x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal

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 found inspiration in them—the show unearths the stories behind each track. Whether you’re a lifelong

music music commentary

All Episodes

50:13

Judas Priest - "Exciter"

100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal ·

2025/11/02

Katon De Pena of Hirax joins Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel to discss the iconic Judas Priest song "Exciter", which some people consider to be the first-ever speed metal song. Brian also discusses the production of the song with Jay Ruston and, as always, we get some facts and historical context from Canada's own Martin Popoff.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

en

45:49

Angel Witch - "Angel Witch"

100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal ·

2025/10/27

Musician-comedian Dave Hill talks to Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel about the song "Angel Witch" by the band Angel Witch, from their debut album, Angel Witch. Bill Metoyer also discusses the production on the song, and why it sounds so good for that era, and author Martin Popoff puts the song into historical context. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

en

53:42

Six Feet Under - "Lycanthropy"

100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal ·

2025/10/20

Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel starts off the show with a remembrance of the great Ace Frehley. Then, he discusses Six Feet Under's "Lycanthropy" with author Martin Popoff, producer Bill Metoyer and the singer for the band, and founding member of Cannibal Corpse, Chris Barnes.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

en

49:15

Aerosmith - Rats in the Cellar

100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal ·

2025/10/13

Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel discusses Aerosmith's "Rats in the Cellar" with the producer and co-creator of this show, Christian Bladt, who hosts his own show, The Bladtcast. Producer Jay Ruston also discusses the song, as does author Martin Popoff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

en

55:31

Kiss - "Detroit Rock City"

100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal ·

2025/10/06

Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel is joined by guitarist Stoney Curtis to discuss Kiss's "Detroit Rock City" from their landmark album "Destroyer". Brian also talks about the production of the song and the album with producer Jay Ruston, and, as always, author Martin Popoff gives some historical perspective to the song.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

en

57:27

UFO - "Love To Love"

100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal ·

2025/09/29

Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel is joined by Sirius XM personality and former co-host of That Metal Show Eddie Trunk to discuss UFO's "Love to Love" (both the studio and live versions). Brian also talks about the production of both versions with Jay Ruston, and, as always, author Martin Popoff provides some historical context for the song.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

en

52:11

Deicide - "Dead By Dawn"

100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal ·

2025/09/22

Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel talks about Deicide's "Dead By Dawn" with Monte Conner, the former senior vice president of A&R for Roadrunner Records and current head of A&R at Nuclear Blast Records. Producer Mark Lewis also talks about why this song was so important to him, and, as always, author Martin Popoff provides some historical context to the song.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

en

49:22

Danzig - "Twist of Cain"

100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal ·

2025/09/15

Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel talks to Chef Curtis Duffy about Danzig, particularly the song "Twist of Cain". He also discusses his restaurant in Chicago, Ever, his new book "Fireproof", some of his favorite concerts of all time, and what it was like to be at Black Sabbath's "Back to the Beginning" show. Producer Jay Ruston also discusses this song and the first Danzig solo album it was featured on, and, as always, we get some historical context from author Martin Popoff.Learn more about

en

53:09

Sepultura - "Dead Embryonic Cells"

100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal ·

2025/09/08

Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel is joined by Sirius XM host Jose Mangin to talk about the importance of Sepultura's "Dead Embryonic Cells", the current incarnation of Pantera, Jose's charity Headbang for Science and an incredible story about backstage at a Sepultura-Pantera-Prong show in the 90's. Also: Producer Mark Lewis takes a look at the production on the song and author Martin Popoff gives us some historical perspective on the song.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

en

48:52

Metallica - "Spit Out The Bone"

100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal ·

2025/09/01

Metal Blade Records CEO discusses the production on Metallica's "Spit Out The Bone" from the album "Hardwired to Self-Destruct" with that album's producer, Greg Fidleman. Then, chef Chris Santos returns to the show to talk about the song, the likelihood of a Metallica residency at The Sphere in Las Vegas and whether or not they will ever get the opportunity to perform at halftime during the Super Bowl. As always, author Martin Popoff also joins in to give some historical context for the song. Learn

en

51:44

King Diamond - "Welcome Home"

