METALHEADS FOREVER, one of the biggest metal entities out there (having today more than 102000 members), led by David Maloney, have posted online the September 2017 issue, featuring interviews with ALPHA OMEGA Roster acts FUELED BY FEAR and F.WAY alongside interviews with Metal Blade‘s BRIAN SLAGEL(done by Tarja Virmakari from Alpha Omega Management/Metal Shock Finland/Truemetal.it). See the direct links below. The September issue includes also the interviews with OVERKILL, BELPHEGOR, ENSIFERUM, EXODUS, several reviews and many more!
On August 29th, Metal Blade Records and BMG released“For the Sake of Heaviness: The History of Metal Blade Records” – written by label founder and CEO Brian Slagel with Mark Eglinton, and featuring a foreword by Metallica‘s Lars Ulrich. Celebrating the storied label’s 35th anniversary, “For the Sake of Heaviness” is an inside look at how Slagel built Metal Blade from a one-man operation in his mom’s non-air-conditioned garage to the preeminent international home of heavy music that it is today.
On August 3rd, Metal Shock Finland‘s CEO/Founder and President Tarja Virmakari had a chance to interview (for Truemetal.it) BRIAN SLAGEL, talking about his book “For the Sake of Heaviness: the History of Metal Blade” in detail. See below the list of main topics. Join the conversation below, enjoy!
To read the interview on Truemetal.it, in Italian, go here.
The main topics of the interview:
(0:20) Now that the book is written, what are your feelings?
(1:14) When was the moment you decided to write it with Mark Eglinton?
(1:55)The name of the book: “For The Sake of Heaviness” is the song of Armored Saint…
(2:29)Lars Ulrich wrote in his foreword: “When you tell the story of Brian Slagel and chart the course of Metal Blade Records, the three words that come to my mind are loyalty, consistency, and dependability.” How do you respond to his definition?
(3:20) Reading the book, it’s clear that you really live what you do! so the passion is your real life-style, philosophy! But please tell me, was there a moment that you just wanted to give up and change the direction?
(5:03) How important was the work of the talent scouts? You tell in the book that often you went to gigs, looking around for new bands, who played live, after a hard work and long time they had spent in the rehearsal rooms. While today anyone can record a demo with the simple computer intake and softwares…
(6:47) Talking about different metal genres, I think now-a-days it’s pretty difficult to categorize some bands, also because new sub-genres are born nearly every day, but to your opinion, is it so important today to stamp the bands under the specific styles?
(8:44) Your personal favourite sport has always been ice hockey, and you’ve had some many great opportunities to put it together with metal, would you like to tell me some of your greatest memories?
(11:20) Metal Blade has been involved in almost every movement that has happened in heavy music since 1982. You havent really followed any mainstream trends, but you’ve singed the bands that you like, despite their music style or what the others think about them. Is this the leading guideline for the success of Metal Blade?
(13:29) Also your mother’s role in all this was very important…
(14:28)I’m part of Alpha Omega Management, and as Bill Metoyer is part of our team, too, I just have to ask about him and his contribution… you also mention him several times in the book.
(16:09) you wrote: “it’s unrealistic to hope that you’re going to hit the board with every dart you throw. That’s not going to happen, but I’m a firm believer in the idea that, to be successful, you’ve got to keep throwing the darts.”
(17:39) To your opinion, where is the record business going?
(20:51) “For the Sake of Heaviness: The History of Metal Blade Records” comes out On August 29th, what will happen the day after?
(21:38) With the exclusive box-set, besides the book, there’s also a music casette including great songs from the Metal Blade history! The choice to put them on a handwritten casette was something that tells a lot of your “old school” passion.
(22:40) A classic question (honestly this one comes from my 12-yrs daughter): if you would find yourself stuck in a desert island for a month, which 5 albums or things you would take with you?
(23:40) What is your message to all those bands out there whose dream is to become “somebody” and who would want to be signed by Metal Blade?
