Metal Blade Records Celebrates 45th Anniversary; Founder Brian Slagel Launches New Podcast Exploring 25 Classic Albums in Honor of the Milestone!

Metal Blade Records – the fiercely independent label that launched Metallica, Slayer, Cannibal Corpse, Amon Amarth, Armored Saint, and dozens more genre-defining icons, and is the longtime home of King Diamond, Killswitch Engage, Whitechapel, Cattle Decapitation and many more – proudly celebrates its 45th Anniversary in 2027. Founded in 1982 by Brian Slagel with little more than an unwavering belief in underground heavy music and the drive to get it heard, Metal Blade has grown from a grassroots passion project into one of the most influential independent labels in metal history. To mark this milestone, Slagel announces a brand-new podcast series: Metal Blade Records’ 45th Anniversary Podcast.

Beginning in JANUARY 2027, Slagel will release one new episode per week throughout the entire year, available on all major podcast platforms. Each episode will feature an in-depth conversation with past and present Metal Blade Records artists and others involved in the making of some of the label’s most celebrated releases – a deep dive into the stories, struggles, and creative visions behind 25 landmark albums that helped shape the course of heavy music. Episodes will drop weekly, branded as the Metal Blade Records’ 45th Anniversary Podcast.

Comments Metal Blade Records founder, owner, and CEO Brian Slagel: “I’m super excited to host this new podcast celebrating 45 years of Metal Blade Records! Following my podcast 100 songs that define heavy metal, the concept is basically the same! Going to be fun to talk to everyone each episode!“

Pantheon Media CEO, Christian Swain added, “Brian Slagel didn’t just witness the rise of heavy music-he built the platform that launched it. Partnering with Brian on 100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal showed us how passionate this community is for authentic, deep-dive storytelling. We’re thrilled to host the Metal Blade Records’ 45th Anniversary Podcast on Pantheon as Brian opens the vault on 25 landmark albums that reshaped the musical landscape. Nobody tells these stories better.“