100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal ·

2025/08/25

This week, Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel is joined in The Space studio in Las Vegas by In Flames guitarist Chris Broderick to discuss King Diamond's "Welcome Home". Producer Mark Lewis and author Martin Popoff also share their thoughts on the song, and this era of King Diamond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

en

50:11

AC/DC - "Sin City"

100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal ·

2025/08/18

Metal Blade Records CEO talks to Scott Ian of Anthrax about AC/DC's "Sin City". He also talks about the production of the song with producer Mark Lewis and, as always, author Martin Popoff checks in to give us some historical context for the song.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

en

49:34

Judas Priest - Victim of Changes

100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal ·

2025/08/11

NHRA Funny Car Driver Ron Capps joins Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel to discuss both the studio and live versions of Judas Priest's "Victim of Changes". Brian also discusses the production of the song with producer Jay Ruston, and author Martin Popoff helps put the song into historical perspective.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

en

54:36

UFO - "Rock Bottom"

100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal ·

2025/08/04

Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel talks about UFO's "Rock Bottom" with guitarist Phil Demmel, producer Jay Ruston and as always, author Martin Popoff provides some historical perspective with facts and opinion from the song's release. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

en

62:16

Remembering Ozzy Osbourne

100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal ·

2025/07/28

In this special episode, Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel breaks the format of the show to commemorate the passing of The Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne. He discusses Black Sabbath, Ozzy's solo work, the reality show and everything in between with returning guests comedian Don Jamieson and producers Bill Metoyer and Mark Lewis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

en

55:08

Rainbow : "Gates of Babylon"

100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal ·

2025/07/21

This week, we break format: our weekly one-man encyclopedia of rock and metal (and the author of 138 books) Martin Popoff spends time in the guest chair talking to Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel about Rainbow's "Gates of Babylon". Producer Jay Ruston also talks about the production on this song by the great Martin Birch.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

en

62:17

Iron Maiden : "The Wicker Man" (with Chris Jericho)

100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal ·

2025/07/14

In this extended episode, Wrestling Champion / Actor / Musician / Podcaster CHRIS JERICHO joins Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel to discuss the Iron Maiden song "The Wicker Man" and its importance in the history of the band, establishing the "comeback era" after Bruce and Adrian returned to the band. Brian also talks about the production of the song with Mark Lewis and author Martin Popoff provides some historical context to the release of the song. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

en

50:41

Blue Oyster Cult - "Fire of Unknown Origin"

100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal ·

2025/07/07

Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel is joined by Blue Oyster Cult founding member Albert Bouchard to discuss working with producer Martin Birch, their song "Fire of Unknown Origin" and the record of the same name, which includes the mega-hit "Burnin' for You". Brian also discusses production with Jay Ruston and author Martin Popoff puts the song into the historical context of its release in 1981. For more on Albert Bouchard, be sure to go to albertbouchard.net Learn more about your ad choices

en

62:13

Alice Cooper - "Halo of Flies"

100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal ·

2025/06/30

Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel is joined by Rock n Roll Hall of Famer and the bassist in the original Alice Cooper group, Dennis Dunaway, to discuss past and present collaborations with Alice, especially the band's epic song "Halo of Flies". Jay Ruston talks about the production on the song and author Martin Popoff puts it in its historical context.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

en

58:15

Riot - "Swords & Tequilia"

100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal ·

2025/06/23

Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel discusses Riot's "Swords & Tequilia" with television and film writer-producer Brian Koppelman and music producer Mark Lewis. As always, author Martin Popoff puts the song into its historical context.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

en

54 results

Similar Podcasts

Pasquale Maassen Soundcloud

Pasquale Maassen

Marian Klose

Marian Klose

sevenism

sevenism

Dean Delray"s LET THERE BE TALK

Cactus Radio Network

Word In Your Ear

Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold