Discovering the New Wave of British Heavy Metal

An introduction to the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM)

As music movements go, this was absolutely key in the creation of some of the most influential bands of all time. Yet, if you were to ask an average music fan about it, they probably wouldn't be able to point you in the direction of what exactly it was or who the bands were that helped it along.

It was a sound, style, synergy and era that capitivated young men and women across the world and resulted in the forming and inspiration behind such rock and metal powerhouses as Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer and Megadeth. You only have to look at the cover songs chosen by Metallica to see their love of the music and more-over the style of their early heavy metal back catalogue to see the influence.

Saxon were one of the premier NWOBHM bands with hits such as Wheels of Steel, 747 (Strangers in the Night) and Princess of the Night.

Blues influences were toned down, tempo sped up, elements of punk music were incorporated and the music became 'harder' and 'heavier' in places. It is an exciting, fun and experimental time for music that came to prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s, before declining after the middle of the decade of decadence.

However, there are some key players in the NWOBHM that are not only still around, but still as relevant and powerful as they have ever been. Do these ring any bells?

• Motorhead
• Iron Maiden
• Judas Priest
• Saxon
• Def Leppard

Diamond Head were one of the major influences in Metallica's career. The band has covered multiple songs including 'Am I Evil?', 'Helpless', 'The Prince' and 'It's Electric'

They were all major players for the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and their recordings at this time may be amongst their most successful, famous and influential to others, however they are still relevant forces in their field of music. Some other great mentions need to be given here:

• Sweet Savage
• Blitzkrieg
• Venom
• Vardis
• Diamond Head
• Tygers of Pan Tang
• Witchfynde

 So, now I've maybe awakened a bit of interest in it. Go out and go find some of this stuff, whether it be in your music shop, YouTube or even better, in a live setting (a lot of these bands do still play gigs and are recording, they just aren't well known). I know that by getting into Metallica and wanting to know their influences, opened me up to a whole new world of music that I've completely fallen in love with. If only I had been born 15 years earlier...how different I'd have been.


Check out IronMaid's NWOBHM blog at nwobhmstuff.blogspot.co.uk for some great and rare albums/EPs from the bands of the movement.