History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff
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- 10. Nov. 2026
Über den Podcast
History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff is the show that aims to make grand and often oddball hard rock and heavy metal points through a narrative built upon the tiny idea of a quintet of songs. Buttressed with illustrative clips, Martin argues quickly and succinctly why these songs - and the specific sections of these tracks - support his mad professor premise, from the wobbly invention of an “American” heavy metal, to the influence of Led Zeppelin in hair metal or to more succinct topics like tapping and twin leads. The songs serve as bricks, but Martin slathers plenty of mortar. At the end, hopefully he has a sturdy house in which this week’s theory can reside unbothered by the elements. At approximately 7000, Martin has had published in books more record reviews than anybody in the history of music writing across all genres. Additionally, Martin has penned approximately 85 books on hard rock, heavy metal, classic rock and record collecting. Proud part of Pantheon - the podcast network for music lovers.
Folgen 385
History in Five Songs Episode 385: Couldn’t Break America: Canadian Edition
In Episode 385 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin touches on Canadian rock bands that achieved massive success at home but failed to break through in the United States. He highlights five …
Shownotes
In Episode 385 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin touches on Canadian rock bands that achieved massive success at home but failed to break through in the United States. He highlights five decades of Canuck rock from Trooper, Max Webster, The Tragically Hip, and other Canadian legends who built lasting careers without conquering America.
- Trooper – “You Look So Good”
- Kim Mitchell – “The Great Embrace”
- 54-40 – “Me Island”
- Helix – “No Rest for the Wicked”
- The Tragically Hip – “My Music at Work”
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Introducing Before The Moment with Nile Rodgers
Pantheon Media CEO Christian Swain invites you to check out the Before The Moment podcast. Legendary producer Nile Rodgers sits down with artists to explore the decisions, setbacks, and unexpected encounters …
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Pantheon Media CEO Christian Swain invites you to check out the Before The Moment podcast. Legendary producer Nile Rodgers sits down with artists to explore the decisions, setbacks, and unexpected encounters that came before the breakthrough. Follow the show, you will love it!Introducing Before The Moment with Nile Rodgers
Pantheon Media CEO Christian Swain invites you to check out the Before The Moment podcast. Legendary producer Nile Rodgers sits down with artists to explore the decisions, setbacks, and unexpected encounters …
Shownotes
Pantheon Media CEO Christian Swain invites you to check out the Before The Moment podcast. Legendary producer Nile Rodgers sits down with artists to explore the decisions, setbacks, and unexpected encounters that came before the breakthrough. Follow the show, you will love it!History in Five Songs Episode 384: Two Different Bands in One
In Episode 384 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores bands that reinvented themselves so dramatically they became almost entirely different acts. He traces various musical transformations …
Shownotes
In Episode 384 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores bands that reinvented themselves so dramatically they became almost entirely different acts. He traces various musical transformations by spotlighting Marillion, Sweet, Fleetwood Mac, and others.
- Marillion – “Rich”
- The Replacements – “When It Began”
- Sweet – “No You Don’t”
- The Tubes – “Eyes”
- Fleetwood Mac – “One Sunny Day”
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Introducing Before The Moment with Nile Rodgers
Pantheon Media CEO Christian Swain invites you to check out the Before The Moment podcast. Legendary producer Nile Rodgers sits down with artists to explore the decisions, setbacks, and unexpected encounters …
Shownotes
Pantheon Media CEO Christian Swain invites you to check out the Before The Moment podcast. Legendary producer Nile Rodgers sits down with artists to explore the decisions, setbacks, and unexpected encounters that came before the breakthrough. Follow the show, you will love it!History in Five Songs Episode 383: Uncommonly Important Drummers
In Episode 383 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin celebrates the often-overlooked influence of rock and metal drummers. He explores how musicians like Neil Peart, Phil Collins, Lars Ulrich, and …
Shownotes
In Episode 383 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin celebrates the often-overlooked influence of rock and metal drummers. He explores how musicians like Neil Peart, Phil Collins, Lars Ulrich, and John Bonham shape their bands through songwriting, vocals, and their distinctive playing styles.
