Top 10 Metal Scenes and Waves
A metal scene or wave is a fascinating phenomenon in the world of heavy metal music. It's not just a fleeting trend or a random spike in popularity; it's a seismic shift in the musical landscape. A metal scene/wave is either:- A time where a number of bands pop up and change metal forever
- A number of bands from the same region pop up to revolutionize metal
Think of it as a creative explosion, where artists feed off each other's energy and drive, inspiring innovation, challenging norms, and shaping the course of music history. It's like a wildfire of creativity that ignites in one area, then quickly spreads, capturing the imagination of fans and musicians around the world.
These scenes and waves have evolved over time, sprouting new subgenres and reshaping existing ones. They've brought together communities, creating bonds between fans, musicians, and industry professionals alike. From garage bands to global superstars, from underground clubs to massive festivals, these scenes are more than just music; they're movements.
It didn't create Thrash, but it definitely expanded it and made it popular across the world. The most popular and famous Thrash bands are from this region, and it was the biggest underground scene until it became globally popular in 1984. One of the bands from this scene is actually credited by some for the creation of Death Metal.
NOTABLE BANDS:
Metallica
Megadeth
Slayer
Testament
Exodus
Death Angel
Possessed
Heathen
Vio-Lence
Definitely the most influential. Not only did the first wave of black metal influence black metal (duh), but it was also extremely influential to thrash metal and death metal.
Movement in the early to mid 80s that shaped Norwegian Black Metal. It started with the NWOBHM band Venom releasing the album Black Metal. This album set the tone lyrically and coined the term Black Metal. Other bands started popping up that influenced Black Metal in some way and made it what it is.
NOTABLE BANDS:
Venom
Bathory
Celtic Frost
Mercyful Fate
Hellhammer
Sodom
Bulldozer
Sabbat
Happened in the early 80s, at the same time as the Bay Area scene. This was different, however. The movement took place in New York City, where there was a Hardcore Punk scene happening. These bands had more Punk influence in them, which helped lead to the creation of Crossover Thrash.
NOTABLE BANDS:
Anthrax
Overkill
Nuclear Assault
Stormtroopers of Death
Toxik
Crumbsuckers
Scatterbrain
After the first wave ended, Norwegian bands emerged in the early 90s, but 10 times more brutal. These bands defined the word evil. They wore corpse paint, had extreme satanic lyrics, and many of these bands were involved in a string of church burnings.
NOTABLE BANDS:
Mayhem
Darkthrone
Burzum
Immortal
Emperor
Dark Funeral
Gorgoroth
Satyricon
Enslaved
The origin of some of the most amazing bands ever!
In the mid 80s, many Thrash bands from Germany emerged, bringing brutality to the plate. While the earlier Thrash bands were heavy, such as Slayer and Possessed, these bands one-upped them. They also were influential towards Black Metal's first and second waves.
NOTABLE BANDS:
Kreator
Sodom
Destruction
Tankard
Coroner
Exumer
Holy Moses
Angel Dust
Assassin
Another quiet movement that started in the late 2000s and early 2010s. These bands are attempting to bring back the Heavy Metal style that was introduced in the NWOBHM. Some musicians from that era have given support to the New Wave.
NOTABLE BANDS:
Icarus Witch
Enforcer
White Wizzard
Holy Grail
Cauldron
Skull Fist
Bullet