The term New Wave of British Heavy Metal was created on the May of 1979 from the “Sounds” magazine. It was the invention of editor Geoff Barton, who wrote an article on the developing scene in England, after a live performance of Samson (Headliners), Iron Maiden and Angelwitch. His goal was to highlight all the new groups of the time, under a specific title, which would better focus the audiences attention on the hardcore bands of the era.
In this article we highlight just a small but significant part of this movement, in order to help you start your research. Of course, there are hundreds of noteworthy bands and records from the NWOBHM, on which we will focus in the future.
Saxon - Wheels Of Steel
EMI/Carrere (1980)
Avg Price: €10
On “Wheels of Steel”, Saxon were like they have been hit with a magic wand. They completely changed their sound from their maiden album, they put on their leather jackets, ride their bikes and produce an album that blows up like a dynamite. The whole album is filled with nothing but hits, and it rightfully is considered as an epitomy of the genre. The four songs of the first side of the vinyl record ("Motorcycle Man", "Stand Up And Be Counted", "747 (Strangers In The Night)", "Wheels Of Steel") can still find a spot in every “best of” list of the group, proving their timeless value.
Witchfynde - Give 'Em Hell
Rondelet (1980)
Avg Price:€20
The fact that “Give 'Em Hell” from Witchfynde holdsa prominent spot in NWOBHM, mainly for the semiology that characterises it and secondarily for its musical content, does not mean a discount in quality. It's just this was 1980; when, on the one hand, you have a goat's face and pentacles on the cover and on the other, you have lyrics calling upon demons spirits, it is certain the attention will be focused on there. The truth is, though that this record has nothing to be jealous of other releases of the era and rightfully finds a spot on our list. The robust rhytm section and the excellent guitar work make a very good impression while tracks like the homonymous, “Leaving Nadir” and the epic “Unto the Ages Of The Ages” convince even the most sceptical listener about the value of the album.
Demon - Night Of The Demon
Carrere (1981)
Avg Price:€10
Demon are one of the few bands of the N.W.O.B.H.M. Movement who managed to pass the test of time, releasing nine really decent albums until 1992 and three more into the new millenium, under the guidance of the utterly crazy Dave Hill. Where they really made a difference, though, was on their debut album which was released in 1981. Although the hymn which is “Don't Break the Circle”, is found in next year's “The Unexpected Guest”, “Night of The Demon” wins the comparison by having better songs overall. The elements that really make a difference and make the record stand out are the passionate vocals from Hill, the powerful riffs by the late Mal Spooner and the tight, hard-rock focused compositions.
Holocaust - The Nightcomers
Phoenix (1981)
Avg Price:€50
The “The Nightcomers” is the ultimate definition of a record that, despite its outrageous simplicity, can really stand up as one of the most fundamental exponent of the genre. Proof is the “anthem” of every metal head, “Heavy Metal Maniac”. The only three chords and the monolithic rhythm section are actually part of the magic and no matter how many years pass by, you will always feel a chill down your spine when the basic riff enters. Without reaching the lyricalness of other contemporary bands, Holocaust can be proud tha with their debut album influenced some powerhouses of bands, while others will claim that there are some doom elements that played a vital part in the creation and development of the genre.
Raven - Rock Until You Drop
Neat (1981)
Avg Price:€13
At the beginning of 1981, we were introduced to a band which, even from their first album, would prove to be the sound's pioneer. Their name was “Raven” and the album was “Rock Until You Drop”. The title couldn't be more descriptive since they call their style, “Athletic Rock”. One thing is for sure: the title says everything about their wants. Their main trait was the high speed, which even reach a “speed” mentality. Combined with the rough and, sometimes dirty and raw sound, they created the perfect blend for those who want to keep their adrenaline pumping. When speeds drop, you can witness a certain strength and gut from a band that has left an indelible mark with a musical expression never imitated.
Tygers Of Pan Tang - Spellbound
MCA (1981)
Avg Price:€15
There was a small dilemma; whether should we include “Wild Cat” instead of “Spellbound”. However, given it has some of the best songs in the genre and John Sykes, we went for the second album of Tygers Of Pan Tang and the riff storm that comes pouring when listening to it. Even the commercial “The Story So Far” is not capable of taking anything away from the record. Speeds usually go over the top, with "Gangland", "Spellbound" and "Blackjack" proving the point, while when the rhythm calms down, the result can only be described as exquisite, whether it is the heartbreaking “Mirror” or the majestically developing “Don't Stop By”.
