For the Sake of Heaviness

The History of Metal Blade Records

By: Brian Slagel, Lars Ulrich - foreword, Mark Eglinton

Narrated by: Brian Slagel, John Bush

Length: 4 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

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 LA scene. 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.

Read by Brian Slagel in his own casual and informal style, For the Sake of Heaviness is an inside look at how he built Metal Blade from a one-man operation in his mom's non-air-conditioned garage to the preeminent international home of heavy music it is today. He shares his insights into signing and working with Cannibal Corpse, Flotsam and Jetsam, Gwar, King Diamond, Manowar, Mercyful Fate, Overkill, and others.

Always hard at work on a diverse range of projects, Brian 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 reissues; his behind-the-scenes role in the careers of Mother Love Bone, Alice in Chains, 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.

Throughout For the Sake of Heaviness, Brian steps aside to present first-person insights and extended guest interviews featuring friends, colleagues, Metal Blade staffers, and a long list of artists, including Metallica's James Hetfield, Slayer's Kerry King, King Diamond, and many more. Each of these segments is performed in the audio edition by John Bush of Armored Saint.

Brian highlights the ins and outs of his 35-year metal odyssey, from promoting small shows in California's San Fernando Valley in the early days, to forging a major partnership with Warner Bros. Records; from weathering the Parents Music Resource Center's attempts to regulate lyrical content, to squaring off with Time Warner over Gwar's envelope-pushing themes; from nearly going bankrupt after underestimating the impact of the rise of CDs; to surviving and thriving in today's rapidly changing music business environment.

Featuring a foreword by Metallica's Lars Ulrich, 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. With the help of cowriter Mark Eglinton, Brian Slagel invites the listener into a personal conversation about his life's passion and the passion that drives Metal Blade - finding, exposing, and promoting the best heavy music on the planet.

©2017 BMG Books (P)2019 BMG Books

entertaining and informative, must listen.

This is NOT a bunch of rehashed stories we already new like so many metal books. This is first hand new info straight from Brian Slagel. Awesome.

a pretty cool book about a pretty cool label

a good read especially for metalheads like myself that aren't all inside baseball and don't know all of this I grew up in that era lived it loved it but didn't love the bands that tease their hair so much that they cried or wore more makeup than their groupies it was the real heavy metal the quote Saxon Denim and Leather brought us all together it was you who set the spirit free

Short but very goid

it's a great listen on Audible. I do like that Brian only talks his parts, and John talks the other parts. it's succinct and to the point. No fluff. If you grew up on Metal Massacre compilations, this is for you.

Bare Bones

Extremely short. Most was filler of others commentary. Wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't the same two people talking for others.

important metal history.

Loved hearing this history. Enjoyed John Bush reading everyone's parts. Brian is essential for metal.

interesting read

if your metal history buff this is up your alley. very entertaining read and i loved learning all the behind the scenes of metal blade records

Amazing book for metalheads like me!!!

Brian's story is phenomenal and uplifting. I recommend this book to anyone into metal music.

killer flashback to the 80's metal scene and beyod

great book, brought back tons of memories of la thrash and speed metal. having John Bush kf Armored Saint do the narration was PERFECT.
loved this book

Informative and engaging

Great insight into the metal scene and the music industry as a whole. Lots of cool info including stuff that i wasn't aware of even as a longtime metal fan. Brian Slagel and John Bush are great readers. Would recommend.

EXCELLENT READ

Loved this book,early look into some of American heavy metal bands that we know tofay

An Enjoyable Listen.

An enjoyable listen covering all aspects of the label and its history over the past 4 decades.

My only criticism would be that the chapters could have been longer allowing Brian to go into more detail.

All in all a good read/listen.