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. Subscribe to 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal and discover the unforgettable songs that live at the core of heavy music, one groundbreaking track at a time. Proud part of Pantheon Podcasts.
Episodes
June 29, 2025 • 62 mins
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.
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June 22, 2025 • 58 mins
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.
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June 21, 2025 • 44 mins
Continuing our conversations recorded at the Rock N Pod Expo in Nashville, comedian Courtney Cronin joins Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel to discuss the Kiss song "War Machine". Brian also discusses the song with producer Jay Ruston, and as always, author Martin Popoff puts the song into context of its release in 1982.
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June 16, 2025 • 42 mins
Comedian Don Jaimeson is back to discuss Motorhead's "Overkill" with Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel, who also discusses the production of the song with producer Mark Lewis. As always, author Martin Popoff gives us some historical perspective on the song.
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June 16, 2025 • 42 mins
In our final installment recorded at the 2025 Rock n Pod Expo in Nashville, comedian Craig Gass returns to the show to talk to Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel about a somewhat controversial Anthrax song, "Only", which was their first single released with John Busch on vocals. Jay Ruston discusses the production of the song, and, as always, author Martin Popoff provides historical analysis.
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May 26, 2025 • 48 mins
In another of our interviews from the RockNPod Expo in Nashville, Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel talked to Ron Keel about Steeler's "Cold Day in Hell", the first song on the first-ever Metal Blade release, the original "Metal Massacre". Producer Bill Metoyer also discusses the production on this recording of the song and how it compared to the version on the first Steeler record. Martin Popoff also provides background on the ...
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May 19, 2025 • 42 mins
Still in Nashville, Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel talks to Chaney Crabb of Entheos about Cynic's song "Veil of Maya". He also discusses the production of the song with producer Jason Suecof and our friend Martin Popoff talks about the historical significance of the song.
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May 12, 2025 • 53 mins
Back at the Rock n Pod Expo in Nashville, Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel talks to Billy Sheehan about a band he has been very vocal over the years about not being a fan of in Led Zeppelin, but surprisingly really enjoyed their song "How Many More Times" from their first album. He also chats with producer-musician Butch Vig about the song, and, as always, the great Martin Popoff provides incredibly background information.
Lear...
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May 5, 2025 • 51 mins
Still in Nashville for the Rock N Pod Expo, Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel discusses the King's X song "Dogman" with actor-comedian Hal Sparks, producer Mark Lewis and author Martin Popoff.
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April 28, 2025 • 43 mins
Once again from the Rock N Pod Expo in Nashville, Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel discusses Iron Maiden's "Murders in the Rue Morgue" with Sirius XM DJ and co-host of Rock Strap from Pantheon Media, Keith Roth. Brian also visits producer Mark Lewis's home studio to talk Maiden, and, as always, we hear from author Martin Popoff.
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April 21, 2025 • 54 mins
This episode begins our "Nashville Set": about two months worth of episodes primarily recorded at the Rock N Pod Expo in Nashville. At the Expo, our host, Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel caught up with legendary A & R man Tom Zutaut who signed Guns N' Roses to Geffen. Their primary focus was the song "It's So Easy", which Brian also discussed with producer Mark Lewis at his home studio, with tremendous information as always fr...
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April 14, 2025 • 53 mins
Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel discusses the importance of the Armored Saint album "Symbol of Salvation" and specifically the song "Reign of Fire" with the band's bassist Joey Vera, producer extraordinaire Mark Lewis and author Martin Popoff.
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April 7, 2025 • 53 mins
Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel discusses the title track from Judas Priest's album "Screaming for Vengeance" with producer Mark Lewis, author Martin Popoff and comedian Dean Delray, who also talks about his first comedy special, produced by Bill Burr, filmed in a cave in Tennessee and available on his You Tube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@deandelray
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March 31, 2025 • 53 mins
Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel welcomes to the show the first artist he ever signed, Betsy Bitch of the band Bitch, to discuss Alice Cooper's "I'm Eighteen". Jay Ruston also shares his thoughts on the production of the song while author Martin Popoff brings his usual encyclopedic knowledge of rock n roll.
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March 24, 2025 • 53 mins
Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel discusses Slayer's "Raining Blood" with that band's drummer Dave Lombardo, producer Jay Ruston and author Martin Popoff.
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March 17, 2025 • 53 mins
Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel discusses Megadeth's "Peace Sells" with author Martin Popoff, producer Mark Lewis and Chris DeMakes from Less Than Jake,
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March 10, 2025 • 53 mins
Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel talks about the song "Awaken" from the band Dethklok, who grew out of the Adult Swim series "Metalocalypse" with the creator and songwriter Brendon Small. Brian also talks about the song with producer Mark Lewis and rock and heavy metal author, "Doctor" Martin Popoff.
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March 2, 2025 • 53 mins
Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel discusses Slayer's "Hell Awaits" with author Martin Popoff, producer Bill Metoyer (who produced the record) and guitarist Blasko (who has played with Ozzy Osbourne, Rob Zombie and Cryptic Slaugher.
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February 24, 2025 • 53 mins
Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel discusses the King Diamond classic "The 7th Day of July 1777" with author Martin Popoff, producer Marc Lewis and King Diamond guitarist Andy La Rocque, who played on this song.
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February 17, 2025 • 49 mins
Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel discusses the Van Halen classic "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love". As always, he's joined by author Martin Popoff, producer Mark Lewis and musician Rob Caggiano, formerly of Volbeat and Anthrax.
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