100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal
A Guided Tour of Heavy Music’s Greatest Hits with Brian Slagel
Brian Slagel
Show overview
100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal has been publishing since 2024, and across the 2 years since has built a catalogue of 86 episodes, alongside 1 trailer or bonus episode. That works out to roughly 70 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a weekly cadence.
Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 49 min and 54 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. Roughly 40% of episodes carry an explicit flag from the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language Music show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 1 weeks ago, with 25 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2025, with 51 episodes published. Published by Brian Slagel.
From the publisher
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.
Latest Episodes
View all 86 episodesBlack Sabbath - "Symptom of the Universe"
Slayer - "South of Heaven"
Iron Maiden - "Number of the Beast"
Metallica - "Creeping Death"
Queensryche - "Roads To Madness"
Jimi Hendrix - "All Along The Watchtower"
Black Sabbath - "Into The Void"
Fates Warning - "A Pleasant Shade of Gray"
Kiss - "Love Gun"
UFO - "Let It Roll"
Aerosmith - "Make It"
Slipknot - "Surfacing"
EMetal 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 information about the song. You can watch the entire unedited version of the interview HERE: https://youtu.be/9EI8pSP6mRM Follow Ross Robinson on Instagram @Ross_Robinson Follow Zach Johnson on Instagram @zachjayjohnson 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
Back Sabbath "N.I.B."
SONG -Black Sabbath : "N.I.B" Released Friday February 13, 1970 Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel discusses Black Sabbath's "N.I.B." with the bands longtime manager, and wife of Geezer Butler. They also discuss the different eras of Sabbath, Halestorm, Ghost and even some of the best things to do in Las Vegas, where they both live. Producer Mark Lewis also discusses the production of the song and Martin Popoff provides all sorts of useful information and historical context. You can watch the entire unedited version of the interview HERE: https://youtu.be/mQzYAlHWsKg Follow Gloria Butler on Instagram and X @GloriaDeeButler Follow Mark Lewis on Instagram @MarkLewis720 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
Mercyful Fate - "The Oath"
SONG - Mercyful Fate : "The Oath" Released September 7, 1984 Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel discusses the Mercyful Fate song "The Oath", the quasi-title track from 1984's "Don't Break The Oath" with actor-musician-host Elliott Fullam. They also discuss his heavy metal upbringing, his Little Punk People interviews, current musical endeavors and his role in both "Terrifier 2" and "Terrifier 3". Producer Mark Lewis also discusses the production of the song and Martin Popoff provides all sorts of useful information and historical context for the song. You can watch the entire unedited version of the interview HERE: https://youtu.be/V8is6iutE4M Follow Elliott Fullam on Instagram @ElliottFullam and on X @LittlePunkPPL Follow Mark Lewis on Instagram @MarkLewis720 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
Coheed and Cambria - "Welcome Home"
ESONG - Coheed and Cambria "Welcome Home" Release Date - September 20, 2005 Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel talks to Claudio Sanchez of Coheed and Cambria about their song "Welcome Home", his writing process, his career, the other forms of media he uses for storytelling and much more. Ryan Williams also discusses the production of the song with Brian and author Martin Popoff shares a wealth of information about the song. You can watch the entire unedited version of the interview HERE: https://youtu.be/oAbDnzxxpNk Follow Claudio on X and Instagram @ClaudioPSanchez Follow Ryan Williams on X and Instagram @augmentedRyan Follow 100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal on X, Instagram and TikTok @100Metal Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ozzy Osbourne - "Bark at the Moon"
EOzzy Osbourne - "Bark at the Moon" Released November 15, 1983 Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel discusses his favorite Ozzy Osbourne song, "Bark at the Moon" with Adam Rank from the NFL Network and The Jim Rome After Hour. Brian also discusses the production of the song with Bill Metoyer, and as always, author Martin Popoff provides some historical context as to why this is one of the 100 songs that define heavy metal. Watch the complete, unedited interview on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5kjrRi75_c Bill Metoyer is on Instagram and X @Bill_Metoyer Martin Popoff is on X @Popoff Martin Follow 100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal on X, Instagram and TikTok @100Metal Songs Adam Rank is on X @AdamRank and Instagram @AdamRankNFL Bill Metoyer is on Instagram and X @Bill_Metoyer 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
Dio - "Holy Diver"
EDio - "Holy Diver" Released May 25, 1983 Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel talks about the life and legacy of Ronnie James Dio and the song "Holy Diver" with Ronnie's wife and manager, Wendy Dio. Wendy also discusses her ongoing work as part of the Dio Cancer Fund, including an event coming up this Spring in Southern California. Ryan Williams returns to discuss the production on "Holy Diver" and Martin Popoff has his usually wealth of information about the song. To watch the complete, unedited video of the interview, go to our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/VcR9SB7fpcA Website: DioCancerFund.Org @OfficialRJDio on X @_ronniejamesdio on Instagram 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
Deep Purple - "Highway Star"
EDeep Purple - "Highway Star" Released March 30, 1972 on the album "Machine Head" Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel is joined by the former host of MTV's Headbanger's Ball Riki Rachtman to discuss the first really heavy song either of them ever heard as kids: Deep Purple's "Highway Star". They discuss the importance of that song, the greatness of the album and the band, plus some other musical firsts, including first album and first rock poster on their walls. Brian also discusses the production on this song with producer Jay Ruston As always, we get facts, figures and education from author Martin Popoff. Follow Riki Rachtman @RikiRachtman on Tik Tok, Instagram, X and Facebook Jay Ruston is on Tik Tok, Instagram, X and Facebook @JayRuston 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
Slayer - "Chemical Warfare"
Slayer - "Chemical Warfare" Released August 4, 1984 on the EP Haunting the Chapel Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel is joined by the man known on Tik Tok as Metal Horror Madman, who has built a reputation for being passionate for metal, a defender of Slayer who goes so far as to scream about it. They discuss his discovery of Slayer, his love of the band and what stands out about "Chemical Warfare". Brian also discusses Slayer's production and specifically this track with Bill Metoyer who was part of the production of this EP along with Brian. As always, we get facts, figures and education from author Martin Popoff. Follow Metal Horror Madman @MetalHorrorMadman on TikTok and Instagram Bill Metoyer is on Instagram and X @Bill_Metoyer 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
Cirith Ungol - "King of the Dead"
In this episode, Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel is joined by the Executive Producer and Co-Creator of "Dark Side of the Ring" and the recent series of heavy metal documentaries, "Into the Void" about the song that he chose as the theme music for that series, Cirith Ungol's "Into the Void". Brian also talks about the production on this record with Bill Metoyer, whom Brian worked with on the production of Cirith Ungol's follow-up record, 1986's "One Foot In Hell". Author Martin Popoff provides his usual expertise in discussing the song, with many facts and even more opinions about Cirith Ungol's career. The complete, uncut version of Brian's conversation with Evan Husney can be found on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/RF4lOsgH3lk Evan Husney is on Instagram @EvanHusney Bill Metoyer is on Instagram and X @Bill_Metoyer 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