratt, The Dead Daisies am... more

YouTube

Fates Warning - "A Pleasant Shade of Gray"

Released April 22, 1997

Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel talks to Fates Warning singer Ray Alder about their 1997 album "A Pleasant Shade of Gray": an entire album made up of one song. He also talks ab... more

YouTube

Kiss - "Love Gun"

Released June 30, 1977

Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel discussed the title track from the 1977 Kiss album "Love Gun". First up, he hears from author Martin Popoff about the historical significance and impact of the song. Then... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

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."
Elliott Fullam
Actor and musician, known for Terrifier films
Terrifier film franchise
Episode: Mercyful Fate - "The Oath"

Host

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

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 70 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 Kingdom3 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 States4 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 States4 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.

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.
Mercyful Fate - "The Oath"
Q: Why is The Oath considered a pinnacle track for Mercyful Fate and a summation of the band's world?
Because it encapsulates the band's concept-driven songwriting, multiple riff variations, and King Diamond's versatile vocal delivery, all wrapped in a production that captures the studio's mysterious vibe and the band's theatrical storytelling.
Coheed and Cambria - "Welcome Home"
Q: What inspired the Amory Wars backstory and how does it relate to Welcome Home?
Claudio explains that the Amory Wars started as a way to tell his personal story through a broader sci‑fi/fantasy narrative, allowing him to be honest in the music while masking more vulnerable details; the backstory informs the lyrics and imagery across the album, while still remaining accessible to listeners who don't follow the whole narrative.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

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.

Where can I find podcast stats for 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal have?

To see how many followers or subscribers 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

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. The Jasta Show
3. Dean Delray's LET THERE BE TALK
4. Talk Is Jericho
5. The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan

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

100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal launched 2 years ago and published 81 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

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

Recent guests on 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal include:

1. John Corabi
2. Ray Alder
3. Scott Laughlin
4. Mike Varney
5. Mike Faley
6. Ross Robinson
7. Zach Johnson
8. Gloria Butler

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days