Free Daily Podcast Summary
100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Brian Slagel
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 metalhead or a new fan, this podcast brings you closer to the music and the legends who define it. Joining Brian are music journalist and critic Martin Popoff, offering deep historical context for each song, and acclaimed producer Jay Ruston, who provides technical insights into how these heavy anthems were crafted. Together, they bring an all-encompassing look at the hits that set the stage for metal and continue to inspire.
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- 5 days ago54 min
Metallica - "Creeping Death"
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". Brian also discusses the production of Metallica's "Creeping Death" with Metal Blade's Ryan Williams. As always, author Martin Popoff provides historical context, facts and his expert opinions about Metallica's "Creeping Death" The complete, uncut version of Brian's conversation with Mike Hammer can be found on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/nIdYNBrnryk Mike Hammer is on X and Instagram @HammerMe Ryan Williams is on Instagram @AugmentedRyan Martin Popoff is on X @Popoff Martin Follow 100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal on X, Instagram and TikTok @100Metal Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 1 weeks ago54 min
Queensryche - "Roads To Madness"
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, who has produced the last three Queensryche albums and then Adam Wodon of CollegeHockey.Com who is a huge fan of the band. As always, Martin Popoff checks in with some historical facts and and analysis. For the COMPLETE, UNEDITED video version of the interview, go to our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/ZTuOHfRk9jw Follow Brian Slagel on social media @BrianSlagel Zeuss is on Instagram @ZeussProducer and his website is ZeussProducer.com Adam Wodon is on X https://x.com/CHN_AdamWodon Martin Popoff is on X @Popoff Martin Follow 100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal on X, Instagram and TikTok @100Metal Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 2 weeks ago54 min
Jimi Hendrix - "All Along The Watchtower"
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" album December 27, 1967. In this episode, Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel is joined by guitarist Stoney Curtis talk about the impact of Jimi Hendrix by focusing on his cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along The Watchtower". Brian also discusses the production of "All Along The Watchtower" with Metal Blade's Ryan Williams, who breaks down the unique sound and the technology that was available to produce it back in 1968. As always, author Martin Popoff provides historical context, facts and his expert opinions about Jimi Hendrix's "All Along The Watchtower". The complete, uncut version of Brian's conversation with Stoney Curtis can be found on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNh-9j2Ca2M Stoney Curtis is on social media @StoneyCurtis77 Ryan Williams is on Instagram @AugmentedRyan Martin Popoff is on X @Popoff Martin Follow 100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal on X, Instagram and TikTok @100Metal Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 3 weeks ago49 min
Black Sabbath - "Into The Void"
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 among many others). John also talks about the underappreciated impact of Grand Funk Railroad and how he was able to see the original Sabbath perform live in the 70's and some of the other amazing shows he was able to see growing up in Philadelphia. Brian discusses the production of this song with Bill Metoyer, and, as always, producer Martin Popoff provides musical context and history about this song. You can watch video of the entire unedited version of the interview HERE: https://youtu.be/Riyvg3UPsQE Follow Brian Slagel on Instagram and X @Brian Slagel Follow John Corabi on Instagram @JohnCorabiOfficial and X @CrabLegs59 Follow Bill Metoyer on Instagram @Bill_Metoyer Follow 100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal on X, Instagram and TikTok @100Metal Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- May 4, 202656 min
Fates Warning - "A Pleasant Shade of Gray"
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 about the production of the record with Bill Metoyer, who did some engineering on the album. As always, author Martin Popoff provides some historical significance and impact of the song. You can watch video of the entire unedited version of the interview HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDniJAb7iZ4 Follow Brian Slagel on Instagram and X @Brian Slagel Follow Bill Metoyer on Instagram @Bill_Metoyer Follow 100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal on X, Instagram and TikTok @100Metal Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Apr 27, 202658 min
Kiss - "Love Gun"
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, this show's producer Christian Bladt discusses more of the background and production of the song. Finally, the co-host of Morning Skate Scott Laughlin talks about his Kiss fandom, looks ahead to the NHL Playoffs and discusses some of the new music he's listening to right now. i You can watch video of the entire unedited version of the interview HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDniJAb7iZ4 Follow Scott Laughlin on Instagram and X @LaughlinSXM Follow Christian Bladt on Instagram and X @ChristianDMZ Follow Brian Slagel on Instagram and X @Brian Slagel Follow 100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal on X, Instagram and TikTok @100Metal Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Apr 20, 202656 min
UFO - "Let It Roll"
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 Brian Slagel talks about UFO's "Let It Roll" with renowned producer and founder of Shrapnel Records, Mike Varney. Jay Ruston discusses the production with Brian and, as always, we check in with author Martin Popoff for some historical and musical context. You can watch the entire unedited version of the interview HERE: https://youtu.be/13IN-VjANhc?si=X1okGlY1BZ3gZpTJ Follow Mike Faley @MPFaley on Instagram and X Follow Christian Bladt on Instagram and X @ChristianDMZ Follow Brian Slagel on Instagram and X @Brian Slagel Follow 100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal on X, Instagram and TikTok @100Metal Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Apr 13, 202653 min
Aerosmith - "Make It"
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 about the production of that song and the enitre debut album, and, a s always, Martin Popoff provides historical context and information about the song. You can watch the entire unedited version of the interview HERE: https://youtu.be/phOH8tDKiAU Follow Mike Faley @MPFaley on Instagram and X Follow Christian Bladt on Instagram and X @ChristianDMZ Follow Brian Slagel on Instagram and X @Brian Slagel Follow 100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal on X, Instagram and TikTok @100Metal Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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About 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 metalhead or a new fan, this podcast brings you closer to the music and the legends who define it. Joining Brian are music journalist and critic Martin Popoff, offering deep historical context for each song, and acclaimed producer Jay Ruston, who provides technical insights into how these heavy anthems were crafted. Together, they bring an all-encompassing look at the hits that set the stage for metal and continue to inspire.
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