Pantheon Media and Metal Blade Records, two pioneering forces in music and media, recently joined forces to create “100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal,” a new podcast series for fans of heavy metal and hard rock.
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 can expect 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.
In the latest episode (listen below), Brian Slagel discusses Slayer’s “Black Magic” with producer Bill Matoyer and Slayer guitarist, Kerry King. Plus, as with every episode, some facts and figures about the song from author Martin Popoff.
In regards to the writing of “Black Magic”, Kerry reveals, “I know Jeff [Hanneman] and I were both responsible for the music, but picking out who did what… you know, if I sat down and listened to it and started picking it apart, I could probably figure out 70-80% of it, but I’m sure there’d be a grey area where like, ‘uh, I don’t remember.’ I think I did all the lyrics, but maybe I didn’t. I would have to look at the writing credits, I don’t even know.”
Asked what he thinks of “Black Magic” today when he hears or plays the song, King states: “I still think it’s a good riff, it’s got good riffs in it, for sure. Fun to play, which a lot of things aren’t, 40 years later. But it’s still fun to play, and the fans go off, which makes my job easier because, you know, we’re just having a good time between the fans and ourselves on stage. The energy is killer, so you know, it’s fun to play live.”