HEAVY METAL
Metal Blade Records
Oct
Metal Blade Records: A Legacy of Heavy Metal Innovation
Metal Blade Records stands as a monumental force in the heavy metal world, founded in 1982 by Brian Slagel. Its origin story is rooted in Slagel’s frustration with the lack of exposure for the burgeoning underground metal scene. A passionate fan of heavy metal, Slagel worked at LA’s Oz Records and was deeply involved in the local metal community. His desire to support rising metal bands led him to release a compilation album, Metal Massacre. This debut release featured now-iconic bands such as Metallica and Ratt, planting the seeds of what would become a dominant force in metal music.
From these humble beginnings in his mother’s garage, Slagel built Metal Blade into a powerhouse. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the label signed groundbreaking acts like Slayer, Cannibal Corpse, and GWAR, bands that would go on to define the future of extreme metal. Slayer’s early success, in particular, demonstrated Metal Blade’s ability to identify and nurture talent, as they helped the band release its debut album Show No Mercy in 1983.
What set Metal Blade apart from other independent labels was its unyielding dedication to heavy metal in all its forms—thrash, death, progressive, and beyond. The label also became a haven for European acts, including Amon Amarth and King Diamond, which helped it expand its influence internationally.
In a rapidly evolving music industry, Metal Blade adapted, embracing digital transformation while maintaining its commitment to artist development. As the landscape of music shifted towards streaming, the label continued to find and promote innovative talent, a testament to Slagel’s enduring vision. Even decades after its founding, Metal Blade is still known for supporting both emerging artists and seasoned veterans of the genre.
Today, Metal Blade Records is a symbol of independence and resilience in an industry dominated by major labels. Its long-standing dedication to heavy metal has earned it an unmatched legacy, and it continues to shape the genre, always pushing the boundaries of what metal can be.
Brian Slagel: The Visionary Behind Metal Blade Records
Brian Slagel is a name synonymous with the rise of heavy metal in the 1980s. Born in 1961, Slagel’s passion for metal music led him to establish Metal Blade Records in 1982, one of the most important independent labels in the genre. Working as a record store clerk in Los Angeles, he became frustrated by the lack of exposure for underground metal bands. This pushed him to release the Metal Massacre compilation, which gave bands like Metallica their first recording opportunity.
Slagel’s vision for Metal Blade was simple: to give great metal bands a platform to reach fans worldwide. Over the years, the label signed legendary acts like Slayer, Cannibal Corpse, and Amon Amarth, contributing to its reputation as a cornerstone of the heavy metal community. Metal Blade remains a beacon for metal enthusiasts and has helped to shape the careers of countless influential bands.
In addition to his role as CEO, Slagel has also authored books detailing the label’s journey and his experiences in the metal scene, most notably For the Sake of Heaviness: The History of Metal Blade Records.
- Swing of the Blade follows Brian Slagel's critically acclaimed 2017 book, For the Sake of Heaviness, which delivered a compelling inside look at how a metal-obsessed California teen built Metal Blade Records into the preeminent international home of heavy music
- Rabid readers demanded more anecdotes, more bands, and more of Slagel's musical wisdom
- With Swing of the Blade, he delivers
- Featuring a foreword by Slayer's Kerry King, the new book is part memoir, part music-business primer, and all metal - delving deep into scenes and bands that fans worldwide obsess about
- Slagel serves up more of his favorite memories about iconic musicians and events, and delves into even greater detail about his long and ongoing relationships with Metallica, Armored Saint, King Diamond and other heavyweights
- The story of Metal Blade Records is the story of Brian Slagel-a metal-obsessed Southern California kid who launched a fanzine and landed a record store job before cobbling together what he assumed would be a one-off compilation of fledgling bands from the L
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- Released in 1982, the Metal Massacre LP included the debut recordings of local groups such as Steeler, Malice, Ratt, and Metallica
- In the wake of the album's unexpected success Slagel virtually stumbled into creating a proper record label, issuing the first releases by Bitch, Armored Saint, and Slayer the following year
- EDITORIAL REVIEWS Marking it's 40th anniversary, Metal Blade Records is proud to present a colored vinyl LP reissue of it's debut release, Metal Massacre, available for the first time since 1984
- Originally released in June 1982, Metal Massacre showcased the best of Los Angeles, California's unsigned acts of the time such as Metallica, Ratt and Malice, and has since become a cornerstone of Metal Blade Records