A History Of Heavy Metal In 100 Songs

Feb 20 2024 19 ep. 20 mins 14

A History Of Heavy Metal In 100 Songs Podcast artwork

A look into the most influential songs in heavy metal: from those which inspired the genre to head-banging anthems. We listen to music throughout the past 90 years and discuss how they shaped this colossal genre, and the historical context in which they were born.

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Ep.17 Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne

Feb 20 2024 22 mins

After being thrown out of Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne thought his music career was done and a life as an abattoir worker awaited him in Aston. The Blizzard of Ozz LP turned out to be his saving grace, not only giving his career the boost he needed, but saving his life at the same time. Discover how Ozzy became the most recognisable man in metal.

Ep.16 Ace of Spades by Motorhead w/Special Guest Teri

Jan 29 2024 51 mins

Motorhead is yet another band who needs no introduction. Their influence is felt far and wide and by uniting the punks and the metalheads they changed the paramters of what metal could be. The pinnacle of their sound, the Ace of Spades, tells their story; from Lemmy's beginnings as a roadie to topping the UK charts.

Ep.15 Victim of Changes by Judas Priest

Nov 12 2023 17 mins

If Black Sabbath built the home of heavy metal, Judas Priest decorated it. After their first album flopped commercially, and their label holding their purse strings tight, Judas Priest needed something outstanding if they were to survive as a band. 1976's Sad Wings of Destiny not only gave the band the success they deserved, but developed the metal genre further. Title track Vi

Ep.14 School's Out by Alice Cooper

Aug 09 2023 22 mins

Alice Cooper brought a third dimension to live shows, transforming the bare stages of the early 70s into works of art in their own rights, whilst at the same time kicking up controversy. School's Out became the anthem for school children across the Western world, and Alice Cooper left a lasting mark on heavy metal.

Ep.13 Smoke on the Water By Deep Purple

May 02 2023 18 mins

It's 1972, heavy metal is this awkward new genre the fans love but bands hate. Nonetheless, rock groups are pushing boundaries to make darker and heavier music, and Deep Purple too have stamped on their distortion pedals. Smoke on the water brought groove and power to heavy rock, and influenced a slew of hard rock and metal bands over the next 50 years.

12.5 Bonus Episode! Children of the Grave by Black Sabbath

Apr 01 2023 18 mins

Bonus Episode! At a time when the threat of nuclear war seemed excruciatingly real, Black Sabbath once again produced a seminal anti-war song to capture the feeling of a generation. Children of the Grave has proven to be a timeless song and one of the many reasons Black Sabbath are still an influential force in music.

Ep.12 Sweet Leaf by Black Sabbath

Mar 28 2023 20 mins

I did say I'd do Children of the Grave but in my research I found I had a lot more to discuss about Sweet Leaf. Black Sabbath are going from strength to strength and their third album Master of Reality builds on the artistic and commercial success of Paranoid. Delving into more experimental territory, one song Sweet Leaf spawned a genre and its influence was felt for decades. Not

Ep.11 The Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin

Jan 31 2023 21 mins

Hailed as one of the biggest bands in rock and pop, Zeppelin's influence spread far and wide into the very fabric of metal itself. They proved to be highly controversial and not always for the right reasons.

Ep.10 Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath

Jan 13 2023 17 mins

The swinging sixties died taking the blues revival bands with it. The world needs something else to see it through this dark time. Black Sabbath's debut album introduced the world to heavy metal, a new dark, scary and heavy type of music. It would be too much for some to handle, leaving the room when it was played or protesting the band, but many enjoyed this new sound.

Ep.9 21st Century Schizoid Man by King Crimson

Dec 04 2022 21 mins

By taking influences from a wide range of genres, King Crimson invented their own kind of music which was so hard to place at the time. They weren't ordinary rockers, they were far from jazz, and by no means were they classical. Their dark and challenging outlook invented progressive rock. Protesting the Vietnam war, 21st Century Schizoid Man threw the music world a curveball it di