To order “For the Sake of Heaviness: The History of Metal Blade Records”, please visit: smarturl.it/mbr35th – where an exclusive box-set is available, with the following contents:
–For the Sake of Heaviness: The History of Metal Blade Records book
–For the Sake of Heaviness cassette
–Metal Blade Records 35th anniversary bookmark
–bookplate autographed by Brian Slagel
* box dimensions: 9.375″ x 6.375″ x 1.25″
See below for the For the Sake of Heaviness cassette track-listing:
SIDE A
1. Fates Warning “Guardian”
2. Lizzy Borden “Lord of the Flies”
3. Omen “Holy Martyr”
4. Cirith Ungol “Black Machine”
5. GWAR “Gor-Gor”
6. Cannibal Corpse “Stripped, Raped, and Strangled”
7. Six Feet Under “War Is Coming”
SIDE B
1. Mercyful Fate “Egypt”
2. King Diamond “Voodoo”
3. The Black Dahlia Murder “Funeral Thirst”
4. Unearth “Black Hearts Now Reign”
5. Amon Amarth “Twilight of the Thunder God”
6. Visigoth “From the Arcane Mists of Prophecy”
For the Sake of Heaviness pulls back the curtain to reveal the definitive look at how Metal Blade began, what they’ve accomplished, and where they’re going. Slagel reveals the early advice he gave that helped guide Motley Crue‘s career; how he helped Metallica replace their bassist – twice; his detailed work on Thin Lizzy and Alice Cooper re-issues; his behind-the-scenes role in the careers of Slayer, GWAR, Mother Love Bone, Alice in Chains, Faith No More, Goo Goo Dolls, and Lamb of God; and his unlikely ventures with kindred metal heads – from hockey star Ken Baumgartner, to celebrity chef Chris Santos, to The Howard Stern Show‘s Richard Christy, to comedians Jim Florentine, Don Jamieson and Jim Breuer.
Starting today Friday, August 25th @ Midnight ET / 9pm PT (ending Friday, September 1st @ Midnight ET / 9pm PT), SiriusXM Liquid Metal will host For The Sake Of Heaviness- Metal Blade Records 35th Anniversary Week, featuring Metal Blade Records founder and CEO Brian Slagel every hour introducing his favorite cuts from the 35 year history of the label that brought the world Metallica, Slayer, Cannibal Corpse, GWAR and more.
In addition, SiriusXM host Jose Mangin sits down with Slagel to discuss the new book For The Sake Of Heaviness: The History Of Metal Blade Records, which comes out August 29th (and was co-written by Mark Eglinton).
Bloody Roots, Liquid Metal’s popular specialty show hosted by Bazillion Points publisher Ian Christe, and Corridor Of Covers, an hour long covers show, will both focus on Metal Blade Records, featuring only songs that have to do with the label Brian started in his garage 35 years ago.
On August 29th, Metal Blade Records and BMG will release For the Sake of Heaviness: The History of Metal Blade Records – written by label founder and CEO Brian Slagel with Mark Eglinton, and featuring a foreword by Metallica‘s Lars Ulrich. Celebrating the storied label’s 35th anniversary, For the Sake of Heaviness is an inside look at how Slagel built Metal Blade from a one-man operation in his mom’s non-air-conditioned garage to the preeminent international home of heavy music that it is today.
To pre-order For the Sake of Heaviness: The History of Metal Blade Records, please visit: smarturl.it/mbr35th – where an exclusive box-set is available, with the following contents:
–For the Sake of Heaviness: The History of Metal Blade Records book
–For the Sake of Heaviness cassette
–Metal Blade Records 35th anniversary bookmark
–bookplate autographed by Brian Slagel
* box dimensions: 9.375″ x 6.375″ x 1.25″
See below for the For the Sake of Heaviness cassette track-listing: SIDE A
1. Fates Warning “Guardian”
2. Lizzy Borden “Lord of the Flies”
3. Omen “Holy Martyr”
4. Cirith Ungol “Black Machine”
5. GWAR “Gor-Gor”
6. Cannibal Corpse “Stripped, Raped, and Strangled”
7. Six Feet Under “War Is Coming” SIDE B
1. Mercyful Fate “Egypt”
2. King Diamond “Voodoo”
3. The Black Dahlia Murder “Funeral Thirst”
4. Unearth “Black Hearts Now Reign”
5. Amon Amarth “Twilight of the Thunder God”
6. Visigoth “From the Arcane Mists of Prophecy”
For the Sake of Heaviness pulls back the curtain to reveal the definitive look at how Metal Blade began, what they’ve accomplished, and where they’re going. Slagel reveals the early advice he gave that helped guide Motley Crue‘s career; how he helped Metallica replace their bassist – twice; his detailed work on Thin Lizzy and Alice Cooper re-issues; his behind-the-scenes role in the careers of Slayer, GWAR, Mother Love Bone, Alice in Chains, Faith No More, Goo Goo Dolls, and Lamb of God; and his unlikely ventures with kindred metal heads – from hockey star Ken Baumgartner, to celebrity chef Chris Santos, to The Howard Stern Show‘s Richard Christy, to comedians Jim Florentine, Don Jamieson and Jim Breuer.
