It is widely known that crystallization of metallic glasses is accompanied by a strong heat release. Current literature considers this phenomenon in a general sense as a result of structural ordering and related decrease of the excess enthalpy. The only specific interpretation for the crystallization-induced heat release was recently suggested on the basis of the Interstitialcy theory and elastic dipole model. This work presents measurements of the heat release and changes of the shear modulus taking place upon crystallization of a series of Zr- and Pd-based metallic glasses. The analysis of the performed experiment provides further clear support for the interpretation of the heat release as a result of the disappearance of interstitialcy-like ”defects” (elastic dipoles) frozen-in from the melt upon glass production and related dissipation of their elastic energy. Analytically, the heat release is controlled by the change of the shear modulus upon crystallization constituting thus a universal relationship between these quantities.