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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
Anthrax
Punk Rock
Judas Priest
Slayer
Black Sabbath
Alice Cooper
Death Metal
Armored Saint
Bill Metoyer
Cannibal Corpse
Kiss
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes78Foundeda year ago
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MusicMusic HistoryMusic Commentary

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Artwork for 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal

Latest Episodes

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

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UFO - "Let It Roll"

The original studio version of UFO's "Let It Roll" was released on the album Force It on July 1, 1975.  The popular live version from the album Strangers in the Night was released on January 16, 1979

Metal Blade Records CEO Bria... more

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Aerosmith - "Make It"

Released January 5, 1973

Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel is joined by his Metal Blade colleague Mike Faley to talk about discusses "Make It" from the debut Aerosmith album. This show's producer Christian Bladt talks abou... more

YouTube

Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel discusses Slipknot's "Surfacing" from their debut record with the producer of that album, Ross Robinson, and Zach Johnson from the band The Ghost Inside. As always, Martin Popoff provides historical context and in... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

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"
Christian Bladt
Producer and podcast host, contributes production insights
Bladt Cast / The Blatt Cast
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"
Claudio Sanchez
Frontman of Coheed & Cambria; creator of The Amory Wars universe
Coheed & Cambria
Episode: Coheed and Cambria - "Welcome Home"
Adam Rank
NFL Network analyst, Jim Rome Show contributor, comedian
NFL Network / The After Hour with Jim Rome
Episode: Ozzy Osbourne - "Bark at the Moon"

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 69 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 States3 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 States3 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.

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.
Slayer - "Chemical Warfare"
Q: Do you have a favorite Slayer album?
Joe shares that 'Seasons in the Abyss' is his favorite, while Brian mentions 'Hell Awaits' for its musical diversity.
Slayer - "Chemical Warfare"
Q: How did you get into heavy metal?
Joe recounts his early experiences, mentioning how he was introduced to metal by his cousin and how Slayer's intense music eventually captivated him.

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

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

100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal launched a year ago and published 78 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. Mike Varney
2. Mike Faley
3. Christian Bladt
4. Ross Robinson
5. Zach Johnson
6. Gloria Butler
7. Elliott Fullam
8. Claudio Sanchez

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.

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