- Triumph – “Allied Forces”
- Metallica – “Fight Fire with Fire”
- Scorpions – “Arizona”
- Deep Purple – “Sacred Land”
- Led Zeppelin – “In My Time of Dying”
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History in Five Songs Episode 382: All Over After the First Track
In Episode 382 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores rock and metal albums whose opening tracks overshadow the rest of the record in fame, heaviness, quality, or impact. Martin highlights …
Shownotes
In Episode 382 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores rock and metal albums whose opening tracks overshadow the rest of the record in fame, heaviness, quality, or impact. Martin highlights iconic songs from bands including Kansas, The Clash, and Cheap Trick.
- Kansas – “Carry on Wayward Son”
- Uriah Heep – “Gypsy”
- The Clash – “London Calling”
- UFO – “Natural Thing”
- Cheap Trick – “Dream Police” 0:06 – 0:36
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History in Five Songs Episode 381: The Album After a Big Change
In Episode 381 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin examines how legendary rock and metal bands responded to major lineup, stylistic, and production changes on the albums that followed the …
Shownotes
In Episode 381 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin examines how legendary rock and metal bands responded to major lineup, stylistic, and production changes on the albums that followed the shakeups. He compares records by Deep Purple, David Lee Roth, and others to reveal when bands refined a new sound, played it safe, or reached new creative heights.
- Deep Purple – “No One Came”
- David Lee Roth – “Hina”
- Thin Lizzy – “Wild One”
- ZZ Top – “Planet of Women”
- UFO – “Let It Roll”
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History in Five Songs Episode 380: Modest Metal Wins of the ‘90s
In Episode 380 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin looks back at the modest metal victories of the '90s. From hair-metal revivals and thrash tours to underground bands earning major-label …
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In Episode 380 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin looks back at the modest metal victories of the '90s. From hair-metal revivals and thrash tours to underground bands earning major-label attention and surprising gold and platinum certifications, Martin recalls the excitement of championing metal during its supposedly “dead” era.
- Poison – “Sexual Thing”
- Machine Head – “Old”
- Cathedral – “Ride”
- Saigon Kick – “Freedom”
- Monster Magnet – “Powertrip”
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History in Five Songs Episode 379: Improbable Certifications
In Episode 379 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores albums with unexpectedly high sales certifications. He highlights unusual successes across live albums, greatest hits compilations …
Shownotes
In Episode 379 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores albums with unexpectedly high sales certifications. He highlights unusual successes across live albums, greatest hits compilations, soundtracks, EPs, and unconventional studio records, spotlighting artists including Cheap Trick, Kiss, and the Clash.
- Cheap Trick – “Lookout”
- Kiss – “Let’s Put the X in Sex”
- Curtis Stigers – “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding”
- Ugly Kid Joe – “Too Bad”
- The Clash – “Ghetto Defendant”
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History in Five Songs Episode 378: Falsetto
In Episode 378 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin examines the many ways rock singers use falsetto. From the theatrical and expressive styles of Queen and David Bowie to the comedic, shrieking …
Shownotes
In Episode 378 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin examines the many ways rock singers use falsetto. From the theatrical and expressive styles of Queen and David Bowie to the comedic, shrieking, and novelty approaches of artists including King Diamond and the Rolling Stones, Martin goes deep on this one.
- King Diamond – “Little One"
- Queen – “Cool Cat”
- Halford – “Silent Screams”
- David Bowie – “Ashes to Ashes”
- Rolling Stones – “Fool to Cry”
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History in Five Songs Episode 377: Albums with Shared Birthdays: the ‘70s
In Episode 377 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin examines the fascinating “shared birthdays” of iconic 1970s albums. He highlights unexpected release-day pairings, musical rivalries, and the …
Shownotes
In Episode 377 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin examines the fascinating “shared birthdays” of iconic 1970s albums. He highlights unexpected release-day pairings, musical rivalries, and the stories and connections behind these coincidental release dates.
