Metal Blade Records Reimagines The Origin Story of the Blade Through Coffee

Metal Blade wields a mighty axe to grind the coffee world into dust with their new official private label!

It only made sense for the iconic record label responsible for helping launch some of the world’s most mammoth metal artists and unleashing some of the heaviest riffs and blast beats in the universe, to collab with #metalcoffee disruptors Concept Cafes, who have already partnered with Metal Blade artists such as the legendary Cannibal Corpse to unleash their own beasts of brewdom.

This creatively unique concept itself follows the lineage of the blade, from its infancy in the early 80’s when heavy metal fantasy was a relatively unexplored dominion, all the way through to the present-day Jolly Roger sabers of this modern era of Metalcore & Deathcore. This first installment sips like an issue of Heavy Metal Magazine, as it draws inspiration from the early Metallica monster, a young prodigious Yngwie, D&D, Star Wars, & many others.

The coffee itself is as mythically prophetic as the immersive packaging art, that tastes just as ferociously fervent as the picture painted. You will expect nothing less from the masterful craftsmanship of the forging partner of Concepts: Coterie Coffee Co.

“When the grind of metal meets the grind of beans, you get a brew that’s as bold and unrelenting as the riffs that define us. Our collaboration with Concept Cafes isn’t just about coffee-it’s about forging a new kind of energy for the hardcore listener who needs the perfect blend of caffeine and chaos. Plus, we really, really love coffee in the office so our team couldn’t be happier to release Metal Blade’s first Official Private Label Coffee onto the metal realm with the help of our friends at Concept Cafes.” – The Metal Blade Team

“Actually, in a kinda organic roundabout way, I guess you could say we’ve evolved into kinda a coffee record company ourselves; so it would only make sense the eventuality that we’d collaborate with an actual record co., and whom not better to do so with than the almighty Metal Blade Records. Not only is it extremely important for us to humbly honor the MBR legacy, but it’s always at the forefront for us to help steward this legacy for the next generation(s) as well as bringing new fans to Metal. It’s a bold step for sure (pun intended), but we all agreed, a step in the right direction to broaden the reach of Metal, so enthusiasts can dive headfirst into the rich history and epic discography of this record label pioneer…the Blade is as sharp as ever (so don’t cut yourself…especially on that guillotine)!” – Concept Cafes

Roasted by Coterie Coffee Co. and brought to you by Concept Cafes

Watch this video by Elena Vasilaki for more details:

About Metal Blade Records:
Founded upon owner Brian Slagel‘s enduring drive to find great bands and get their music out to as many people as possible, since 1982 Metal Blade has brought wave after wave of powerful, innovative, and often genre-defining music to the ever-hungry metal masses. It is this ethos that has seen Metal Blade build up a stunning and diverse catalog, weather the various storms facing any independent label, and in an age of declining record sales boast the most successful years of its existence as it celebrates its fourth decade.

Metal Blade Records launched Metallica, Slayer, Armored Saint, Fates Warning, GWAR, Cannibal Corpse, Amon Amarth, Whitechapel, The Black Dahlia Murder, Cattle Decapitation, and dozens more genre giants, shaping four decades and counting of hard rock, metal, and extreme music culture. Brian Slagel worked as a record store clerk when he founded Metal Blade in 1982, reserving a spot for a young Lars Ulrich on his Metal Massacre compilation series. Metal Blade grew from humble beginnings in Los Angeles to become an international powerhouse, selling millions of albums while remaining fiercely independent. In 2017, Slayer‘s Kerry King inducted the label into the Hall of Heavy Metal History. Slagel’s For the Sake of Heaviness: The History of Metal Blade Records arrived the same year.

