100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal
Hosted by Brian Slagel · Brian Slagel
4.8from 72 ratings
- 101
- Episodes
- 34
- Transcribed
- 72
- Ratings
- Daily
- Cadence
- 2024
- First episode
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. 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.
- Publisher
- Brian Slagel
- Category
- music
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- Yes
- First episode
- 6 Nov 2024
- Latest episode
- 5 Oct 2026
Latest episodes
34 of 101 episodes have a transcript.
5 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT
Iron Maiden - "Hallowed Be Thy Name"
28 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT
Rainbow - "Stargazer / A Light in the Black"
21 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT
Metallica - "Enter Sandman"
Inside a recent episode
Iron Maiden - "Hallowed Be Thy Name"
Published 5 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] And then it ends with that sort of siren motif coming back again in the tumbling fields. You get a big concert windup and then... The machine gun, you know, unison snare wax there from Clive and it's over with. So, yeah, not a very complicated song. Maiden would have much more complicated songs than this. It's kind of, you know, if you think back to the first album and the second and really all of Number of the Beast, this is the first that really establishes proof of concept. Where now you're going to get, you know, two or three variants on Hallowed Be Thy Name on every album moving forward kind of thing. […]
Read the full transcript with a Pod Engine plan.
See plansWho has been a guest on 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
- Chris Jericho
- Jay Ruston
- Martin Popoff
- Eddie Trunk
- Brian Lew
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
- Apple Podcasts (US)
- 4.8 / 5
- 43 ratings
- Spotify
- 4.8 / 5
- 29 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 31 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
- Quality
- 27
- Social presence
- 0
- YouTube
- 0
- Engagement
- 85
Contact 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal
- Guest appearances
- Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Shows with a similar audience
Questions about 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal
Who hosts 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal?
Brian Slagel host the show. Published by Brian Slagel.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes daily, based on its RSS feed.
Does 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
Where can I read transcripts?
34 of 101 episodes have a transcript on Pod Engine. Full transcripts are available with a Pod Engine plan.
Host of 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show
Podcast research with Pod Engine