- U.K. – “In the Dead of Night”
- Queen – “Sheer Heart Attack”
- Kiss – “I Want You”
- Max Webster – “Toronto Tontos”
- Thin Lizzy – “Emerald”
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History in Five Songs Episode 376: Conned by the Cover
In Episode 376 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores the art of the album “con” by examining rock and metal records whose dramatic or intriguing covers may have overpromised the …
Shownotes
In Episode 376 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores the art of the album “con” by examining rock and metal records whose dramatic or intriguing covers may have overpromised the experience. Artists including Alice Cooper, Jethro Tull, and the Clash teased darker, heavier, or more ambitious musical experience than the albums ultimately delivered.
- Alice Cooper – “I’m the Coolest”
- Uriah Heep – “Out on the Street”
- Jethro Tull – “Watching Me Watching You”
- Michael Schenker Group – “Systems Failing”
- The Clash – “Cool Under Heat”
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History in Five Songs Episode 375: The Catalogue Bad Boy
In Episode 375 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin contemplates the gritty, rebellious, swaggering, often dark and unapologetically uncommercial album that stands apart in a band's discography …
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In Episode 375 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin contemplates the gritty, rebellious, swaggering, often dark and unapologetically uncommercial album that stands apart in a band's discography, including Van Halen, Pink Floyd, and Ozzy Ozbourne.
- Van Halen – “Loss of Control"
- UFO – “Makin’ Moves”
- Accept – “Demon’s Night”
- Pink Floyd – “Sheep”
- Ozzy Osbourne – “Demon Alcohol”
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History in Five Songs Episode 374: Jarring Volume Differentials
In Episode 374 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin examines how bands such as the Pixies, Queen, and Black Sabbath use dramatic shifts between quiet and heavy passages to create tension …
Shownotes
In Episode 374 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin examines how bands such as the Pixies, Queen, and Black Sabbath use dramatic shifts between quiet and heavy passages to create tension, surprise and impact.
- Pixies – “Tame”
- Queen – “Death on Two Legs”
- Opeth – “Heir Apparent”
- Black Sabbath – “Orchid”
- Roger Waters – “Deja Vu”
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History in Five Songs Episode 373: Underrated Singing Guitarists
In Episode 373 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin celebrates underrated singing guitarists, exploring how artists including Brian May, Ted Nugent and Jerry Garcia are often overshadowed as …
Shownotes
In Episode 373 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin celebrates underrated singing guitarists, exploring how artists including Brian May, Ted Nugent and Jerry Garcia are often overshadowed as vocalists by their reputations as guitarists, frontmen and songwriters.
- Steve Hackett – “Strutton Ground”
- Queen – “Sail Away Sweet Sister”
- Ted Nugent – “Crave”
- Gary Moore – “Enough of the Blues”
- Y&T – “Hell or High Water”
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History in Five Songs Episode 372: Killed by Booze
In Episode 372 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin looks back at the tragic stories of rock and metal legends who died from alcohol-related illness and substance abuse. He including several …
Shownotes
In Episode 372 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin looks back at the tragic stories of rock and metal legends who died from alcohol-related illness and substance abuse. He including several musicians he personally interviewed, while reflecting on booze as the music world’s often-overlooked “silent killer.”
1. The Stooges – “T.V. Eye” 0:23 – 0:53
2. Fear of God – “All That Remains” 2:37 – 3:07
3. Bruford – “Hell’s Bells” 1:51 – 2:21
4. Rory Gallagher – “Shadow Play” 0:17 – 0:47
5. Children of Bodom – “Mask of Sanity” 0:50 – 1:20Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
History in Five Songs Episode 371: Last Song, Best Song
In Episode 371 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores why some of rock and metal's greatest albums save their strongest statement for last. Closing tracks from Ozzy Osbourne, Metalllica …
Shownotes
In Episode 371 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores why some of rock and metal's greatest albums save their strongest statement for last. Closing tracks from Ozzy Osbourne, Metalllica and others prove the final song can be the album's most memorable, ambitious, and powerful moment.
- Ozzy Osbourne – “Diary of a Madman”
- Yes – “Heart of the Sunrise”
- Metallica – “Metal Militia”
- Alice in Chains – “Would?”