In 2022 Metal Blade Records celebrated its 40th Anniversary by way of two live shows in Las Vegas – one featuring Killswitch Engage and another featuring Sacred Reich. In addition to these two packed live shows/parties, the label reissued its first release, the compilation album Metal Massacre, plus specially branded 40th Anniversary small batch vodka and rum, and a West Coast style IPA beer. Brian Slagel also saw the release of his second book, Swing of the Blade: More Stories from Metal Blade Records that was released on May 9th and was met with rave reviews from fans and press alike. One fan on Good Reads called the book “a sentimental journey through Brian’s metal origin-story recollections from his deep and wide perspective as founder of Metal Blade that I enjoyed very much” while MetalTalk.net wrote that “Swing Of The Blade is an endearing, honest, and enjoyable journey into the deeper world of Brian Slagel, the main man behind the legendary Metal Blade Records…this is very much Brian in his own words, recounting tales from the early days of Metal Blade through to a brief post-pandemic epilogue, where he expresses his regret that the book hasn’t coincided with the 40th anniversary of the label.” To round out the celebration, Brian Slagel opened up the label’s collection of heavy metal memorabilia to fans in Las Vegas, NV, marking the opening of the official Metal Blade Records Museum that is open every Saturday.

The celebration rolled over into 2023 and in October AXS TV picked up and premiered the Denise Korycki documentary of Metal Massacre: The Story Behind the Legendary Album. Packed with all-star interviews, rare photos, the film tells the story of the groundbreaking 1982 Metal Massacre vinyl compilation-a sonic celebration of the burgeoning Los Angeles Metal scene, which helped launch the careers of iconic acts Metallica and Ratt, and ultimately led to the birth of the legendary independent record label Metal Blade Records. The film boasts priceless commentary and anecdotes from Metal Blade founder Brian Slagel and his friend and collaborator John Kornarens, two metalheads with a dream who made Metal Massacre a reality; as well as Metallica members Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield; Ratt frontman Stephen Pearcy; and Black N’ Blue singer Jamie St. James, among many others.

In 2024, Metal Blade Records and Pantheon Media launched the “100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal” Podcast to the excitement of metalheads everywhere. The successful podcast, which is loved by fans, industry, and artists alike, is hosted by Brian Slagel, CEO of Metal Blade Records. Each episode of the series will spotlight one of the most defining songs in metal, blending artist interviews, expert analysis, and behind-the-scenes insights. Listeners are taken on a deep dive into the production, cultural impact, and legacy of each track, with insights from prominent voices like music historian Martin Popoff and producer Jay Ruston.

The podcast features exclusive appearances from musicians who either influenced or were influenced by these legendary tracks, ensuring fans a unique, all-encompassing exploration of metal music. From Metallica and Slayer to Cannibal Corpse and Alice Cooper, “100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal” covers the songs that have defined generations, blending narrative storytelling with in-depth analyses. This podcast also serves as a tribute to the fans whose passion fuels the genre and keeps it alive for future generations.

“100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal” is now available on all major podcast platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

About Concept Cafes:
Everybody remembers that first opening riff, that mid-song breakdown, that blast beat crescendo that turned them on, and tuned them into Metal forever. With our artist partners like Cannibal Corpse, Max & Iggor Cavalera, and Ministry; we’re trying to recapture that moment of Metal possession for the fans by immersing them into a Metal coffee obsession like no other. As lifelong fans ourselves, we’re constantly seeking out the most epic Metal experiences; whether it’s records, live shows, merch, etc., so if we can maybe someday say we were a small part of that collective fan experience, then we’ve done our job. It’s also super important for us to illuminate the fact that these are the artists’ coffee stories, not our own, we’re just the chaotic-evil little elves that help them conjure their visions and forge them into reality for the fans.

We’re not here to snobbishly push conventional coffee culture upon Metalheads either, nor will we ever try to flip a quick gimmick on our Metal brothers & sisters to make a quick buck. We’re humbled literally everyday with this responsibility, and the opportunity to work with Metal legends. This is why we are constantly pushing the boundaries and possibilities, because foremost we believe there is no other comparison to the dedicated devotion metalheads have in keeping Metal music alive and stronger than ever! Metal deserves the absolute best when it comes to coffee! Reality is coffee culture has become basic cookie-cutter over the past couple of decades; so safe and just a shell of itself which once fueled artists and their music across several generations. We want to revive that creative fire, and as far as playing it safe…it’s metal, motorcycles, & horror…what did you expect?!

Find Concept Cafes Coffee at:
https://www.conceptcafes.com
@conceptcafescoffee