For 30 years, Metal Blade Records has been a trend-setting force in heavy metal. Brian Slagel and Metal Blade have had a major role in developing the American metal scene since the early 80s and remains one of the most essential sources of metal music today. Since 1982, Metal Blade Records has unleashed influential metal acts including: Slayer, Metallica, Cannibal Corpse, GWAR, Six Feet Under, & King Diamond while developing acts such as: As I Lay Dying, Unearth, The Black Dahlia Murder, Amon Amarth, Job For a Cowboy, Whitechapel, just to name a few.