- Kiss – “Black Diamond”
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History in Five Songs Episode 370: Underperforming Debuts
In Episode 370 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin examines why so many classic rock and metal bands, from Def Leppard to Rush and Iron Maiden, have debut albums that sold surprisingly poorly …
Shownotes
In Episode 370 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin examines why so many classic rock and metal bands, from Def Leppard to Rush and Iron Maiden, have debut albums that sold surprisingly poorly compared to their blockbuster follow-ups, despite often being fan favorites and essential parts of their catalogs.
- Def Leppard – “Satellite”
- Rush – “Finding My Way”
- Twisted Sister – “Run for Your Life”
- Slayer – “Die by the Sword”
- Iron Maiden – “Phantom of the Opera”
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History in Five Songs Episode 369: Lowering the British blues boom
In Episode 369 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin argues how rock bands from the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin to Fleetwood Mac and UFO escaped the creative limits of the British blues boom …
Shownotes
In Episode 369 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin argues how rock bands from the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin to Fleetwood Mac and UFO escaped the creative limits of the British blues boom. He posits that their willingness to evolve into hard rock, heavy metal, prog, and pop ultimately defined their greatest successes.
- The Rolling Stones – “Street Fighting Man”
- Status Quo – “Oh Baby”
- Black Sabbath – “Hand of Doom”
- Aerosmith – “Woman of the World”
- UFO – “Rock Bottom”
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History in Five Songs Episode 368: Your new guitarist is a distraction.
In Episode 368 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explains how replacement guitarists can become welcome or unwelcome distractions by transforming a band's sound, identity, songwriting, or fan …
Shownotes
In Episode 368 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explains how replacement guitarists can become welcome or unwelcome distractions by transforming a band's sound, identity, songwriting, or fan perception. He highlights memorable examples from acts like Yes, Whitesnake and Fleetwood Mac.
- Yes – “Changes”
- Whitesnake – “Slip of the Tongue”
- Dio – “Big Sister”
- Fleetwood Mac – “Second Hand News"
- Thin Lizzy – “The Holy War”
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History in Five Songs Episode 367: How crazy was 1991?
In Episode 367 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin dives into why 1991 stands as one of rock's most transformative years. He traces the remarkable flood of landmark hard rock, metal, grunge, and …
Shownotes
In Episode 367 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin dives into why 1991 stands as one of rock's most transformative years. He traces the remarkable flood of landmark hard rock, metal, grunge, and more that redefined the music landscape in just a few extraordinary months.
- David Lee Roth – “Baby’s on Fire”
- Van Halen – “Runaround”
- Ozzy Osbourne – “Desire”
- Soundgarden – “Face Pollution”
- R.E.M. – “Losing My Religion"
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History in Five Songs Episode 366: The Four Pre-Perfect Strangers Albums
In Episode 366 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin traces the four key albums recorded by future Deep Purple members before their reunion on Perfect Strangers. Martin further explores how …
Shownotes
In Episode 366 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin traces the four key albums recorded by future Deep Purple members before their reunion on Perfect Strangers. Martin further explores how disparate projects with Whitesnake, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and Gary Moore set the stage for one of rock's most celebrated comeback albums.
- Gary Moore – “Don’t Take Me for a Loser”
- Whitesnake – “Saints an’ Sinners”
- Rainbow – “Stranded”
- Black Sabbath – “Hot Line”
- Deep Purple – “Perfect Strangers”
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History in Five Songs Episode 365: Where Guitar Takes a Back Seat
In Episode 365 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores the many ways guitar can fade into a supporting role in rock and metal. Bands like Rush, Twisted Sister, and Genesis demonstrate how …
Shownotes
In Episode 365 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores the many ways guitar can fade into a supporting role in rock and metal. Bands like Rush, Twisted Sister, and Genesis demonstrate how songwriting, vocals, keyboards, rhythm sections, or dominant personalities can overshadow what is typically the genre’s central instrument.
