Heavy Metal 101

Heavy Metal 101

Author: Eric Schwartz Language: English Episodes: 62
Dive into the thunderous world of Heavy Metal 101, a monthly podcast hosted by Eric Schwartz. Each episode is a journey through the loud, complex, and often misunderstood history of heavy metal music. Eric, armed with deep expertise, is joined by his friend John, who brings a fresh, curious perspective as a relative newcomer to the genre. Together, they don't just recount facts; they explore the cultural shifts, argue about iconic bands and subgenres, and discuss the very essence of what makes metal resonate so powerfully. Their dynamic-one an expert, the other a novice-creates a uniquely engaging conversation that is as educational as it is entertaining. Whether you're a lifelong headbanger or someone who just wonders what all the noise is about, you'll find a place here. You'll hear breakdowns of seminal albums, explorations of metal's roots in blues and classical music, and lively debates about everything from New Wave of British Heavy Metal to death metal's technical evolution. This isn't a dry lecture; it's a passionate, sometimes heated, dialogue between friends. New installments of the podcast arrive on the third Monday of every month, offering a regular dose of riff-laden history and analysis. Tune in to Heavy Metal 101 for a crash course in power chords, mythology, and musical rebellion, all delivered with a genuine love for the subject. It's a deep dive into the stories behind the sound, making the vast landscape of heavy metal accessible and thrilling for anyone who listens.
Episodes
Iron Maiden’s Gonna Get You! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:43
Wherein Eric and John return to the fray for season #2, and explore the rise and debut album of one of the greatest heavy metal bands of all time, the mighty Iron Maiden!Assigned Listening #1: "Prowler" https://www.youtu…
A Seventies Sabbath Season Finale Spectacular! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:33
Wherein Eric, John, and very special guest author and Sabbath scholar Nolan Stolz pick up right where we left off on episode #1, exploring 1970's Black Sabbath from the release of the seminal Paranoid through Never Say D…
Heavy metal’s first musical genius: The story of Van Halen 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:47
Wherein Eric and John wax rhapsodic about the majestic debut album of Van Halen, arguably the single most important heavy metal release of the 1970s by a band not named Black Sabbath.Here is a link to a recording of this…
That's Not Heavy Metal! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:50
Wherein Eric and John establish a foolproof, highly scientific (ish) taxonomy of early heavy metal, tour the porous and contentious borderlands separating "heavy metal" from "hard rock", and delve into the metal side of…
Special Topics in Metalology #1: The Evolution of Death! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:10
Wherein Eric and John temporarily shed the strictures implied by the "101" course designation, and drink deep from the cup of Death, arguably the greatest single metal band of all time.Throughout these "Special Topics in…
When punk and metal collided (aka Lemmy is god!) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:57
Wherein Eric and John discuss the arrival of punk rock on the scene, its near-destruction of heavy metal, and how metal would soon rise like a phoenix from the ashes via the high velocity proto-thrash of the late, great…
What the hell is heavy metal? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:25
Wherein Eric and John attempt to answer the age old question, "What the hell is heavy metal?", and also worship at the altar of the one, true metal god Rob Halford while discussing the formative Judas Priest classic, "Sa…