In conjunction with RED Music, Metal Blade Records has launched a new campaign, entitled “6 Bands in 60 Seconds“, where CEO Brian Slagel spotlights 6 developing artists from the label’s roster. With plans to select 6 new bands once every three months, the goal of the promotion is to help fans discover new music from some of the most promising acts in the scene. The first installment of the series (featuring Act of Defiance, Rivers of Nihil, Twitching Tongues, Culture Killer, Visigoth, and Harlott) can be viewed here and below.
Brian Slagel comments: “We are super excited about our new artists and wanted to help share these to you guys. We thought about giving you 6 new bands you should know about, so here you have those bands. We will be updating this as time goes on with new bands coming in, so be sure to keep following the Metal Blade ’6 Bands You Need To Know’. Let’s keep growing the metal scene!”
Decibel magazine’s July issue (on newsstands in June) features a nine-page tribute to late SLAYER guitarist Jeff Hanneman in the form of a moving retrospective obituary, some of Hanneman‘s most biting quotes, and a litany of heartfelt remembrances from EXODUS, Philip Anselmo (DOWN, PANTERA), AT THE GATES, TESTAMENT, CANNIBAL CORPSE and countless other contemporaries, including Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel, whose label was responsible for releasing SLAYER‘s first two studio albums.
“I first met Jeff Hanneman when SLAYER opened for BITCH in Southern California in 1983,” Slagel said. “I was lucky enough to get them to record a song for ‘Metal Massacre 3’ and then ‘Show No Mercy’, etc.
“Being in the studio with Jeff back then was truly amazing. Here was a young kid who was writing and playing some very mature and amazing heavy metal. History would prove him to be one of the best guitarists and composers in heavy metal history.
“Being able to be around him so much in the early days was just awesome. He was a pretty shy kid, but was so passionate about music. He grew up more into punk than metal, and those influences really helped hone his groundbreaking guitar work and songs. Also he was truly an amazing lyricist; I think people forget that a lot. Just read the lyrics he wrote and remember he was a very young kid when writing so much of the classic stuff.
“I know I am a bit biased, but he really will go down at the very top of metal legends for what he has contributed to our genre.
“As I said, he was a shy guy in the early days, but for sure had some really good opinions about things. I loved talking music and history with him; he had such an interesting take on both. Truly a genius and, as I have said, his work proves that. Jeff was also a big hockey fan! We both were able to talk hockey over the years whenever I would see them play live, and also at a few games. I was able to get him tickets to the L.A. Kings playoff games last season on their run to the Cup.
“It was so cool talking to him after the games, and he was so excited he was able to go. I was so happy to get him these tickets, as we all know how tough it has been on him after the spider bite.
“I remember how great it was seeing him at the ‘Big Four’ [show] in Indio, California. We had a quick chat about how happy I was to see him, and, of course, we talked some hockey.
“I also got him tickets to the Stanley Cup final here in Los Angeles. He called me after the game to thank me and said he had an amazing time at the game.
“I was so happy to help him out and really glad he had a great time.
“So sad and sudden to get the word of his passing. Way too young to go. He left a lasting and incredible legacy, and he will be missed greatly!
Hanneman passed away on May 2 from liver failure at the age of 49.
Members of SLAYER released a statement on May 9 saying that Hanneman died of alcohol-related cirrhosis.
Hanneman had actually not been playing with SLAYER for more than two years since he contracted necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease, from a spider bite in his backyard in January 2011. The infection ravaged the flesh and tissues of Hanneman‘s arm, leading to numerous surgeries, skin grafts and intense periods of rehab that forced him into semi-retirement and left him near death at several points.
Hanneman‘s last appearance with SLAYER was in April 2011, when he played an encore with the band at the “Big Four” concert in Indio, California.