- Rush – “Red Sector A”
- David Lee Roth – “Hot Dog and a Shake”
- Twisted Sister – “Burn in Hell”
- The Stranglers – “Water”
- Genesis – “Abacab”
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History in Five Songs Episode 364: Best Weird Lineup Records
In Episode 364 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin celebrates rock and metal’s greatest one-off lineups, highlighting albums where a unique combination of musicians appeared just once yet …
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In Episode 364 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin celebrates rock and metal’s greatest one-off lineups, highlighting albums where a unique combination of musicians appeared just once yet produced some of the most memorable and influential records in their bands’ catalogs.
- Judas Priest – “Dissident Aggressor”
- Black Sabbath – “Die Young”
- The Saints – “This Perfect Day”
- Alcatrazz – “Wire and Wood”
- Yes – “Into the Lens”
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History in Five Songs Episode 363: Title Not in the Lyrics
In Episode 363 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin dives into the curious world of songs whose titles never appear in their lyrics. He uses examples from heavy metal, prog, grunge, and classic …
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In Episode 363 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin dives into the curious world of songs whose titles never appear in their lyrics. He uses examples from heavy metal, prog, grunge, and classic rock to examine how artists use enigmatic, descriptive, and literary titles to add meaning beyond the words actually being sung.
- Black Sabbath – “A National Acrobat”
- Rush – “Witch Hunt”
- Faith No More – “Epic”
- Scorpions – “The Sails of Charon”
- Queen – “Bohemian Rhapsody”
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History in Five Songs Episode 362: Prog and Metal
In Episode 362 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin delves into how heavy metal and progressive rock evolved as musical "doppelgangers," tracing their shared roots, parallel development, eventual …
Shownotes
In Episode 362 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin delves into how heavy metal and progressive rock evolved as musical "doppelgangers," tracing their shared roots, parallel development, eventual convergence, and enduring bond through virtuosity, ambition, and a common outsider spirit.
- Deep Purple – “Into the Fire”
- Yes – “Siberian Khatru”
- Rush – “The Camera Eye”
- Metallica – “Phantom Lord”
- Porcupine Tree – “The Blind House”
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History in Five Songs Episode 361: Career Sabotage Albums
In Episode 361 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin discusses “career sabotage albums.” These daring, strange, or self-destructive records by bands like Fleetwood Mac, Ministry, and Nirvana that …
Shownotes
In Episode 361 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin discusses “career sabotage albums.” These daring, strange, or self-destructive records by bands like Fleetwood Mac, Ministry, and Nirvana that may have intentionally (or unintentionally!) derailed commercial momentum in pursuit of artistic freedom or anti-commercial instincts.
- Fleetwood Mac – “The Ledge”
- Ministry – “Useless”
- Pearl Jam – “Tremor Christ”
- Masters of Reality – “Ants in the Kitchen”
- Neil Young – “Payola Blues”
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History in Five Songs Episode 360: Melody
In Episode 360 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin takes a deep dive into the power and pitfalls of melody, contrasting the “gas station meal rock” vocal hooks of bands like Nickelback and the …
Shownotes
In Episode 360 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin takes a deep dive into the power and pitfalls of melody, contrasting the “gas station meal rock” vocal hooks of bands like Nickelback and the melancholy repetition of Santana with the transcendent emotional beauty of These Trails and the adventurous microtonal experimentation of Maddie Ashman.
- Nickelback – “Rockstar”
- Santana – “Oye Como Va”
- These Trails – “Rusty’s House & Lost in Space”
- Maddie Ashman – “Dark”
- These Trails – “Rapt Attention”
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History in Five Songs Episode 359: Thrash and Hair Metal as Doppelgangers
In Episode 359 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin toys with the kindred nature of thrash and hair metal and how the two genres influenced each other's development and came from the same origins …
Shownotes
In Episode 359 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin toys with the kindred nature of thrash and hair metal and how the two genres influenced each other's development and came from the same origins and roots.
- Ratt – “Tell the World”
- Slayer – “Die by the Sword”
- Slaughter – “Out for Love”
- Judas Priest – “A Touch of Evil”
- Guns N’ Roses – “Mr. Brownstone”
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