Tank - Filth Hounds Of Hades
Kamaflage (1982)
Avg Price:€20
It has already been two years since the emergence of various bands, but the movement still puts forward bands-diamonds. One of those were “Tank” who, with their first album, really proved they had tank-like features. From the first note you realise that, if Motorhead didn't play hard rock n' roll, they would sound like them! It is not a coincidence that the production was undertaken by Motorhead's lead guitarist Fast Eddie Clark, making Tank their first alter-ego ever.
Tokyo Blade - Tokyo Blade
Powerstation (1983)
Avg Price:€15
1983 was the last year of the first phase of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. One of the bands which are undoubtedly considered masters of the genre, though they were late bloomers, were Tokyo Blade. They were some of the few that combined a guitar melody with the more hard-rock elements of the previous decade. Moreover, they were from those that had a more glam stage performance than other groups of the wave. Listen to their milestone, “If Heaven Is Hell”, which sounds fresh even today.
Satan - Court In The Act
Roadrunner (1983)
Avg Price:€45
Satan are one of the many bands of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal movement which, although they have a minute discography, are considered pioneers of the genre. Thet were created from the ashes of other groups, but their name remained indelibl, mainly because the musicians that made up the group would become members of much more productive and significant groups of the following years.
Blitzkrieg - A Time Of Change
Neat (1985)
Avg Price:€50
A really good example of the reaction of Britain to punk was “A Time Of Change” from Blitzkrieg. Although it was released in 1985, they were struggling with it from much earlier, already having released three demos. Despite the poor production (like every other job of that era), songs like “Armagedon” and “Blitzkrieg” will shine for ever. Dark in certain places, but incredibly addicting to listen, this debut shows how simple everything is when there is inspiration, while it would be unfair to not say a word for Brian Cross's divine voice. A trully necessary record for every collection.
Angel Witch - Angel Witch
Bronze (1980)
Avg Price:€30
It is simply one of the most important albums of NWOBHM, one of the highest quality and, given its release date, one of the most historic albums of the heavy metal genre. The imaginative variations keep the interest high without taking away immediacy, the melodies are breathtaking and Heybourne's guitar work is just outstanding...
Diamond Head - Lightning To The Nations
Happy Face (1980)
Avg Price:€55
Although a great deal of Diamond Head's fame is, now, due to Metallica, the truth is they released one of the best records of the genre. The elements that make it stand out are, of course, Brian Tatler's exceptional job on a guitar level, the simple but meaningful rhythm section and Sean Harris' voice. By listening “Lightning To The Nations” with the killer riffs, the song's melody and structure that hardly go unnoticed, one can really understand how much Diamond Head's music affected the development of subsequent bands and consequently heavy metal itself.
Def Leppard - On Through The Night
Vertigo (1980)
Avg Price:€7
In “On Through The Night” there are commercial moments which will become more in the following years, but whoever says that what he listens to isn't metal, all he has to do is to listen to “Wasted”, “It Could Be You” and “Satellite”. The success of the record, is the combination of melody with the heavy riff, combined with the excellent compositions, Eliot's singing and Clark's solos (R.I.P), create a trully wonderfull result.
Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
EMI (1980)
Avg Price:€13
Speaking with strictly musical criteria, “Iron Maiden reflects not only the era's atmosphere but also the later grand success of the band that has been established in most people's minds as the greatest in heavy metal. On the one side, we have the punk element given mostly by Paul Di'Anno and on the other side the musical genius of the deeply inspired by the 70's hard rock, Steve Harris. The final result is the eight explosive and now classic songs that made it in the record.
Samson - Head On
Gem (1980)
Avg Price:€12
Just by hearing the word “Samson”, the mind directly brings up the name of the huge singer that thrived with Iron Maiden. Beyond the obvious, which is the singing and the unique tone of Dickinson, Samson also had other talents that made them distinguishable from the other fellow travellers on the movement. They are the guitar prowess of Paul Samson and the metal version of 70's hard rock, which is greatly represented in the 10 songs of “Head On” which was released in 1980.
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